Tessa Solomons

Experience

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  Freelance Stylist and Producer

  Sept 1993 - Feb 2000

  Fashion Stylist and Producer

  As a stylist I worked mainly in the music industry styling bands for tours, press shots, album covers and videos.As a producer I managed the relationship between photographers and marketing and advertising clients. In many cases contributing to the creative vision, and then bringing that vision to reality, always on budget, always on time. Established a firm understanding of negotiating model usage rights for multichannel global campaigns.

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  Artvirt

  Feb 1999 - Jul 2000

  Creative Director & Founder

  Creative industry internet directory and resources.

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  Camilla Lowther Management LLC

  Aug 2000 - Jan 2002

  Agent and Producer

  At CLM I was part of a highly motivated, dedicated team working under constant pressure to secure the most sought-after campaigns and editorial for high calibre photographers. Camilla Lowther is a dynamic and inspiring mentor, demanding order and perfection in every aspect of work. I loved working alongside the incredible roster of creative talent.I was agent and producer to photographers:Tim Walker, Thomas Schenk, David Slijper, Regan Cameron, Carlton Davis

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  Marie Claire

  Jan 2002 - Jul 2013

  Bookings Editor

  Photography producer for fashion and celebrity editorial and commercial shoots worldwide.Ambitiously delivering the creative vision, with skilful budgeting to meet business targetsAlways on call, always one step ahead of a fashion crisis.Casting, resourcing creative teams, budget management, rights and contract management, negotiating, fast paced problem solving.Responsible for bringing in photographic talent such as Tierney Gearon, Martin Parr, Alison Jackson.

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  Time Inc. UK

  Jul 2013 - Aug 2017

  Role:Business lead for content planning and commissioning to transform Time Inc into a data driven, multi platform content media company.Project summary:Implementation of an innovative end-to-end digital editorial workflow solution that delivered transparency, collaboration and efficiency across 43 print publications. Fully integrated systems and workflow status capture facilitated remote working. This delivered a reduction of 30% to workspace requirements.Collaborative working practices and organisational restructures delivered sustained annual savings of £17m Achievements:I was selected from 10 managing editors as the most qualified and influential leader to join the project team.Designed 5 training modules and trained over 150 editorial staff at basic and advanced level to use new planning and commission software.Reduced contributor spend by 20% in the first yearCompetent in system testing, delivering best practice and compliance reports.Motivator, influencer, team leader. Show less ROLE: Budget management and content commissioning planning across 4 women's lifestyle publications and newly formed fashion, beauty and food content creation hubs.How I work:I remained neutral and open when balancing the demands and personalities of 3 dynamic and passionate editors.Setting consistent contributor and freelancer rates across all brands and communicating this to contributors in a fair and reasoned way.Focusing on ways to reduced costs through collaboration across brands and allow spend on creativity, not repetition.Constantly being curious and reviewing workflow to find ways to reduce duplication of effort. Achievements:Collaborative working in the hubs improved staff efficiency by 30% in the first year.Lifestyle hubs contrib spend went from being over budget in 2012, to savings of 42% against budget by 2014.Overall average contrib budget saving of 20% each yearRights acquisition programme increased content ownership to 100% in the food hub.Designed and detailed developer specification and system tested a freelancer database application which was later adapted to a company-wide application.For a period of 5 months I continued to work as both managing editor, and business lead for the editorial transformation project. Show less

  • Content Commissioning Project Lead - Editorial Transformation

    Apr 2015 - Aug 2017

  • Managing Editor : Woman, Woman's Own, Woman's Weekly, Essentials

    Jul 2013 - Jul 2015
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  TI Media

  Sept 2017 - Aug 2019

  Content Management Director

  THE ROLE: Leading and supporting the teams of 18 multi-platform publications through ongoing print and digital restructures aimed to deliver workflow efficiencies, profitability and optimise talent development. Leading content strategy by sector to set the agenda for collaboration across all editorial and commercial functions.To understand and evaluate the variable needs of technical, creative and business stakeholdersProcess optimisation and service design-Analyse and challenge established company processes, advocating for user centred, simplified processes-Guiding teams through implementation of new processesUse data to create project plans, content opportunities and assess resource capacity.Identify blockers and through communication and planning, work through organisational issues.How I delivered in this role:I have a flexibile and pragmatic approach. I get things done.I am an active listener, able to translate complex and emotional issues into constructive ideas and actions.I bring people together and set the agenda to work towards clear objectives in an open and collaborative way.Research and define best practice guidelines and motivate others to deliver to their best ability.Identify blockers and through communication and planning, work through organisational issues.Achievements:Establishing the pipeline for collaboration and communication across commercial and editorial sectors.Leading a team of super users to build knowledge and promote self efficacyCreating and maintaining an end-to-end content workflow programme that mapped each review stage to promote ownership and accountability.Establishing myself as editorial lead for rights and releases contracts across all TI Media brands. Creating a rights training programme with L&D Show less

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  Tessa The Dresser

  Sept 2019 - Oct 2024

  Founder

  Tessa The Dresser is a business that celebrates holes, rips stains and tears. Repair and re-use is a vital part of circular business models in the fashion industry. Tessa The Dresser is a master mender offering repair services to individuals and advising fashion brands on how to incorporate repair services as apart of their extended producer responsibility strategy or sustainability goals. Experienced in both creative and management sides of businessUnderstanding of working in agency, freelance and corporate environments brings a thorough knowledge of the challenges and opportunities to adopt new business models.Private commissionsBrand consultancy on textiles and clothing repair and re-use solutionsWorkshop facilitatorWorkshop developmentSpeaker and educator Show less

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  Unique Style Platform

  Nov 2019 - Apr 2024

  Business Management Consultant

  Unique Style Platform is a leading global trend and colour forecasting agency for the fashion and lifestyle industries.Working alongside a visionary creative director and founder to bring business thinking and strategy to a vibrant creative studio.Product developmentFinancial managementContract managementOrganisational structure and workflowMarketing strategy

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  London Fashion Fund

  Nov 2019 - Nov 2022

  Advisor To The Board
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  Loopster Ltd

  Jun 2020 - Oct 2021

  Chairperson

  Loopster, the online platform to buy and sell quality second hand clothes. Reducing waste by keeping clothes out of landfill and extending the life of garments.

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  The London Embroidery Studio

  Jun 2024 - now

  Studio Manager

  The London Embroidery Studio has been creating bespoke embroidery in East London since 2007. The studio creates work for fashion, stage, screen, interiors, products, artist, and events clients worldwide.