Ellie Wilson

I am currently an Assistant Merchandising Manager on Baby & Children’s Clothing. My role involves working alongside the Category Assistant Manager and Visual Merchandiser to deliver the department strategy by analysing sales and department data whilst making recommendations on product and productivity of space. This was my first junior role after working as an assistant merchandiser for 4 years prior. I believe I settled into the role quickly due to my previous experience and transferable skills.

• Sales Reporting: I create and update three trade dashboards every Monday for Mothercare Clothing, Maybe Baby Clothing, and Nursery Home & Travel. These excel reports track season-to-date performance, focusing on volume, TESP, sell through and rate of sale. The reports help both our internal teams and suppliers monitor performance and plan for our future ranges. I also present monthly sales data to our suppliers and conduct end-of-season reviews to inform future actions and planning.
• Creating and Launching Maybe Baby/Junior: I played a key role in launching the Maybe Baby and Junior clothing brands in August 2024, working with supplier Poetic Gem to create the concept and range. Initially, we launched a small collection of baby fashion, gifting and licensed products for AW24, with plans for Maybe Baby to replace Mothercare as our sole clothing brand by January 2026. I was involved in financial forecasting, range approval, volume planning, buy sign-offs and critical path management. This was a cross-functional team effort and I built a strong working relationship with Poetic Gem to ensure a seamless launch.
• Supplier Management: I manage supplier relationships daily, overseeing the end to end process from design approval to stock landing in stores and addressing any issues that arise.
• Data Analysis: I have strong data analysis skills, creating reports that provide actionable insights from sales and profit data. Key reports I've developed include continuity stock reports, sell-through trackers, WoW sales performance reports and space productivity reports.
• Buy Sign Offs: For our four annual rebuilds, I finalise buy planning, including volume, cost and estimated revenue, and present these figures to the Supply team before placing the orders. My confidence in presenting and explaining the data has grown significantly.
• Working Cross-Functionally: Throughout my 2.5 years at Boots, I’ve collaborated with teams across Supply, Imports, Ecommerce, Legal and Marketing. I maintain strong working relationships, especially with Supply and Ecommerce teams.
• Competitor Activity: As a team we conduct regular competitor shop trips to stay aligned on trends, range and pricing, ensuring we remain competitive in the retail market.

I worked at Next for 11 months in the Girls Coats & Jackets department, collaborating with the buying and design teams to develop product ranges aligned with trends and key timings. I also worked closely with the VM, online trading and warehouse teams to ensure timely product planning, accurate online content and smooth stock management. Key responsibilities included:

• Trade & Sales Forecasting: Weekly trade pack with detailed sales analysis. I would also re-forecast the range each week based on sales, new launches, stock arrivals and key timings, and adjusted budget estimates when needed.
• Supplier Management: Managed supplier relationships, monitored production and addressed delivery issues to meet launch deadlines.
• Production Planning: Planned quantities based on stock levels, minimum order quantities and key timings to optimise inventory.
• Range Progression & Launch Management: Managed delivery schedules, mitigated risks and ensured timely product launches.
• Competitor Analysis: Conducted store visits to assess competitor ranges and identify areas for improvement.
• Range Building & Selection Planning: Actively participated in range and option planning meetings, assisting with preparation and gaining valuable experience for my role at Boots.

I worked as a Merchandising Assistant for 3 years at George. I spent 2 years within Ladieswear, Dresses and Blouses department and 1 year on Adult Socks & Hosiery. This was my first role within the industry. Key responsibilities included:

• Trade Analysis: Analysed weekly sales, identifying top performers and areas for improvement and implemented actions based on any findings.
• Critical Path Management: Worked with suppliers to ensure timely deliveries, regularly reviewing critical paths with the assistant buyer to track production and sample progress.
• Supplier Relationships: Built strong supplier rapport to ensure smooth communication and delivery execution.
• Monthly Online Reviews: Analysed top and bottom-performing lines, market share data and sales performance, presenting findings and action plans in a monthly to the team.
• License Ownership: Managed licensing for dresses, collaborating with the assistant buyer to plan on-trend character designs and product quantities.
• Dresses Dot Com Ownership: Led planning for Dresses Dot Com, managing seasonal volumes, budget and buys based on past sales, key timings, and promotional offers.
• Sizing Analysis: Monitored sizing accuracy across departments to ensure correct availability.

In May 2017, I wanted to obtain first hand experience in a retail clothing environment, therefore I started work at Outfit in Nottingham. During my time there, I learnt a great deal about how the running of a clothing store operates. Within the store, I was given set brands to work on including Wallis, Oasis, Topshop and Miss Selfridge. I also helped with the opening of the Outfit Kids range. During my time at Outfit, I gained experience as a sales assistant, fitting room assistant, learning new brands, till operations and most importantly customer service.

During my third year at university, I completed a one week merchandising placement with George at Asda’s Ladieswear Jersey Team. I gained experience in bookings, sales analysis and adjusting delivery dates and transport. I also attended supplier meetings with buyers and merchandisers, gaining valuable insight into head office operations and the buying and merchandising process.

Prior to my placement at George, I completed a one week industry placement at fashion supplier Basic Thinking. I learnt about the supplier's role in the fashion industry, from design to getting products into stores.