Julia Cummings
London,United Kingdom
Summary
Experienced professional in merchandising and stock management with expertise in strategy development, range planning, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization. Proven ability to manage supplier relationships and negotiate effectively to achieve business goals. Skilled in advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Business Objects, Google Analytics, Shopify Analytics, and various planning systems. Focused on delivering commercial insights through trend analysis and data-driven decision-making with a customer-centric approach.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
2020
2020
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Business Analyst on a company-wide road map project
DEBENHAMS
- Collaborated with wider business to ascertain Business Requirements & work collaboratively with IT team to design efficient software solutions, improving workflow significantly.
- Other merchandising/planning experience - Senior Merchandiser on Jewellery/Watches & roles on Menswear
Senior Merchandiser
WOMENS BEST (DTC Sportswear)
10.2023 - 04.2026
- Control of entire merchandising function for all 12 websites worldwide. Covering short & mid-term strategy, range planning, stock & OTB mgt., distribution, event/discount planning, plus end-of-life strategies across all Sportswear.
- Reports directly to the Commercial Director to agree financial sales/profit targets at Company/Category level
- Results - Sales cum +50% vs Last year, with only +32% stock. Profits up by +60% due to higher mix of full price sales
Senior Merchandiser Women’s Separates
NEW LOOK (FTC – Maternity Cover)
03.2022 - 01.2023
- Strategies to achieve all KPIs, range/assortment planning, sales & stock/demand planning at all levels, OTB mgt. & constant review, promotional/mark-down strategies, end of product lifecycle & distribution mgt.
- Margin sponsor for Womenswear – developing strategies to increase margin, e.g. supplier & low season booking.
- Managing production/booking greige on volume fabrics for key suppliers across all Womenswear Softs.
- Summer 2022 (Apr-Sept) – beat Plan Sales by £2.4m & plan profit by +£1.6m, with mark-down -10% points vs LY – through short lead-time trading
DTC Merchandise Manager & Strategy Consultant (FTC)
SMALLWORLD ACCESSORIES
01.2021 - 02.2022
- Outline 3-year strategy for key DTC business objectives to achieve required KPI targets.
- All key merchandising/buying tasks – such as range planning, stock/OTB management, forecasting & trading.
- Shopify, Facebook, & Google Analytics – analysis to improve understanding of the ‘customer journey’.
- Working collaboratively with Design to create commercial ranges & with Digital Agency to drive conversion rates.
- Managing & negotiating with Wholesale Partnerships - JLP, Joules, Amazon, Maisonette (US) & Feel Unique.
- Reporting directly to MD/Finance Director on forward financial plans, current trading, & strategy/product sign off.
- Set up of new online shopping platform on Shopify – e.g. instructing web developer on site structure & layouts.
- Wholesale Supplier to Supermarkets, Joules, JLP, Amazon, Feel Unique, & Maisonette US
- STYCH cum profit +240% & cum views +190% vs last year. Similar growth on ECom/DTC & Wholesale
Merchandise/Planner Manager & Buying Role on Women’s International Brands
DEBENHAMS
10.2018 - 05.2020
- All aspects of Merchandise/Planning function – covering Brands such as Mango, Levi, Vero Moda, Vila, & JDY.
- Branded Buying – full product selection & range development on International Brands. Outlining standards for strong visual execution across all channels & developing Debenhams exclusive products with the Brands.
- Marketing - working jointly with Brands on fixture rollouts, staff product knowledge, & online ‘Brand’ stories.
- Strategy/Range Planning & Product Sign Off’s – delivering customer focused & balanced ranges.
- Key tasks – sales, stock/intake (forecasting/production planning, e.g.: Denim Brands), OTB, & MD management.
- Constantly reviewing sales performance & trading accordingly.
- Inventory optimization - through accurate store grading, brand profiling by channel/store & targeted distribution based on continuous performance assessment.
- Promotional strategy – managing MD & promotions within budget & determining ‘end of life’ product strategies.
- Smashed profit targets for Autumn Winter Sept 2019 to Feb 2020 - profits +223% versus last year.
