Experience

Trotters Childrenswear & Accessories Limited

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Buyer

  • Aug 2021 - Present



Mountain Warehouse

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buyer- Animal; Men's, Women's, Kid's Apparel and Accessories

  • Jul 2020 - Aug 2021

  • Hired to lead the development and growth of the newly acquired Animal brand within Mountain Warehouse, building the Men’s, Women’s and Kid’s ranges for the first time within the business.• In charge of developing and managing 600 options per season;from 20 suppliers. • Working cross functionally with several divisions including IT, VM, marketing and photography to ensure a successful first launch for SS21.• Building and managing of critical paths for all my departments to ensure business requirements and best trading opportunities are met with products of varying lead times from China, India, Bangladesh and Europe.• Managing 3 direct reports; 2 assistant buyers and 1 buyers admin assistant, with regular 1:1’s to help develop and support them, whilst giving them autonomy to lead and grow their own areas.• Planning a phased launch of product through the season, with promotional activity to delight and excite the customer and improve customer retention. • Pre-season planning for quick trading with suppliers, for example booking griege fabric and product space in advance of the season to be able to react to the market demand and trade quickly back into best selling styles.• Working closely with buyers from across the business to ensure no cross over of product between Mountain Warehouse core ranges and Animal to avoid splitting sales.



White Stuff

• United Kingdom
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Junior Buyer Kidswear and Womens/Mens Loungewear and Underwear

  • Aug 2019 - Jul 2020

  Responsible for both girlswear and boyswear across all categories; clothing and accessories ages 3-10. Also responsible for men’s and women’s loungewear, nightwear and underwear.

• Junior Buyer Menswear

  • Dec 2017 - Aug 2019

• Senior Assistant Buyer Menswear

  • Aug 2016 - Nov 2017

  • Assist the buyers in developing around 200 options per 3-month seasonal drop; across wovens, jersey, knitwear, tailoring, denim and swimwear. • Sole responsibility of developing and trading a number of categories including shirts, graphic t-shirts, loungewear, swimwear and denim. Responsible for range building, negotiating costs through both open costing and cross costing and presenting the ranges in proto and SMS sign offs to both Heads of and directors. • Working closely with design identifying any gaps in the range, to ensure we are covering off best sellers, designing to cost and through my own trend analysis and competitor research. • Working closely with our QC team to identify potential issues with both fabric and fits, and helping to resolve issues with suppliers through open and productive communication. • Participating in weekly trade meetings, identifying trading opportunities for in season trading and the future. Identifying potential risks and suggesting ways to minimise these. • Managing and developing the Senior Buyer’s Admin Assistant on the department, including managing their work load on a daily basis, setting out key performance objectives, and helping them develop in their role through 1 to 1’s and bi-annual performance appraisals. • Responsible for communicating to the web team on a weekly basis any issues with products including content, photography, styling and missing products. • Deputise for the Buyer and Junior Buyer whilst they are away travelling to ensure a smooth running of the department.



Surfdome.com

• United Kingdom
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Buyer-Private Label

  • Apr 2014 - Aug 2016

  •Assist the buyer in developing around 250 options per season across menswear and womenswear. Experience in a number of product categories including apparel, accessories, swimwear, skiwear and nightwear. •Sole management of the critical path to ensure deadlines are met at every stage of production, to obtain on time deliveries from around 18 suppliers.•In charge of developing and trading a profit making own brand accessories department of around 70 options per season, including socks, slippers, cold weather and beach accessories. Responsible for briefing designers and suppliers, signing off the range with the head of buying and trading the department once in stock. •Managing and developing the Buyer’s Admin Assistant in the department, including managing their work load on a daily basis, and teaching them the requirements of their role.•Managing the workload of the garment technologist, attending weekly fit sessions, making changes to improve fits, recording fit comments and relaying these to our suppliers.• Preparing information for weekly trade meeting, including a presentation on my departments performance.• Communicating our range to other departments to ensure no overlap with brand buying. • Communicating new stock to the marketing department to push new product lines and trends.• Preparing styling guides for all own brand photography shoots, attending and monitoring the product shoots in the studio and the lifestyle shoots on location. • Competitive shopping analysis to identify new brands on the market and performing trend research prior to range development including use of WGSN.

• Buyer Admin Assistant- Private Label

  • Oct 2012 - Mar 2014

  Providing assistance to my buyer in developing the private label side of the business. Management of the critical path. Attending meetings with suppliers and assisting in fit sessions. Organising pre production samples and samples for press and photography. Liasing with suppliers to ensure competitive prices and on time deliveries. Being aware of current and up coming trends and responding to these through our own brand offering. Currently working across all areas of own brand including menswear, womenswear, kidswear, footwear and accessories.

• Work Experience on the Swimwear and Accessories Buying Team

  • Aug 2012 - Sep 2012

  Experience in creating purchase orders on excel, uploading new stock to the website, running price checks and communicating with the merchandising department. Assisted on buying appointments



Fenwick

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Sales Assistant Ladieswear

  • Jul 2012 - Sep 2012

  Experience with high end brands including Max Mara, Burberry Brit, Gerard Darel and Day Birger et Mikkelsen. Ability to respond quickly to customer requests and complaints Experience with high end brands including Max Mara, Burberry Brit, Gerard Darel and Day Birger et Mikkelsen. Ability to respond quickly to customer requests and complaints



University of Nottingham

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Student

  • Sep 2009 - Jul 2012



Time Inc. UK

• United Kingdom
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Beauty Intern at Instyle Magazine

  • Aug 2011 - Sep 2011

  •Called in products, press releases and images with the use of diary directory•Wrote a beauty blog for the Instyle website •Researched new products, spas, and treatments •Attended photo shoots •Called in products, press releases and images with the use of diary directory•Wrote a beauty blog for the Instyle website •Researched new products, spas, and treatments •Attended photo shoots



Fenwick

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Work experience with a Senior Fashion Buyer

  • Jul 2011 - Jul 2011

  •Learnt how to create purchase orders through the use of the RMS system•Created delivery schedules and assisted with stock take•Accompanied the Senior Buyer on buying appointments, attended Pure London and Scoop Fashion shows •Learnt how to create purchase orders through the use of the RMS system•Created delivery schedules and assisted with stock take•Accompanied the Senior Buyer on buying appointments, attended Pure London and Scoop Fashion shows