Lucy Smith

• Responsible for buying ladieswear, menswear, kidswear, gifts and accessories for the site. Liaising with the accounts department and senior buyer (MD) to set up a buying budget system and various sale reports. • Carrying out all merchandising tasks such as analysing sales figures, determining best sellers, independently placing repeat orders. • Visiting trade shows, sourcing and setting up new suppliers, buying and lunching new ranges and brands, helping to broaden our product offering and keep regular newness on the site. • Setting up a planner for scheduling the launch of new brands and collections. • Working alongside the managing director, developing new product. Carrying out comp shops and researching trends, spec-ing out new garments for suppliers, fitting samples and making adjustments to size specs. Also working alongside the designer. • Merchandising product on the site. Writing product descriptions, measuring product and uploading size guides. • Managing a photographer, providing a daily task list and scheduling work as required. Providing inspiration for creative shoots and individual product photography, ensuring all product is represented accurately and in a timely manner on the site. • Working with the warehouse, initiating and training warehouse staff with systems for faulty returns, spec-ing out and helping to create an automated delivery schedule to help manage the work-load of the warehouse workers and phase deliveries.. • Liaising with PR team based in London, informing them of new product for press releases, arranging samples for celebrity gifting and press days. • Liaising with the digital marketing team, providing wording and product for newsletters and website banners. • Uploading content to various social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Blog. • Working with the financial director, dealing with any invoicing queries/discrepancies and discussing the budget in monthly meetings

* Bought the John Rocha and Jasper Conran ranges, including outerwear, knitwear, woven, formal/occasionwear and jersey. Also girls ocassionwear accessories and footwear. * Independently negotiated cost prices to achieve required margin, using technical knowledge of garment make up, fabrication and other variables to achieve the right price. * Managed two Trainee Assistant buyers; training, delegating, monitoring workload and working closely with them to work on their competencies and personal development. * Developed product from bought samples and design specs, working closely with design team and buyer to create ranges. * Worked to the critical path, ensuring design packs are sent out (to the relevant suppliers) and ranges booked in order to achieve required intake. * Presented ranges in sign off meetings with senior management and to designers (Rocha and Jasper) or their representatives. * Ordered and selected samples or outfits for internet, press and photographics, liaising with the relevant contacts from these departments, Merchandiser, Buyer and suppliers. * Created ‘Customer visuals’ to be sent to stores outlining how product is to be displayed on the mat. * Set up a critical path for the department and a critical path deadline sheet for suppliers to complete, ensuring that delivery delays can be avoided. * Independently carried out supplier visits in London and Leicester. * Worked closely with the QA team; setting up new factories, ensuring correct test reports have been sent and alerting the technologists to any potential issues. * Conducted fit sessions independently with the technologist. * Approved lab dips, strike offs, trims and bulk for the designer ranges. * Completed relevant training courses, including: Impact and Influence, Fibre to Fabric and Print dyeing and finishing. * Carried out monthly comp shops, including visiting stores such as Topshop, Miss Selfridge and H&M to spot any emerging trends.

* Independently taking meetings with suppliers to select products and discuss orders. * Updating the critical path, chasing suppliers for deliveries/lab dips/samples. * Liaising with suppliers on the phone, by email and in person by arranging and taking meetings. * Maintaining a tidy and organised sample collection. * Negotiating cost prices and raising /sending orders. * Dealing with QC issues, communicating and working with both the warehouse and head office Technicians. * Working alongside the design department with new developments. * Undertaking monthly comp shop reviews and reporting back to Buyer. * Attending fit sessions when required. * Departments covered included: jewellery, hair accessories, bags, purses, warmshop (hats, gloves, scarves), underwear, nightwear and footwear.

* Daily interaction with suppliers both in the UK and abroad via phone, email and in person. Chasing deliveries, enquiring for new orders and resolving issues. * Analysing demand and sales figures both cumulatively and on a weekly basis. Monitoring returns rates and presenting information at regular trading meetings attended by senior management. * IT – excel, word, email and internet. Thorough knowledge of merchandising/buying systems (Mframe, EK Rekner, 4Cast, Item E) used for loading garments, raising contracts, tracking deliveries, analysing figures.