Experience

• 

  Paws Group

  • London, England, United Kingdom

  • Merchandise Planning Manager at Paws Group

    • Apr 2019 - Present
    • London, England, United Kingdom

• 

  Ocado Retail Ltd

  • Welwyn Garden City

  • Merchandise Planning Manager

    • Apr 2019 - Jan 2023
    • Welwyn Garden City

• 

  Tesco

  • Merchandise Planning Manager - General Merchandise Central Merchandising Team

    • Feb 2014 - Jul 2015

    Responsibilities.Take ownership of the role to embed and raise the profile of the newly created Central Merchandising Team within the General Merchandise division. Improve the existing category forecast and budget processes submitted by the merchandising teams to enable Division and Category Directors visibility of top line monthly, quarterly and yearly performance against forecast and budget KPIsAchievements• Design and delivery of a complete merchandise forecasting and budgeting principles, processes and systems training programme to 120 Merchandise Planners across all levels after identifying significant skills gap. Achievement recognised by Group Operations Director and GM Commercial Director, Category Directors and Heads of Merchandising. • Implementation of a defined monthly WSSI review process including the introduction of a robust suite of standardised reports for Senior Directors to review as part of the monthly meetings, and for Heads of Merchandising to have clear visibility of performance across their own areas. • Seen as natural ‘Go To’ person within the business, supporting Directors and Heads of Merchandising and providing ongoing coaching for merchandising teams on forecasting system• Development of existing line level and WSSI forecasting systems in conjunction with IT functions to implement new measures and functions, meeting business needs. Managing the end to end process from concept to user acceptance testing to roll out

  • Merchandise Planning Manager - General Merchandise Celebrations (Cards, Party, Gift & Giftwrap)

    • Mar 2012 - Feb 2014

    Responsibilities.Define and deliver the annual and seasonal multi-channel strategy across Greetings Cards, Party Accessories, Gifting and Gift wrap. Maximise sales and profitability of category, delivering the agreed trade plan. Take ownership of range building and management of critical path for both main and promotional ranges. Manage the WSSI and budget submits within set deadlines and maintain WSSI forecast highlighting risk and opportunities in light of current trade. Build an effective collaborative relationship with suppliers and cross functional teams to deliver right range for the customer. Lead a team of merchandisers to deliver targets and provide ongoing coaching and support for development of merchandising and personal skills.Achievements.• Delivery of the Cards annual strategy with achieved sales in line with Budget and like for like sales growth above plan whilst managing planned selling price deflation also achieving profit target and increasing customer penetration in all store formats.• Implementation of an improved Party Accessories promotional offer after review of customer and market data and identification of missed opportunities leading to like for like £ sales growth and net margin increase.• Introduction of new processes within team after a review of existing ways of working to provide tools to support Head of Merchandising and develop merchandising skills within the team.• Collaboration with suppliers to plan optimal stock phasing over key seasonal promotional periods, ensuring availability for customers whilst managing markdowns and terminal stock to planned levels

  • Merchandise Planning Manager F&F Men's Knitwear, Swimwear and Casual Bottoms

    • Feb 2011 - Mar 2012

    Responsibilities Work with Buying team to plan and trade highly seasonal product areas, managing critical path to launch ranges and promotions on time, managing OTB, markdown and terminal stocks. Manage WSSI identifying risks and opportunities to sales, profit and stocks. In addition assess the impact of systems and process changes on the merchandiser’s day to day activities, providing ongoing coaching and support. Achievements• The ability to quickly upskill in returning back into a Merchandising role using previous experience, understanding product, seasonal range phasing, supplier management and department processes and ways of working• Key input into strategy planning with performance, trends, competitor and SWOT analysis• Management of the WSSIs, seasonal and continuity sales, stock, OTB and markdown forecasts.• Development of effective communication with suppliers particularly those based in India and the Far East.

  • Commercial Development Manager - Clothing and General Merchandise

    • Mar 2007 - Feb 2011

    ResponsibilitiesProvide commercial merchandising expertise to support the Merchandising, Finance and IT teams within the business with the development, design and roll out of commercial systems and processes. . Engage Sponsors and Stakeholders; bringing on board and ensuring that a robust communication plan is implemented. Work across functions to ensure understanding of the As Is, To Be and the business requirements, undertake in depth analysis to understand root cause of issues, identify and communicate the business benefits of change. Manage project plans and ensure milestones are met within each key stage to deliver project on time and within budget. Understand training needs and capability requirements to design and deliver any necessary training, ensure a roll out and post implantation plan is in place to maintain sustainability of developments and changes.Achievements• Delivery of Clothing ‘Linked Lines’ project, designed to enable management of continuity styles in store leading to a large reduction in permanent markdown spend and reduction of overstocks in store, optimising net profit and enabling better OTB management• Secondment to Menswear on Knitwear, Swimwear and Casual Bottoms, experiencing impact & results of delivered changes on day to day basis first hand gave rise to additional opportunities to identify potential improvements and changes. • Managing the development and implementation of changes to Line Flow forecasting system to enable accurate forecasting of sales, stocks and intake at size level supporting the availability KPI on continuity styles • Delivery of key changes within the Merchandise Planning Systems to include the online business as part of the line and category level forecasting and budgeting process and the integration of Republic of Ireland data into Clothing specific systems

  • Merchandise Planning Manager - General Merchandise Hardware

    • Mar 2006 - Mar 2007

    Car Care, DIY, Home Utilities, Pet Accessories and Disposable Tableware

  • Merchandise Planner - General Merchandise Hardware (Car Care and Disposable Tableware)

    • Mar 2005 - Mar 2006

  • Assistant Merchandiser - General Merchandise (Car Care)

    • Feb 2004 - Mar 2005

• 

  Arcadia Group Ltd

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Assistant Merchandiser - Ladies Tailoring

    • Oct 2002 - Jan 2004
    • London, United Kingdom

• 

  Jaeger

  • London

  • Assistant Merchandiser - Ladieswear

    • Jul 2001 - Oct 2002
    • London

• 

  Sixty Uk ltd

  • London, United Kingdom

  • Assistant Merchandiser - Miss Sixty, Energie, Killah Babe

    • Jun 2000 - Jul 2001
    • London, United Kingdom

• 

  River Island

  • United Kingdom
  • Retail
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Senior Allocator - Mens Accessories

    • Dec 1999 - Jun 2000

  • Allocator -Mens Footwear

    • Oct 1998 - Dec 1999