Experience

Havwoods

• United Kingdom
• Construction
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Purchasing Manager - North American Operations

  • Mar 2021 - Present

• Bespoke Product Buyer

  • Mar 2020 - Feb 2021

• Procurement Assistant

  • Oct 2019 - Feb 2020



GUESS?, Inc.

• United States
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Retail and Outlet Merchandise Buyer

  • Jul 2016 - Jun 2018

   Adult Apparel, Marciano and Footwear Buyer for Mainline Stores. Adult Apparel, Kids Apparel and Adults Footwear Buyer for outlet stores.  Selecting seasonal ranges and developing seasonal appropriate ranges with Merchandisers.  Compile seasonal reports with Good and Bad Sellers for Guess International. Report includes extensive market research and feedback regarding poor sellers.  Regular Store Visits with concise feedback reports.  Engaging with stores staff regarding product feedback from customers as well as product sales. Consolidate and move good sellers to good selling stores.  Work closely with the Planner on seasonal Markdowns – move mainline stock to outlet stores when it is appropriate.  Analyse sales trends/history and formulate strategy, as well as provide input into Group strategy.  Attending Market in Los Angeles every year – Selection of Merchandise for every season.  Liaise with the Shipping department to ensure all orders are on track and shipping costs are correct for costings.  Detailed Post Seasonal Analysis after every season: Analysing consumer buying patterns, analysing stock  Ensuring that all input margins remain in line with Company targets.  Weekly Sales and Stock analysis – react with promos or consolidation of stock where necessary  Monthly Sales and Stock analysis meetings with higher management – react to slow sellers as well as good sellers.  Liaising with other departments within the organisation such as Merchandisers and Marketing to ensure projects are on track.  Compile deals with aged stock to retake into outlet stores.  Preparing Editorial looks for Magazines as well as looks for Fashion Shows.



Skye Distributions [PTY] Ltd

• Footwear Buyer

  • Oct 2015 - Jun 2016

  Key Roles & Accountabilities:Responsible for all aspects relating to departmental Market Research and Product Development. Collaborating with Sales representatives to gather and disseminate the appropriate market feedbackEnsuring that all input margins remain in line with Company targets; monitoring Stock levels and Departmental expenses.Conducting Store Visits in order to ensure that brand positioning, differentiation market segmentation and pricing is in line with the Company’s merchandise strategies.Compiling and presenting attractive Seasonal Collections in reviews, lay-downs and post seasonal evaluations. Analysing Good and Bad Sellers Weekly, and generating monthly presentations in regards to the same. Monitoring bulk delivery and ensuring that the Merchandise Manager is kept up to date on all progress / issues. Overseeing delivery tracking.Adhering to International Buy Cycles as set out per the relevant brand, assessing proto samples and fit samples together with QA.Investigating procurement with direct suppliers [internationally], and attending supplier meetings to address pertinent issues.Building and maintaining strategic stakeholder relationships through effective and efficient communication. Conducting cross-costing to ensure maintenance of the most competitive prices / pricing strategy.Pro-actively implementing trading terms, service level agreements, contracts and compliance documents as per Company objectives.Securing exposure and remaining up to date with the latest trends, through the use of relevant channels of research / information.Working alongside the Showroom Visual Merchandiser to ensure all ranges are attractively and professionally displayed.

• Junior Buyer - Woven Product for Dickies | Junior Buyer - Accessories

  • Mar 2014 - Sep 2015

  Key Roles & Accountabilities:Responsible for designing, implementing, and improving Product Development strategies, in order to ensure that sales figures were increased on a regular basis.Liaised with suppliers daily, in order to confirm that stock was refurbished as necessary. Responsible for liaising with the Merchandise Manager and Senior Buyers to the same effect.Conducted research with the intention of determining and forecasting trends in the market.Developed ranges, as per seasonal requirements, and presented these ranges to the Sales Team and Managers.Raised purchase orders and amendments with the relevant parties when necessary.Built and maintained strong relationships with suppliers, customers, and management.Negotiated with suppliers and addressed queries, as well as sourcing / identifying new suppliers on a regular basis.

• Assistant Buyer

  • Mar 2013 - Feb 2014

  Key Roles & Accountabilities:Liaised with suppliers and resolved supplier’s queries effectively and efficiently.Ensured that all samples were sent to the correct sales team. Confirmed that samples were received in the correct manner and that all outstanding samples were tracked and monitored.Raised purchase orders and SKU numbers when necessary.Conducted research in order to determine vital trends in the market place.Assisted with the creation of launch documentation and product pricing.Liaised with the Question and Answer department with regards to sample queries and specifications.Assisted internal departments with procurement related queries, and provided the relevant products for fashion shoots.

