Experience

SIRS Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (NYP)
• Singapore
• Professional Training and Coaching
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Senior Lecturer & Programmes Facilitator

  • Jan 2017 - Present


Marks and Spencer

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Head of Buying (General Merchandise)

  • Apr 2015 - May 2016

• Buying Manager

  • Jul 2012 - May 2016

  • Current Portfolio - Menswear, Kidswear, Home• Personnel Responsibilities – Oversee a team comprising of two Buyers and one Assistant to Buyer• Job duties include: -- Planning, monitoring and achievement of financial targets- Setting seasonal merchandising budgets with team- Planning seasonal merchandising strategies and objectives for the various business units within portfolio- Stock and inventory management through merchandise buying and in-season management of merchandising activities to meet sales, inventory and profit targets set out by the company- Analyzing and identifying current retail and consumer trends as well as competitor analysis- Weekly reporting on sales and merchandise feedback to management and UK Merchandisers- Quarterly travels for Buying Conferences in London, as well as hosting visits in local country for UK counterparts.



CITY CHAIN

• Retail Luxury Goods and Jewelry
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Merchandising Manager

  • Sep 2010 - Jul 2012

  • Personnel Responsibilities - Oversee the Merchandising Department, which comprises of two Merchandising Executives and one Merchandising Assistant • Job duties include:- - Planning, monitoring and achievement of financial targets during the financial year as well as forward sales budget plans for next financial year - Stock and inventory management through buying of watches, collaborating and negotiations with local suppliers, sales markdowns, aged stock clearance and catalogue management - Involved in the development and execution of yearly and seasonal marketing plans for watch brands, as well as generic marketing, sale and TVC campaigns for the company and in stores - Planning of store layouts/planograms, as well as actively implement and fine-tune layouts and displays of brands and visual images within the stores - Formulate staff commission schemes to motivate and reward staff to achieve individual store sales targets and in turn achieve the company’s topline - Conduct product knowledge sessions for sales staff on new brands/ products/ campaigns and participate in focus group sessions with Hong Kong design team for feedback on product development - Quarterly travels to Hong Kong for buying seminars - Store Leasing – communication of various store concepts under City Chain to landlords, tenancy details, and breakeven analysis of stores

• Buyer

  • Dec 2007 - Aug 2010

  • Oversee merchandise buying for sixteen departments under Mens Wear, which includes Mens Formal and Casual Wear, as well as Mens Essentials and Accessories. Up to July 2008, portfolio also included Boyswear and Children Essentials • Job duties include: - - Setting seasonal merchandising budgets at departmental and range levels - Planning seasonal merchandising strategies and objectives for the overall Menswear business unit as well as the individual Menswear departments - Merchandise buying and in-season management of merchandising activities to meet the sales, inventory and profit targets set out by the company - Analyzing and identifying current retail and consumer trends as well as competitor analysis - Weekly reporting on sales and merchandise feedback to management and UK Merchandisers - Conducting Product Knowledge sessions as well as seasonal launch presentations for sales personnel and store management - Key contact person liaising with external departments on behalf of the merchandising team - Actively involved in the implementation of the new web-based buying system, and attended trainings in London, Hong Kong and Singapore conducted by UK personnel for the purpose. Also drafted user manual for the IT team for future reference and training use.



John Little Pte Ltd

• Retail

• Buyer

  • Apr 2005 - Nov 2007

  • Select and purchase merchandise on the following trading terms – consignment, sales-on-returnable, and outright basis • Job duties include planning of new season OTB budgets, forecasting sales, profit margins and stock holdings, KPI analysis, supplier negotiations on merchandise selection and brand exclusivity, marketing promotions and IT tasks • Was actively involved in product development for both Mens Casual Wear and Winter Wear under in-house brand, coupled with quarterly travels to factories and buying offices in Hong Kong and China to conceptualize and place orders for each collection • Conducted product knowledge updates and new season workshops to communicate departmental objectives, new merchandise and updates to store managers and staff. Workshop focuses on providing recommendations to improve business for the department, as well as visual merchandising to appeal to shoppers.