Senior Merchandising Executive
Boutique 1
Total years of experience :10 years, 7 Months
• This is a role which involves huge involvement in all aspects of a growing and developing business. Dubai has a highly competitive high fashion/luxury market, and Boutique 1 is one of the major players in the Region.
• Reporting and analysis at company level down to sku level
• Store, warehouse, and International supplier relations and daily communication
• Working alongside the ERP department with technical procedures and the Finance department with related financial information.
• The day-to-day operations of the Merchandising team involve preparing for future fashion seasons with order confirmation and set up; trading current fashion Seasons in-store; managing old fashion season stock through to and within our Outlet store in Dubai.
• There are two flagship Boutique 1 stores and an Outlet store in Dubai.
• There is a Boutique 1 store in Beirut, Lebanon.
• The Buying and Merchandising team totals 15. I am responsible for all 4 stores and report to the Merchandising Manager and Head of Merchandising.
• Huge involvement in two business projects: i Re-alignment of all skus to better define and catalogue them
ii Business implementation of a new Epos and replenishment/reporting system - set up and system testing.
• Monitoring, maintaining and forecasting stock and sales levels across the business's store, web and wholesale channels; store replenishment from the factory/warehouse in Stoke, UK
• Set up of all new products
• Range analysis and business reporting.
• Processing examination entry paperwork and dispatching results, awards and certificates.
Temporary worker with ROC employment agency, London - May 2009 - Jan 2010 London
• Responsible for the Merchandising of two departments over 4 countries within the centralised Merchandising team (France, Germany, Spain & UK)
• Business reporting and analysis
• Review and alignment of ranging and pricing structures across 4 countries
• Store Grading and store/product/warehouse clearance
• Close working with relationship with Business Manager to develop the departments
• Development of one Assistant Merchandiser
• Managing 12 Wholesale and Franchise Partner companies across 15 countries
• Facilitating the ordering and delivery of partner stock across the Decorative Accessories and Lighting departments to those 15 countries
• Business reporting and attending Seasonal Presentations and reviews.
• Working alongside the Range Production teams, Finance, logistics and IT departments
• Working with a UK and a French warehouse to facilitate international deliveries
• I instigated a review of the Merchandising function and presented to the Retail Partners Management team, with the objective of improving our department.
• Merchandising representative for improvements and implementation of the Business Objects internally. This required a close working relationship with the IT department.
• Responsible for stock management, range reviewing and planning for current and future collections and departments within both the Lingerie and Kidswear departments for 4 stores.
• Providing merchandising support for two Buying teams and managing one Allocator.
• Repeat ordering on continuity and available fashion product with suppliers.
• WSSI - Weekly Sales & Stock Intake management. Forecasting, phasing and re-forecasting; markdown analysis/action on both fashion and continuity product.
• Responsible for 5 departments; Bar, Casual Dining, Crystal Glassware, Housekeeping and Pets - Each worth up to £1.1m a season
• Input and control over ranging, re-ranging, re-ordering and management of stock levels, discontinuing products, pricing, transfers, Sales and promotion management.
• Daily analysis and reporting, weekly trading analysis and reporting including planning and phasing with WSSIs.
• Management of the sales, margin and stock situations of the 5 departments, reacting to issues and opportunities.
• Supplier contact and negotiation - Selecting and Buying of new and continued ranges
• Utilising fashion expertise to bring ranges up-to-date to increase profit margins and reduce waste
Selfridges - Allocator (Ladieswear) - Nov 2003 to Mar 2006
Working within Womenswear this role is an entry level role into the world of Merchandising and involves supporting the Buying and Merchandising teams with stock analysis, preparing of reports, allocating stock, and assisting the Merchandising team.
Selfridges - Senior Brand Administrator (Beauty) -May 2003 to Nov 2003
Supporting the Beauty Buying and Merchandising department with brand administration.
Included setting up items in the in house system, ordering stock and allocating to stores.
Working first in Accessories and then Casual Wovens the job involved working with the Buying and Merchandising teams.
Managing the Critical Path of items from inception through to delivery. Updating the business on delivery status. Working with suppliers. Working with stores in UK and abroad. Working with the internet and mail order departments.
London, UK Waltham Forest College - AAT (Assoc. Accounting Technicians) Foundation Level - 2007-2008
London College of Fashion - BA (Hons) Fashion Management - 2000 - 2004 (Part Time)
Lambeth College - NCTj Print Journalism and HNC Radio Broadcasting 1997-1998
- Fashion and Beauty Journalism Diploma - 1997
Comsec Secretarial College - Business Secretarial Course - 1993-1994