Open to opportunities

Elesi Ratu

@elesiratu

Message

Experienced category leader in retail with strengths in merchandising, inventory, and sales.

Fiji

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek a role where I can lead category or merchandising strategy, apply data-driven planning, work cross-functionally, and grow within a performance-driven retail or e-commerce organization.

I am an energetic and ambitious retail and category management professional with a Bachelor in Tourism and Hospitality and broad cross-functional experience across sales, inventory, customer service, and procurement. I lead category strategy, supplier management, merchandising and promotional planning to drive sales and margin.

In my current role as Category Team Leader I devise long-term development strategies, manage supplier relationships, own merchandise planning and forecasting, and deliver monthly, quarterly and annual sales and GP targets across product portfolios. I routinely perform SKU-level sales analysis, OTB planning, and coordinate product releases and marketing to maximize sell-through.

Previously I supported global sales, sales administration and inventory coordination across international and remote roles, gaining strong technical proficiency in systems like Sage, SAP, SPS Commerce, Shopify, and various 3PL/e-commerce tools. My background includes hands-on inventory control, cycle counting, demand planning and financial administration for SMEs.

I bring strong leadership, negotiation, analytical and communication skills, advanced Excel capability, and a proven ability to manage budgets, reduce stock aging, and motivate teams to meet commercial goals. I am results-oriented, detail-focused, and committed to continuous improvement.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Category Team Leader

Current

Jacks of Fiji

Jul 2024 - Present (1 year 6 months)

Devised category development strategies and managed end-to-end product lifecycle for sports and licensed brands, achieving inventory availability and meeting GP and sales targets through supplier negotiations and merchandising plans.

Category Management Merchandising Inventory Forecasting SAP Sales Analysis Budgeting

Global Sales Support

MGI Golf

Jul 2023 - May 2024 (10 months)

Supported global sales by entering POs for US/Canada, managing SPS Commerce and 3PL workflows, and coordinating international orders and distributor enquiries.

SPS Commerce 3PL Order Entry Customer Support Excel

Customer Service Officer

TABC

Apr 2023 - Dec 2023 (8 months)

Provided email-based customer support, processed returns and orders across Shopify and Amazon, and maintained accurate customer records while escalating issues to relevant teams.

Customer Support Shopify Amazon Orders Zendesk Order Processing Email Communication Excel

Receptionist

Quinovic Property Management

May 2023 - Jul 2023 (2 months)

Managed tenant and landlord enquiries, coordinated viewings and reference checks, and maintained property records using QPMS and Renti systems to support property managers.

Reception Trade Me Viewing Tracker Tenant Relations Scheduling

Inventory Coordinator

Roofing and Profiles

Mar 2021 - Mar 2022 (1 year)

Performed cycle counts, reconciled inventory in NAVision, managed receipts and deliveries, and supported demand planning to optimize stock levels and reduce variances.

Inventory Management Navision Cycle Counts demand planning Supplier Communication Excel Logistics

Accounts Assistant

Nandha's Chartered Accounting

Nov 2019 - Dec 2020 (1 year 1 month)

Prepared VAT calculations, cashflow accounts, bank reconciliations and payroll checks for SMEs while maintaining financial records and supporting audit activities.

Bank Reconciliation Invoicing Financial Reporting Excel

Banking Attaché

Bank of the South Pacific

Jan 2019 - May 2019 (4 months)

Served customers at branch frontline handling account openings, transactions, PIN resets and retailer services while ensuring fraud prevention and high-quality client service.

Customer Service Cash Handling Client Servicing Fraud Prevention Data Entry Communication

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

University of the South Pacific

Bachelor in Tourism and Hospitality, Tourism and Hospitality

Graduated with a Bachelor in Tourism and Hospitality with majors in Tourism and Management.

Bank of the South Pacific (Ba Branch)

Certificate of Service, Banking / Customer Service

2019 - 2019

Completed a Certificate of Service through attachment at the Bank of the South Pacific Ba branch.

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (Fiji)

Certificate of Young Entrepreneurship Scheme, Entrepreneurship

2018 - 2018

Attained a Certificate in the Young Entrepreneurship Scheme delivered by the Ministry.

AD Patel College, Ba

Form 7 / Form 6, General Pre-university Studies

2012 - 2014

Completed Form 6/Fiji School Leaving Certificate and Form 7/Fiji Seventh Form Examinations with majors in English, Mathematics, Accounting, Economics, and Computer Work.