Ilona Tank
Summary
Experienced Senior Merchandiser, ready to take career to the next level. A highly driven individual with broad category experience in fashion retail. Strong analytical skills along with planning, trading and inventory management in a multi channel business. Known for exceeding sales and margin targets, whilst navigating a continually changing and challenging retail landscape.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work history
Additional responsibilites
river island
- Have been chosen as sole merchandiser in WW division to continue working through pandemic. Alongside Merchandising director and managers implemented major adjustments to immediate strategy while trading essential product across all departments.
- Absorbed E-commerce planning for WW post-pandemic, overseeing online options and coordinating monthly option rolls across teams. Chaired monthly channel meetings with management, reviewing performance and identifying opportunities for growth.
- Managed WW Accessories team in absence of manager role, coaching merchandiser through successful department sign-offs and SS season trading.
- Rolling Monthly WISSI Submits for total WW. Presenting key headlines to director and suggest and feedback changes to teams.
E-Commerce Senior Merchandiser
River Island
London
01.2025 - Current
- Worked alongside Merchandising Director to identify product risks and opportunities and deliver in line with customer calendar
- Managed team of two Junior Merchandisers while overseeing total WW, accounting for 86% of RI online sales. Over 8,000 options annually.
- Achieved successful SS season with sales growth of 3%, additional £3.5 mil during challenging season for company.
- Optimised online stock levels, customer promotions, and markdown demand planning, to achieve growth in sales with reduced stocks of -36%, and reduced MD cost of 20% vs 30% in previous year.
- Implemented new Channel Paperwork to shape divisional E-commerce strategies and seasonal buy summaries. Shared with divisional merchandisers and managers and used for AW26 and SS26 planning and in season trading.
- Worked Closely with Content and operations team to review customer journey across landing pages, increasing conversion rate by 11% compared to previous year.
- Acted as key communicator with core merchandising management and attended product sign-off meetings to review plans and drive digital performance.
- Coordinated with marketing operations to ensure accurate forecasting of product launches in trading plans.
Senior Merchandiser - WW Handbags
River Island
London Colney, Hertfordshire
01.2019 - 12.2023
- Successfully Led No1 department, driving 15% of WW sales in SS growing to 20% in AW and achieving £72 mil sales, £35 mil profit in 1st year.
- Buying multi product areas including Handbags, Purses , Leather goods and introducing new Luggage and Lifestyle category, driving additional £2mil annually.
- Strong post-pandemic recovery with AW20 sales at -10% vs LY, vs total division -30%. Getting back to pre-pandemic levels by 2022 with total annual profit level vs 2019.
- Responded swiftly to changing consumer behaviour by focusing on E-commerce and wholesale channel grow. Increasing digital mix to 37% vs 20% pre pandemic, driving 17% of total WW online vs 13% before. Ranked RI bags as top high street brand on Next and Zalando, generating additional £6 million annual sales through wholesale partnerships.
- Achieved intake margin growth of 4% over four years by consolidating existing suppliers, onboarding new supplier to expand product handwriting and re-negotiating key investments.
- Reacting to post pandemic customer demands, Implemented promotional activities resulting in profit increase of 6% through strategic buy-to-promote programmes.
- Exceptional Management of critical path and stock levels with buying team meant controlled MD costs of 6%.
- Managed large team of six and collaborating effectively with two buyers on range building and product buying.
Established Merchandiser - Swimwear, Nightwear, Li
Topshop
, Northern Ireland
09.2016 - 01.2018
- Managed high-turnover department, covering five different product types, owned buy and branded and sourcing from five countries of origin, both short and long lead suppliers.
- In 1st year on department, achieved best Swimwear season, taking £10 mil in sales, +16% vs previous year, while reducing markdown costs to 23%.
- Maintained 200 in stock options alongside 50 branded options online, enabling phased store launches to 280 stores.
- Acquired Underwear, Lingerie and Hosiery ranges during company restructure, generating £15 million in annual sales and additional 350 in stock options. Bought Lingerie Sets / Singles, Nightwear, Branded and premium ranges for 280 stores and extended online offerings.
- Handled increased workload without expanding headcount
- Experience with branded, managing total of 14 lingerie and 10 swim brands.
Merchandiser - Swimwear/Loungewear/Lingerie/Hosier
River Island
06.2014 - 09.2016
- Managed diverse products, lead times, and suppliers from China, India, and Europe.
- Best AW swimwear season with sales, +10% vs prev year.
- Drove strong web performance of +30% through SS by re-strategising phasing of newness and growing exclusive package. Growing to top 5 department online.
- Worked with a range of wholesale partners, generating an additional £2 million in sales last year.
- Increased AW15 loungewear sales by 30% through improved tradability by strategic airfreight use and cloth programming reducing lead times by two weeks while increasing profit by 40% compared to last year.
- Successfully trialled Nightwear and Lingerie package in spring, driving additional £2 mil of sales and creating an all year round department in all stores.
- Acted as temporary merchandiser for RI PLUS range, helping in planning of initial launch.
- Rolled out new company job profiles for allocator and assistant merchandiser.
- Involved in rolling out new processes for planning international store packages.
- Involved in setting up best practices for intake delivery management used by all teams.
Junior Merchandiser -Footwear
River Island
06.2013 - 06.2014
Assistant Merchandiser - Jewellery
River Island
02.2012 - 06.2013
Senior Allocator
River Island
08.2010 - 02.2012
Allocator
River Island
11.2009 - 08.2010
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics
UCL
LondonA-Levels - Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology
Dunraven Sixth Form
LondonSkills
- Analytical reporting
- Demand forecasting
- Inventory management
- Budget control
- Leadership
- Communication skills
- Advanced Excel
- Power BI & Looker
Timeline
E-Commerce Senior Merchandiser
River Island
01.2025 - Current
Senior Merchandiser - WW Handbags
River Island
01.2019 - 12.2023
Established Merchandiser - Swimwear, Nightwear, Li
Topshop
09.2016 - 01.2018
Merchandiser - Swimwear/Loungewear/Lingerie/Hosier
River Island
06.2014 - 09.2016
Junior Merchandiser -Footwear
River Island
06.2013 - 06.2014
Assistant Merchandiser - Jewellery
River Island
02.2012 - 06.2013
Senior Allocator
River Island
08.2010 - 02.2012
Allocator
River Island
11.2009 - 08.2010
Additional responsibilites
river island
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics
UCL
A-Levels - Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology
Dunraven Sixth Form
Similar Profiles
Nabeela AswadNabeela Aswad
People Manager at River IslandPeople Manager at River Island
Anush JeyakumarAnush Jeyakumar
Sales Advisor at River IslandSales Advisor at River Island
Angel AdegbuyiAngel Adegbuyi
Retail sales advisor at River IslandRetail sales advisor at River Island
Isaiah WrightIsaiah Wright
Agency Account Manager at Accenture Consulting/ PinterestAgency Account Manager at Accenture Consulting/ Pinterest
Dorothy KiraboDorothy Kirabo
Business development manager at MAAD ADVERTISINGBusiness development manager at MAAD ADVERTISING