Clare Surplice
Henley-On-Thames,Oxon
Summary
A visionary, passionate leader with over 20 years experience in luxury fashion, retail and lifestyle. Co-founder of a B Corp certified Womenswear brand and former Buying Lead at John Lewis. A strong background in both own label and brands across multiple Fashion categories. Proven expertise in international wholesale, building market entry strategies, developing brand partnerships, and scaling distribution globally. I have a curious nature and creative vision but very much balanced with commercial acumen and the ability to align cross functional teams to deliver growth while maintaining brand integrity.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work history
Director & Co-Founder
Cape Cove
01.2022 - 09.2025
- Co-founded a B Corp certified womenswear lifestyle brand distributed globally through Nordstrom, Macy's, and John Lewis.
- Spearheaded creative, production, and sourcing strategies to build international recognition.
- Negotiated with global retail partners, managing contracts, margins, and brand positioning.
- Oversaw omni-channel campaigns and ensured alignment between product, marketing, and retail teams.
- Built strong international supply chain partnerships and established scalable operational frameworks.
Buying Lead, Womenswear, Accessories, Swim & Night
John Lewis Partnership
, London
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Collaborated with design and merchandising leadership to drive volume and margins via sourcing strategy.
- Led and supported teams across Womenswear & Accessories with trading worth £630m.
- Managed cross-functional work with PR, Marketing, Trading, and Online.
- Directed 4 direct reports and 35 indirect reports.
- Delivered seasonal marketing and promotional calendars aligned to product strategy.
- Nurturing and developing talent
Wholesale Brands Buyer
John Lewis Partnership
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Delivered £55m sales through expansion of branded womenswear and accessories.
- Executed sourcing strategy to drive margin and volume improvements.
- Managed a team of 8 across buying and merchandising.
- Negotiated partnerships and co-created brand assets to align with JL positioning.
- Boosted customer acquisition via targeted campaigns and seasonal activations.
Education
BA - Fashion Management
University of Leeds
A-Levels - Business Studies, Art & Textiles
St Joseph's College
Skills
- International Wholesale & Market Expansion
- Brand Partnerships & Negotiation
- Global Range Planning & Distribution
- Commercial Strategy & P&L Management
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Luxury Fashion & Retail Expertise
- Nurturing & developing talent
Websites
additional information
- Portfolio: Cape-Cove.com
- Awards: B Corp Certification
- Independent Customer Excellence Award
Timeline
Director & Co-Founder
Cape Cove
01.2022 - 09.2025
Buying Lead, Womenswear, Accessories, Swim & Night
John Lewis Partnership
01.2018 - 01.2021
Wholesale Brands Buyer
John Lewis Partnership
01.2015 - 01.2018
A-Levels - Business Studies, Art & Textiles
St Joseph's College
BA - Fashion Management
University of Leeds