Toni Burton

Supporting sales to build competitive quotes for customers. Securing samples for the technical team to drive innovation. Overseeing all purchasing of all raw materials, capsules and all packaging. Driving margin, building supplier relationships, negotiating payment terms and managing lead times to ensure on time manufacture.

Junior Buyer for Occasion Brands at Dorothy Perkins. Responsible for developing and buying Scarlett B, Luxe, Showcase guest and Bridal and Bridesmaids collections. As JB I develop commercial ranges true to each Brand’s handwriting, balanced with newness and fashion. Maximising opportunities on the department by trading in and out of key areas. Forward thinking and strategy for each brand is key in my role. This has included resourcing product areas, rebranding to ensure customer needs are delivered, and reviewing store ranging to highlight areas for expansion. As well as Own Buy I also select and build Wholesale ranges from brands including Little Mistress, Paper Dolls and Girls on Film to ensure all customer occasion needs are met.

Junior Buyer on Dresses department

Senior Assistant Buyer. Supporting my SB to develop, buy and deliver Coast Black Tie Dresses, also working on seasonal Bridesmaid collections and our exciting Prom range. Working on a breadth of product, we buy dresses and separates including tops, skirts, trousers and jumpsuits. Ensuring as a team we work well to maximise our relationship with suppliers, both NE and FE. Together with the Design and International teams I develop and buy my own area of Middle East exclusives, ensuring we deliver new exclusive styles and colour way exclusives to fulfill our options. Driving newness for this customer has been key and extremely exciting to push through with more fashion forward styling, and pushing the boundary on exit price points. On the department, managing supplier rolls and balancing the range is crucial in ensuring development is running on time to critical path dates. Reviewing the ranges to ensure key delivery dates are met is critical, around both UK launch dates & International holidays, to ensure sales and stock plans are met. Previous areas include Wholesale exclusives, Main range dresses and buying Debenham's exclusive dresses.

• Currently working on Miss Selfridge’s largest department, Casual Jersey • Working with a smaller supply base but dealing with large orders at increasingly shorter lead times • Developing and working with with a variety of fabrics, including proactively resourcing styles to meet target margins • Managing BAA meetings and trips (exhibitions, trend spotting, markets) • Product development is increasingly exciting as the brand grows. I currently work on front prints, slogans, textured fabric, embellishment, bra tops and bodies as well as the high profile Barbie capsule. • Previously worked on Casual Jersey seperates including developing leggings, jackets and dresses. • My previous department was Smart Jersey, which means I have a great view of the Miss Selfridge customer, as well as her aspirations and inspirations • Smart jersey based product included working with bodycon going out and occassionwear dresses, including trims and embellishment • Both departments had very different pricing structures which is key to getting product right • As well as developing my own skills I am keen on keeping my role as an Admin Assistant well delivered • Meeting deadlines is crucial to keeping in line with Critical Path, especially working on such short lead times, having a good memory helps this immensely • Communicating clearly with other roles such as my Garment Technologist, department Designer and also the Merchandising team is essential in my role.

Assisting the BAA on the younger ranges for Limited Collection