HQ Central and Collection Merchandising responsibilities: • Developing Product Merchandising brief, with Product Development teams to create strong and consistent collections. Supporting the collection merchandising process – collection briefing, product hierarchy, presentations of collections, organize delivery groups and packages and sales materials. • Securing exclusives, special projects e.g. Ramadan, and capsule collections for key stores. • Creating reports and presentations whilst conducting market and competitors' analysis and trends to propose development opportunities, deep diving on strategic category developments and amendments to price positioning: to define the right product strategy with Worldwide Directors to deliver profitable departments irrespective of fluctuating trends. • Contributing to category sales budget building whilst monitoring the achievement of the category sales. Reviewing sales performance vs budget plan and inventory forecast to derive OTB by region; in coordination with Marketing Operativo on a monthly basis. • Assisting with reorder planning and allocation plan of merchandise understanding stores' profile and allocating according to store needs. Management of central stock system for replenishment and transfer of stock between the regions. • Prepare and present budget, forecast, and quarterly business reviews with Directors
Central Europe - March 2022 – present.
• Direct buying responsibility and management of merchandising mix for RTW, Shoes, Leathergoods (Bags & Accs) and Fragrances in 9 stores across Central Europe and Switzerland. • Responsible for order placement by category according to the global assortment, OTB and stock targets set by planners, keeping the buy in line with objectives defined by the WW Merchandising Managers' and CEO. • Reviewing all regional "open to buy", sales plans, and order/re-order schedules in order to align local business plans to global category strategy. • Developing the "merchandising grid", in terms of breadth, depth and the positioning of each relevant product in each store. • Assuring the execution of market and competitor's analysis in terms of product and pricing positioning in the different markets; providing regular feedback to HQ and CEO. • Continuously monitoring business performance by category and communicating strategic opportunities. • Interpreting the market needs/trends and contributing to the identification of the various customer targets: evaluating lifestyle, attitude, behaviour of local and international consumers. • Providing direction across all functions to ensure the execution of the region's strategy; including Visual Merchandising and Communications team. • Preparing and presenting new collection trainings to relevant corporate and regional functions to support and promote sales, including new products and new techniques. • Liaising with the Operations/Production Departments in order to contribute to assure the appropriate development of product specifications and functionality, assure product delivery priorities in line with local commercial needs and market strategy. • Successfully launched additional RTW stores in Germany through identifying the market and client needs. • Developing and setting the financial targets for the region and stores in conjunction with Finance. • Solely responsible for developing marketing strategies to promote the region i.e. popups, events, product capsules and exit strategies.
• Managed portfolio of 150 brands (30 million OTB) across Bags, Accessories and Fine Jewellery in conjunction with Senior Buyer, attending all international markets during Fashion Weeks. • Brands include established luxury e.g. Gucci, Saint Laurent, Valentino, Prada, Bottega Veneta to contemporary and emerging brands. • Within portfolio, sole responsibility of 40% of the buying e.g. Balmain, Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney, Jacquemus, Jimmy Choo and responsible for launching new brands online. • Analysing sales performance on a weekly basis and regular trading actions; proposing actions in order to achieve agreed targets and manage markdowns in order to maximize margin and optimize sell through. • Regularly presenting trade reports to Buying Directors, in addition, Trend and OTB presentations to all areas of the business including Board of Directors. • Maintaining awareness of all fashion and industry trends, new brands and reviewing them as potential suppliers. • Creating and securing seasonal strategies for categories i.e. exclusive collections and products. • Communicating with all relevant areas of the business the range plans and specific highlights or key products; efficiently improving sales performance with close correspondence with Marketing, Social Media, Merchandising. • Negotiating deliveries to ensure consistent and early flow of goods/merchandise to maximise sales and meet plan targets. • Supporting the physical store and on-line with product information, training, visits and merchandising to maximize sales. • Finalizing all end of season agreements with suppliers and co-ordinate any stock movements and administration. • Working closely with the Buying Teams i.e. RTW and Shoes and all other stakeholders in relation to the selection of collections in order to ensure themes are consistent across the whole brand. • Assisting Merchandising Director with seasonal plans and OTB across the business. • Managing Buying Assistants and Assistant Buyers.
Nominated for Harrods Awards for Excellence