Experience

Josama Ltd.

• United Kingdom
• Wholesale Import and Export
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Product Developer (Footwear) / Account Manager

  • Feb 2018 - Present



Home Bargains

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buyer

  • Mar 2010 - Jan 2018

  Responsible for creating, developing, sourcing and buying a commercially sound product range, which incorporates current trends and meets the needs of the customer base. Furthermore building brand value, driving sales, increasing profit growth and improving market share. The buyer’s role at TJ Morris (TJM) is very much an all encompassing role. In addition to my main roles and responsibilities of a being buyer I am also responsible for the merchandising side as well, which involves forecasting, sales analysis and management of stocks. Extensive experience of working on an FOB basis dealing direct with factories in the Far East. • For the first four years my product categories varied widely from toys, stationery and back-to-school to camping and outdoor to hair accessories and jewellery. • I was also solely responsible for managing a number of successful direct to retail (DTR) licensing programs, developing over 150 licensed products with licensors such as Nickelodeon (Dora & SpongeBob), Liverpool FC, Zodiak (Mister Maker), Chapman Entertainment (Fifi & Roary), Start Licensing (Dennis the Menace & Tracey Beaker), Backland Studios (Goochi Coo) • For the past two years my main responsibility has been to create and grow a new category of dinnerware, tableware and kitchenware. I work closely with designers transferring style and trends through to end product development. Show less



AU Naturale

• United Kingdom

• Buyer

  • Feb 2009 - Feb 2010

  In April 2008 Ethel Austin and homewares retailer Au Naturale were both bought out of Administration and the two became sister companies. Buyer of various homeware categories for the Au Naturale side of the business, specifically bedding, lighting, floral and vases, whilst also continuing to cover the gifts and seasonal areas for Au Naturale and Ethel Austin combined. Responsible for sourcing commercial merchandise to ensure product quality and value is delivered and to ensure sales, gross profit & stock targets are met. Working alongside the merchandiser to develop and deliver a comprehensive category strategy that met customer needs, identifying opportunities and risk, whilst also protecting sales and margin. These areas combined contributed to 18% of the total company sales participation. Show less



Ethel Austin Ltd

• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Junior Buyer

  • Nov 2005 - Feb 2009

  Junior Buyer of Ladies, Men’s and Children’s Gifts, Toys & Seasonal dept.Sourcing own label and licensed products from the UK and FOB via importersI was an integral part of developing the concept of an in-store Christmas shop within Ethel Austin and grew the Gift department by 100% 2yr LFL and Toys by 53% 2yr LFL from AW06 – AW08. The Christmas Shop department continued to grow following its conception, with the Non-Clothing Division comprising of 11% of total company participation. Show less

• Assistant Buyer

  • Sep 2002 - Nov 2005

  Assistant Buyer of Seasonal, Accessories, Footwear, Swimwear, Hosiery, Nightwear and Underwear.Main responsibilities: Management of samples and progressing of approvals  Critical path management Raising orders Management of best and worst sellers Competitive shopping Using various IT systems and programs – Compass, MIS, Excel, databases etc.