Victora Thomas

Supporting start up and small brands to establish all functions within product development and production including costings, sourcing, supply chain management, PLM implementation. Experienced in building key functionalities from the ground up to ensure crucial foundation pillars are in place

•Oversee seasonal product strategy highlighting any areas of potential growth and implanting strategic steps to achieve growth •Deliver seasonal range plans at product, category and price level and to develop buying plans that achieve KPIs. •Develop and oversee seasonal pricing strategies in line with global market trends, competitor pricing and margin targets. Proactively problem solve pricing concerns and issue targets to suppliers to ensure margin/price expectations are met. •Review trading performance and KPIs frequently and identify opportunities and risks. •Manage the Product department and budget to provide process, reporting and content to support commercial decision-making. •Set up and maintain the company seasonal Critical Path in conjunction with cross departmental needs and support team with delays. •Manage global supply chain relationships spanning UK, China, Portgual, Italy and Spain. •Source and maintain relationships with new suppliers covering Manufacturers, packaging and Raw Materials, as required to meet company needs in terms or margin, product category and delivery. •Negotiate commercial terms with new and existing suppliers including Supplier and Confidentiality Agreements. •Oversee factory audit programme to ensure suppliers meet all regulations in terms of social, environmental and economic compliance, environmental compliance. •Set up and management of the Supplier Manual. •Lead the Product Development process and provide advice and training to team as required. •Monitor and analyse seasonal over development and ensure does not exceed departmental budget. •Allocate designs in line with supplier capabilities and capacity. •Forward plan and initiate development of any product packaging needs. •Lead the Production process and support the team in proactively problem-solving quality issues and on time deliveries •Structure and provide leadership to the department on a day-to-day basis and develop and mentor team members, as they progress through KPIs

RESPONSIBILITIES •Sample room management •Overseeing garment tech team ensuring timely processing of tech packs against critical path •Working HK office, answering sampling queries, resolving problems and maintaining a good working relationship with overseas staff. •Style and costing creation within internal business systems. •Creating and maintaining sampling cash flow to monitor spending. •Coordinating all toile, sampling and production fittings for both mainline and bridal collections •Sourcing and order management of all raw materials •Critical path building and execution •Liaise closely and regularly with HK office, answering production queries, resolving problems and maintaining a good working relationship with overseas staff. •Order greige fabrics and manage colouring up to ensure wholesale and retail orders can be met. •Communicating with buyers and sales team in respect of final production quantities and delivery deadlines. •Manage garment technologist to ensure prompt completion of specification sheets, graded patterns, and approvals of all samples at all stages. •Development and bulk cashflow management •Maintaining costings for entire range and negotiated prices effectively to ensure optimum margin •Communicate with distribution manager, warehouse controller and nominated carriers to ensure all teams are aware of all schedules up and coming and immediate. •Responsible for the accuracy of care and composition labels and proofing artwork. •Responsible for technical issues, fittings specifications, grading, production and quality control •Attending production fittings offering technique and aesthetical direction on all garments.

RESPONSIBILITIES •Sourcing all fabrics and trims for sampling and managing production of sample range. •Managing a team of pattern cutters and interns to ensure timelines and critical paths are followed. •Developed line-book system to aid sales team •Costing Management across entire range. •Tech pack creation and distribution •Product fits. •Liaising with worldwide suppliers to ensure timely delivery of mass production. •Maintaining critical path •Ordering fabrics and trims and tracking their production to ensure schedules are met •Raising purchase orders for entire production quantities. •Maintaining spreadsheets detailing costs, fabrics, and compositions to ensure date accuracy at all times. •Quality checking sampling and production samples to ensure highest standards maintained •Resolving all quality and technical problems with manufacturers with respect of timelines, cost and efficiency. •Planning and managing all stock movements from deliveries from suppliers through to end consumers worldwide.