Laura Bailey

Working on the biggest department within the group.

• Managing a £200m department and £550m WSSI per financial year.
• Assortment planning and range builds for over 1,100 stores across 13 countries.
• Online management for UK & European markets.
• Stock and intake management - promotional/trading planning.
• Working with globally renowned brands building collaborative relationships to ensure the partnerships supports both.
• Manage a team of 6 with their progression at the forefront.
• One junior member of my team promoted within 12 months of working with me.
• Started on a smaller department with brands with less risk, achieved double digit growth to budget with faster stock turn. Moved to larger more prominent brands.
• Implemented weekly meetings with the online merchandising team to work together to drive online sales.

• Used Business Objects and Power BI to compute statistics, create visually appealing charts and compile sales data and reports for business use and CEO.
• Researched competitors' actions in marketing, sales and distribution to develop new merchandising strategies through Edited.
• Coordinated with Marketing and Ecommerce to drive the best products and promotions as required.
• Worked alongside a consultancy agency to better develop the merchandising function.
• Assisted in the development, UAT, roll out and training of new Range Plans, WSSI and Merchandise Financial Plans, presenting training material to director level down.
• Involved in systems and process building with seniors/heads of and directors to better aid the merchandising function.
• Budget and assortment built using compiled seasonal analysis - £16.4m for FY; 6,700 Skus/1300 options
• Managed a Junior, Assistant and Admin Assistant along with regular support to colleagues across the trading floor.

Department FY sales as joined:

Traded £9mill -17% sales and -17% profit the previous year with stock +46% at year end and cover trading on 29 weeks; 1745 options/9,900 skus

First year trading on department:

Sales +5% and +7% profit with stock closing at -17% and cover at 14 weeks with a rolling average of 11 weeks; 1477 options/7385 skus

• Managed a £10mill department with significant growth planned.
• Turned a failing department around from -14% YOY to +2.7% (+£400k) to the 9+3, all whilst reducing weeks cover and increasing availability in 6 months trading.
• Built a great working relationship with suppliers to aide product selection to maximise sales.
• Managed an assistant merchandiser and admin.
• Sign offs presented up to CEO level.

• Worked alongside a buyer merchandising the three ranges whilst also performing the assistant merchandising tasks.
• Sign off experience up to board level.
• Experience dealing with China, India, Bangladesh and branded suppliers.
• Range planning and season building based on analysis pulled.
• Triple digit growth to budget two years running.

Managed the mens nightwear range with the assistance/support of the merchandiser.

• Tracking delivery of stock – ensuring goods arrive on time, identifying delivery issues.
• Controlling stock levels based on forecasts for the season.
• Analysing sales figures and purchasing behaviour to accurately forecast future sales.
• Seasonal/catalogue analysis to aid with the planning process and assist the buyer.
• Compiling weekly trade packs – highlighting best/worst sellers; stock issues for weekly trade meetings with management.
• Update and use the Range Plan.
• Core line management – Line card management, planning and forecasting.

• Managing a team of 6.
• Stock management - making sure the correct stock, was in the correct place, at the correct time.
• Grading of stores; used for future seasons
• Order book management – monitoring intake/deferrals..
• Ensuring all top sellers, low cover and NOOSE lines were prioritised.
• Store requests – respond effectively and efficiently to keep stores informed.
• Attend monthly WSSI meetings – discussing intake/core line shortages.