ANGELA WILLIAMSON
Hest Bank,Lancashire
Summary
Established Merchandiser/Buyer with more than 15 years in retail industry, consistently demonstrating expertise in budgeting and cost control, demand forecasting, and strategic planning with proven results. Successful in achieving targets through supplier and contract management, maximising profitability through rigorous inventory control. Consistently striving to seek improvements in process and stock management.
Leader on a project on purchase order management aimed to reduce stock holding. Through alignment of teams and changes to process achieved a reduction of -20%, £1M in stock inventory year on year.
Leveraged additional revenue through cost negotiations with key suppliers to enhance category margin by 2% this year.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work history
Category Merchandiser/Buyer
Lakeland
Windermere
08.2016 - 06.2025
- Company Overview: High Street retailer
- Plan, develop and execute category strategy with circa £25 million turnover for presentation and sign off with directors and key stakeholders
- Contract creation, negotiation and management across 100+ suppliers from UK & internationally.
- Purchase order management for 700+ products coordinating lead times with business requirements
- Sourcing of new and replacement products via established suppliers and using market research and analysis to acquire new exclusive products.
- Maintaining stakeholder relationships through regular communication, utilising data analysis and KPI reporting.
- Collaborating with suppliers to establish strong partnerships, leveraging competitive prices and ensuring timely delivery of products
- Critical path management to support alignment with objectives and fulfill company deadlines
- Managing supply chain life-cycle to ensure product availability across multiple channels.
- Supplier negotiation to attain promotional support, stock cancellations, and cost price reductions for efficient clearance of end-of-life stock.
- Line management and mentoring team with responsibility for two direct reports
Assistant Merchandiser
Lakeland
Windermere
08.2010 - 08.2016
- Forecasting seasonal stock requirements for new products with Category merchandiser.
- Demand planning and management of purchase orders for 500+ products within lead times with UK, Europe and Far East suppliers to ensure timely delivery.
- Weekly product performance review, working across depts. maximising sales potential and margin.
- Analysed sales data weekly establishing accurate demand requirements.
- Achieved over 95% availability through season
- Negotiated cost prices with suppliers and promotional support.
- Highlight opportunities/actions for over/under performing products to merchandising Manager.
- Worked towards achieving business objectives by diligently following company merchandising guidelines.
Junior buyer
B&M Retail
Blackpool
11.2009 - 08.2010
- Company Overview: High Street Retailer
- Responsible for 500+ products in the confectionary and cleaning categories with a combined turnover of over £20 million per annum.
- Forecasting and placing purchase orders to achieve weekly stock requirements with UK suppliers, ensuring timely deliveries and sufficient stock levels were maintained to optimise sales.
- Producing weekly sales reports for Buyers review meetings.
- Monthly product forecasting for key suppliers including Nestle, Mars and Cadburys.
- Weekly store allocation of seasonal and clearance lines for timely sell-through.
- High Street Retailer
Merchandiser
Tulchan Textiles Ltd
Carnforth
11.2007 - 11.2009
- Company Overview: Ladies wholesale Knitwear company
- Created purchase plan through data analysis, trading performance, and adherence to the buying budget.
- Liaising with designers to build product range.
- Negotiations with suppliers
- Consolidation of wholesale orders
- Placement of purchase orders to fulfil requirements
- Effectively managed and cleared end-of-season inventory through concession clearance outlets, maintaining optimal stock levels during the product season.
European Apparel Merchandising Co-ordinator - European HQ
Reebok Europe
Bolton
01.2006 - 12.2007
- Company Overview: Sportswear Manufacturer
- Reporting to the Vice President of Sales at the European Headquarters and working across the product team, finance and commercial department
- My role involved using SAP Business Warehousing reports and Excel provide sales reports for the senior management team.
- Consolidating product forecasts across all European markets. Providing a summarised brief to the business to ensure that market product requirements were met and sales were maximised.
- Liaising with the finance dept and product managers co-ordinate the quarterly Apparel price list.
European Sales Analyst
Reebok Europe
Bolton
01.2004 - 12.2006
Sales planning Analyst
Reebok
Lancaster
01.2000 - 12.2004
Regional Co-ordinator
Reebok
Lancaster
01.1997 - 12.2000
Education
Morecambe High School/Morecambe College of F.E
Skills
- Budgeting and cost control
- Contract management
- Demand forecasting
- Strategic planning
- Supplier relationship management
- Inventory control
- Critical path management
- Microsoft Office advanced level
- SAP reporting
Hobbies
- Previously I was a Special Police Constable for Lancashire Constabulary.
- I now volunteer for Lancashire voluntary service.
Timeline
Category Merchandiser/Buyer
Lakeland
08.2016 - 06.2025
Assistant Merchandiser
Lakeland
08.2010 - 08.2016
Junior buyer
B&M Retail
11.2009 - 08.2010
Merchandiser
Tulchan Textiles Ltd
11.2007 - 11.2009
European Apparel Merchandising Co-ordinator - European HQ
Reebok Europe
01.2006 - 12.2007
European Sales Analyst
Reebok Europe
01.2004 - 12.2006
Sales planning Analyst
Reebok
01.2000 - 12.2004
Regional Co-ordinator
Reebok
01.1997 - 12.2000
Morecambe High School/Morecambe College of F.E
Similar Profiles
IKRAMULLAH KHANZADAIKRAMULLAH KHANZADA
Security Guard at LakelandSecurity Guard at Lakeland
Bethany LammasBethany Lammas
Retail assistant at LakelandRetail assistant at Lakeland
Gustavo Enrique Torres BerraGustavo Enrique Torres Berra
SCADA EMS Technician at City of Lakeland - Lakeland ElectricSCADA EMS Technician at City of Lakeland - Lakeland Electric
Chloe HolmesChloe Holmes
General Assistant at Sooty’s Garden CentreGeneral Assistant at Sooty’s Garden Centre
Vincy WilsonVincy Wilson
Registered nurse at Lancashire Teaching HospitalsRegistered nurse at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals