Nicolas Smets
- I bring a 15+ years’ Director-level experience in buying and planning, working for a leading company in the fashion and lifestyle sector within an international environment - My experience is the result of working in an ever changing business landscape across multiple product lines and collections, managing complex calendars and driving achievement to KPIs. Detail-oriented with an understanding of the big picture. Committed to driving continuous improvement in an evolving organisational structure - My skills as a Team leader are proven. I foster interdepartmental communication and collective strategic thinking. Analytical skills and effective decision-making based on data are my key drivers when decision must be made - Multilingual (Native French speaker with fluent English and advanced Dutch) CORE AREAS OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE - People Leadership: Leading & developing teams Connecting business partners Collaborating with inter-departmental stakeholders & suppliers - Strategy: Driving process improvements according to Brand and products strategies - Buying & Planning: Planning, managing & monitoring purchasing activities across multiple product lines Building buy plans based on inventory levels and matching supply to demand (volumes) Consulting and advising the buying team on their operational activities - Performance & Reporting: Setting KPIs and reporting decks Process evaluations and improvements Risk management identification Buying productivity and opportunities
Connecting Livinguard Technologies to related industries. Livinguard Technologies is a Swiss material science company focused on enhancing the functionality & performance of materials through the power of surface charge. Understanding that we have one planet with limited resources has shaped our approach to innovation. We help partners to change patterns of consumption and parameters of processing to limit the generation of waste and use of resources while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
• Manage the day-to-day buying and demand planning operations, including seasonal SVO, NOOS and Fast Track production, leading of a team (up to 20) • Buying: Direct the validation and creation of purchase orders for 7 divisions to match supply capabilities, market demand and warehouse capacity , focusing on direct purchases directly related to the products Calvin Klein sells and factoring in PO qty quantity thresholds, shop floor dates, retail best buys, product stories and capsules • Planning: Plan seasonal collections and raw materials; create and develop buy plans based on company calendars, ensuring on time deliveries in the warehouse and on the shop floor dates and stock level allowance; production capacity booking • Negotiation: Negotiate production lead times, minimum order quantities and on time delivery dates with suppliers to minimize cogs variance and optimize the margin • Order Book Management: Manage all aspects of order book management, ensuring on time delivery management to forwarder (yearly FOB valued at hundreds of millions in USD) • NOOS: Ensure never out of stock offer productivity and rule book management, demand planning, stock coverage allowance and net requirement (A3); confirm buy volumes and shipping dates, create and place PO’s, and monitoring of on time deliveries • Fast Track: Manage fast track production; identify products, materials, vendors and parameters to reduce the production and delivery lead times; implement tools and processes to enable shorter production lead times and by doing so, optimize stock content • Partnerships: Work closely with VP’s and with directors of production, merchandising, sales, finance, operations and warehouse teams • Reporting on Performance: Set and monitor buying and planning KPIs related to business strategy and risk management, buy target volumes and productivity and the purchase order approach
PVH Europe, Tommy Hilfiger Global Menswear, Tailored, Accessories | Calvin Klein Menswear Europe • Implemented and directed the buying and planning function for the Calvin Klein Menswear, while continuing to play a vital leadership role of the Tommy Hilfiger Menswear & Tailored Divisions, 2015-’19
PVH Europe, Tommy Hilfiger Menswear & Tailored | Calvin Klein Menswear • Implemented and directed the buying and planning function for the Calvin Klein Menswear, while continuing to play a vital leadership role of the Tommy Hilfiger Menswear & Tailored Divisions, 2015-’17
Tommy Hilfiger Menswear & Womenswear Europe
Tommy Hilfiger Menswear Europe
Tommy Hilfiger Menswear Europe
Tommy Hilfiger Menswear Europe
Perfumes and cosmetics - Main brands
Nicolas is very experienced in demand and supply, both in planning and processes. With his end-to-end knowledge he has implemented fast react inventory models, as well as liability processes and managed this very well during challenging times for supply chain. He understands what decisions best to make with consumer focus while keeping financial targets in mind. With his broad process knowledge and system understanding, he is the go-to person to get anything done and solved in the supply value chain. Nicolas is a good leader, managing the team in a thorough and trustful way, always showing the patience to explain the what, why and how. Additionally Nicolas makes effort in coaching individual team members on development and culture behavior. Nicolas is a great experienced leader driven by values and no-nonsense mentality.