Neville Shifren Resume Feb 2025

NEVILLE SHIFREN FURNITURE MANUFACTURE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

[email protected] (858) 644-9229 San Diego, CA

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

• Accomplished leader in the furniture industry, recognized for driving innovation and delivering exceptional business results.
• Proven expertise in founding award-winning companies and spearheading transformative growth through strategic leadership, product innovation, and global market expansion.
• Track record of strengthening customer retention, increasing export sales, and establishing businesses as leaders within highly competitive markets.
• Skilled in financial management and sales, with a strong ability to build and lead high-performing teams while delivering tailored, client-focused solutions that boost brand reputation and market share.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Technical Sales and Business Development Manager                                                                                                                                                       Jul 2023 – Oct 2024
ChemXWorks Inc. | San Diego, CA
Responsible for promoting innovative kitchen cleaning solutions across the USA, with a focus on the food service industry.

• Increased corporate sales by 10% within the first year by implementing targeted sales strategies and representing the brand at major national exhibitions.
• Delivered 95% customer satisfaction through online support, helping clients with spare parts installation and troubleshooting.
• Implemented and managed the KEAP database, enhancing customer relationship management and improving data accuracy by 40%.

  Purchasing and Production Director                                                                                                                                              Jul 2020 – Jun 2023
  A Popular Bunch | South Africa

Oversaw purchasing and production operations for an experiential marketing agency, managing retail installation manufacturing for high-profile clients including RedBull, Discovery Health, Budweiser, Beefeater, and Johnnie Walker.

• Led a team of 25 specialists, improving production efficiency by 30% through effective management and training programs.
• Streamlined purchasing processes, reducing material costs by 15% while ensuring the use of high-quality resources such as timber, metals, and fabrics.
• Optimized installation project management, completing national shop-fitting installations 20% faster through improved strategic planning.
• Developed a supplier database, reducing lead times by 25% while enhancing supplier relationships.

Founder and Managing Director                                                                                            Dec 2004 – Jun  2020
Lounge News | South Africa

Founded and led a specialist manufacturer of soft-seating and coworking space furniture, transforming the company into a key contract-based supplier for major corporations, including securing tenders for multinational companies like Expedia.

• Transformed the business model to focus on direct consumer and contract sales, boosting revenue by 25%.
• Spearheaded the launch of five new product lines, resulting in a 20% increase in market share.
• Secured major tenders with multinational companies, including the manufacture of office furniture for clients like Expedia, The Business Exchange and Raizcorp.
• Implemented a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy that increased brand awareness and drove a 35% rise in customer engagement through social media and email marketing campaigns.

Project Development Director                                                                                                                                                      Dec 2006 – Mar 2008
Strawberry Twister Properties | South Africa

Led the full development lifecycle of Strawberry Twister Properties, a property development company focused on residential and commercial projects. Directed all phases of property acquisition, construction, and sales, delivering high-quality developments on time and within budget.

• Successfully developed and sold 56 townhouses (2- and 3-bedroom units) in the first phase, under Sectional Title acquisition.
• Managed the development of 3 commercial office towers (4-story buildings) in the second phase, securing key tenants and buyers ahead of project completion.
• Oversaw all aspects of the project, from land acquisition to construction and final sales, ensuring compliance with regulations and high-quality construction standards.

Chief Executive Officer                                                                                                                                                                       Mar 1998 – Jul 2003
Garveni Creations | South Africa

Led an award-winning office furniture manufacturer, focusing on export-quality products. Spearheaded the transformation from a dealer-based model to a contract-based supplier, significantly boosting customer retention and export sales. Garnered international recognition for product design and quality, securing key clients such as Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, and Standard Chartered Bank.

• Founded an industry-leading manufacturing facility targeting the South African office furniture dealer-market network on a national scale.
• Led a team of design experts focusing on export-quality products and implemented a strategically positioned sales force, resulting in a 30% increase in export sales.
• Spearheaded the successful launch of new products at exhibition venues in Australia, Canada, Germany, Central Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, generating a significant increase in international sales.
• Developed and executed a comprehensive marketing strategy to engage facilitators and consumers from the initialization stage through product rollout and implementation, boosting brand recognition.
• Managed the strategic export division, expanding the organization’s global footprint and driving a 30% growth in export revenues.

EDUCATION       

Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.), University of South Africa                                              1986
Major in Economics and Business Economics

Master of Business Leadership, School of Business Leadership – UNISA                              1989
Incomplete

SKILLS

Product Development, Strategy & Planning, Sales Leadership, Profitability Analysis, Contract Negotiation, Budgeting & Cost Analysis, Business Policy Development, International Business Development, Process Improvement, Team Leadership & Development, Change Management, Supply Chain Management, Operational Excellence, Strategic Partnership Building

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint),
Pastel Accounting, Quickbooks, CNC Programming, KEAP CRM

LANGUAGES

 English [Native], Afrikaans [Fluent], Hebrew [Intermediate], Spanish [Basic]

PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 SABS Award for Excellence in Design            1996 | 1998 | 2000 | Runner-up 2002

 REFERENCES Provided upon request