- Levi denim marketing campaign drove sales increases of +500% online versus last year.
- Instagram influencer initiatives drove anywhere between +50% to +200% sales increases.
Merchandise Manager Core Womenswear Collection (later merging into Principles)
DEBENHAMS
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Merchandise/Planning function for stores, online & international – from strategy & range/assortment/KPI planning through to the management of stock distribution – annual OTB +£120m, with 1800+ products per annum.
- Managing & developing a team of up to 8 – across Collection Formal, Collection Casual & Collection Petites.
- Supplier relationship management – building collaborative supplier relationships through accurate critical path mgt. & production forecasting. Instigating promotional margin support on core ‘opening price point’ products.
- Preparing & delivering weekly trade updates to Senior Management Team – with suggested action points.
- Forecasting sales, stock, MD, & cover at all levels – department (WSSI), category, product/line & size level.
- Managing OTB, taking action to minimise stock holding, whilst maximising sales/profit.
- Space Planning – calculating optimal space mix by brand/department for Womenswear & store grading/profiling.
- Providing product distribution guidelines – setting initial allocations by Channel/store, constantly reviewing stock levels based on sales performance/covers & adjusting sales forecasts/allocations accordingly.
- Identifying & delivering international specific requirements due to cultural or climate factors.
- Logistics Sponsor for Womenswear – providing regular & accurate DC inbound & outbound stock forecasts
- Store profit densities +8% each year, despite significant space lost in high sales density stores.
- Online profits +25% for 3 consecutive years; via better availability, modernising offer & special buys.
- Stock cover reduced by 8 weeks & mark-down down -10% points in first 2 years – better planning/stock mgt.
Merchandise Manager Women’s Swimwear & Holiday Shop/Sunglasses (Designer & OB)
DEBENHAMS
01.2008 - 01.2014
- Full Merchandising/planning role – OTB £60m+ per annum, with diverse supplier base, (70+ suppliers).
- Deputising for Director of Merchandising, e.g.: planning & Finance sign-off of Divisional KPIs & MD budgets.
- Doubled profits in 3 years; led to UK No 1 market share on bikinis, (source Kantar, in £k).
- Launch of ‘Mantaray’ brand as a separate Holiday ‘Shop in Shop’, spectacular sales growth from £2m to £10m
- Initiated 5-year review of departmental stock levels on the Accessories Division – leading to new allocation methodology to reduced stock investment & mark-down.
Education
The Complete Digital Marketing Course -
Business Studies BA - undefined
University of South Wales
Skills
- Merchandising/Stock Mgt Skills – strategy & range/assortment planning, demand planning/forecasting, critical path management, fabric/production planning, inventory/distribution optimization, option/OTB management, promotional & end of life strategy, trend/pricing/data analysis, commercial insight (utilising Kantar/Edited), customer focused & market/competitor aware
- Soft Skills – analytical, leadership & motivational skills, supplier/relationship management & negotiation, problem resolution, clear communication & presentation, change-management, attention-to-detail & training/mentoring
- Systems – advanced Excel, Word, Power-Point, Business Objects, Google & Shopify Analytics, various planning/distribution systems or developing excel alternatives
Timeline
Senior Merchandiser
WOMENS BEST (DTC Sportswear)
10.2023 - 04.2026
Senior Merchandiser Women’s Separates
NEW LOOK (FTC – Maternity Cover)
03.2022 - 01.2023
DTC Merchandise Manager & Strategy Consultant (FTC)
SMALLWORLD ACCESSORIES
01.2021 - 02.2022
Merchandise/Planner Manager & Buying Role on Women’s International Brands
DEBENHAMS
10.2018 - 05.2020
Merchandise Manager Core Womenswear Collection (later merging into Principles)
DEBENHAMS
01.2014 - 01.2018
Merchandise Manager Women’s Swimwear & Holiday Shop/Sunglasses (Designer & OB)
DEBENHAMS
01.2008 - 01.2014
Business Studies BA - undefined
University of South Wales
Business Analyst on a company-wide road map project
DEBENHAMS