• Temporary Key Accounts Administrator

  • Aug 2012 - Feb 2013

  Key Roles & Accountabilities:Accurately captured all received orders on Axapta, and conducted daily administrative work in order to maintain an optimal level of organisation. Ensured that all Kimble’s were received and processed.Monitored and co-ordinated all deliveries to and from the company, including the delivery of stock, and ensured that merchandise was handled correctly.Decided on relevant size pack adjustments and planned all stock for up-coming months.Worked closely with fellow employees and suppliers to clarify any stock queries that arose.Conducted and delivered regular reports on the company’s turnover, and comparison of the same with the company’s budget on a daily basis.Conducted daily bond requests in order to ensure that stock levels were maintained at all times. Responsible for all stock adjustments and alterations.



Crucial Trade 51

• Parktown

• Production Co-ordinator for Ladies Wear

  • Sep 2010 - Feb 2012

  Key Roles & Accountabilities: Built and maintained long term and successful relationships with suppliers. Conducted effective and efficient negotiations with suppliers and arranged samples from China, in order to extend the list of merchandise in the store. Sourced new fabrics and suppliers and selected alternative fabrics, according the market trends. Sent necessary feedback to suppliers and forwarded the necessary samples for testing. Relevantly and accurately priced merchandise and dealt with customer enquiries. Liaised with Question and Answer teams regarding frequently asked questions, PPS, and shipping sample fittings. Communicated with the warehouse on a daily basis regarding audits, and tracked deliveries in order to ensure that all deadlines were met in a timely fashion. Conducted RFQ costing and maintained RPL records on a regular basis. Responsible for making quick decisions regarding shipments and production, turnarounds, and general production planning. Identified production difficulties and dealt with them as they occurred.



Truval

• Merchandiser

  • Mar 2012 - 2012

  Key Roles & Accountabilities: Planned product ranges and liaised with buyers, stores, suppliers, and distributors, to efficiently co-ordinate delivery of the same. Maintained a comprehensive library of appropriate data and used this data to analyse the previous season's sales figures, and generate reporting on the current season's lines. Liaised with international suppliers regarding pricing, samples and delivery. Visited stores and negotiated cost prices with suppliers. Identified supply and production problem areas, and dealt with issues as and when they occurred. Updated supplier schedules on a continuous basis and ensured that they reflected all associated briefs and orders. Processed approved samples and documentation, as per customer’s requirements. Responsible for making all final approvals.



Nine West [Sandton]

• Sandton

• Assistant Manager

  • Jul 2009 - Sep 2010

  Managed, maintained, and organised the store on a daily basis | Received and priced all new stock, attractively displaying and merchandising the same | Balanced all takings according to sales figures and ensured that all store targets were achieved | Secured provision of excellent customer service at all times, and motivated the staff and sales teams to take actions accordingly | Responsible for updating the in-store system with regards to any new stock that was received | Liaised with the Operations Manager on a daily basis, ensuring that all tasks and activities were conducted efficiently and cost effectively.



High Temperature Engineering, Alberton

• Administrator

  • Nov 2008 - Apr 2009

  Preformed general administrative work | Conducted research | Provided quotations to customers | Calculated unit costs for products | Managed correspondence with Overseas Markets | Supported Marketing endeavours | Calculated and supported maintenance of stock levels. Preformed general administrative work | Conducted research | Provided quotations to customers | Calculated unit costs for products | Managed correspondence with Overseas Markets | Supported Marketing endeavours | Calculated and supported maintenance of stock levels.



Various

• Various

  • 2005 - 2005

  Lulworth Beach Hotel, Lulworth, Dorset [U.K]; Housekeeping Manager | Roebuck Hotel in Ware [U.K]; Waitress | Whitehall Country Hotel, [U.K]; Receptionist | Red Planet Marketing, London, [U.K.]; Marketing Agent | Action Aid, London [U.K.]; Charity Aid Worker | National Royal Ascot horse racing, Ascot. [U.K.], Waitress Lulworth Beach Hotel, Lulworth, Dorset [U.K]; Housekeeping Manager | Roebuck Hotel in Ware [U.K]; Waitress | Whitehall Country Hotel, [U.K]; Receptionist | Red Planet Marketing, London, [U.K.]; Marketing Agent | Action Aid, London [U.K.]; Charity Aid Worker | National Royal Ascot horse racing, Ascot. [U.K.], Waitress