Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

LISA HARKINS

PARTICK,GLG

Summary

I am a dynamic Head of Merchandising with 21 years of experience delivering strategic leadership and optimising planning across premium and luxury retail sectors. I have expertise in budget preparation and supplier negotiations driving successful outcomes in complex business environments. I can build and lead high-performing teams while fostering effective communication between departments to enhance operational efficiency. I am very passionate about leveraging analytical insights to maximise sales and streamline processes, ensuring that merchandising strategies align with broader business objectives. Lastly I am committed to continuous improvements and innovation to meet market demands and exceed/meet performance targets.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

HEAD OF MERCHANDISING

REBECCA VALLANCE
Glasgow
03.2024 - 03.2025
  • Lead strategic planning initiatives to optimize product assortments and inventory management.
  • Drive supplier negotiations to achieve cost efficiencies and enhance product quality.
  • Develop and implement merchandising strategies that align with business objectives to maximise sales potential.
  • Create data driven merchandising policies that optimize product selection and pricing to achieve sales and align with brand goals.
  • Foster collaboration across departments to improve operational efficiency and streamline processes.
  • Utilize analytical insights to inform decision-making and adapt to market trends.
  • Budget planning by category for retail and wholesale for $15 million net sales.
  • Led the management of WSSI forecasts, and stock flow for premium retail stores and online, achieving a stock turn of 2 by leveraging data-driven insights and strategic planning.
  • Planned new store openings for all options by linear meterage.
  • Managed OTB of $6 AUD million at cost.
  • Drove the promotional marketing strategy for Retail and Online channels to ensure planned budget sales were met.

HEAD OF MERCHANDISING

GUESS INC & STEVE MADDEN
Sydney
10.2019 - 10.2023
  • Lead merchandising strategy development for GUESS INC and STEVE MADDEN, focusing on premium and luxury retail sectors. Taking sales from $6million to $55 million in 3 years.
  • Oversee budget preparation for retail and online channel for over 45 categories for the departments of men and women clothing, footwear, handbags and smallgoods.
  • Drive cross-departmental collaboration across e-comm, marketing and logistics to enhance operational efficiency and streamline processes in daily processes.
  • Utilize analytical insights to maximize sales performance and align merchandising strategies with business objectives.
  • Mentor and develop high-performing teams, fostering a culture of effective communication and continuous improvement.
  • Set up analytical data report to analyse sizing data and consumer trends.

JUNIOR MERCHANDISING MANAGER

SUZANNE GRAE
Sydney
01.2017 - 10.2019
  • Prepared WSSI reporting and attended regular merchandising and progress meetings to discuss any areas of concern.
  • Presented each week to the CEO and Head of Merchandising sales and stock for my categories which accounted for 75% of the business.
  • Re-forecasted each category weekly to ensure sales and stock were maximised where they could.
  • Managed OTB to ensure the buyers were buying correctly for each category.
  • Built buy plans for the buying team providing options by category for women clothing and by price point.
  • Working with the allocation team to ensure the correct stock is sent to the right climate and stores for over 2,000 options.
  • Mentored a total team of 5 planning assistants and allocators to ensure they continued to be supported and continue to develop new skills to keep a strong structure in the team.

JUNIOR MERCHANDISING MANAGER

SFG SPECIALITY FASHION GROUP
Sydney
08.2013 - 10.2016
  • Weekly trade meeting with the buying team and general manager to look at sales and place repeats, push orders out and any markdown action needed.
  • Management OTB and present monthly to CFO.
  • Replenish stores and online weekly for over 300 stores.
  • Suggest promotions/markdowns to ensure stock turn was meeting target.
  • Quarterly SWOT to review each previous market and provide learnings.
  • Work with buying to provide options, proposed quantities to place for each area.
  • Managed 50% off the business for men's and women's footwear. Fast fashion volume business with over 5 million units each year.
  • Regular communication with Chinese and Indian suppliers for footwear to plan production space and place orders.
  • Visited Chinese suppliers twice a year to place orders, review samples and negotiate costs.
  • Men's and women's footwear brand was acquired to be a sub brand in SFG so had to recruit a whole new merchandising team and provide training and processes across the newly acquired brand.
  • 75% terminal stock was our opening stock in acquiring the men's and footwear brand so had to trade and have an exit strategy to clear this but also bring in new stock to maximise sales.

SENIOR MERCHANDISER

STRANDBAGS
Sydney
11.2011 - 08.2013
  • Replenished stores and online weekly, allocating new styles for over 150 locations.
  • Managed 30% of business for women's small goods, both leather and non-leather.
  • Presented strategic plans and promotions monthly to align with sales objectives.
  • Managed OTB, providing bi-weekly re-forecasted sales and intake to head of merchandising.
  • Developed option plans by SKU, optimizing sell-through and ROS for upcoming purchases.

MERCHANDISER

USC LTD
Ayr
10.2008 - 10.2011
  • Managed 15% of business in men's and women's accessories.
  • Planned OTB for brands with varying delivery windows, ASP, and IMU%.
  • Allocated and replenished inventory across stores.
  • Conducted weekly trade reviews with directors to refine sales strategies.
  • Collaborated in WSSI meetings with head of merchandising to analyse sales and optimize markdown strategies.

TRAINEE GRADUATE MERCHANDISER

NEXT RETAIL LTD
Leicester
04.2003 - 10.2008
  • Oversaw womenswear and menswear categories, enhancing product selection and sales performance.
  • Collaborated with senior merchandiser on demand forecasting and order placement.
  • Maintained relationships with suppliers, ensuring timely order fulfillment.
  • Facilitated weekly critical path meetings to monitor project timelines and prevent delays.
  • Analyses market trends to inform inventory decisions and optimize product assortments.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - BUSINESS ECONOMICS

Glasgow Caledonian University
06.2001

Skills

  • Passionate
  • Adaptability
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Team set up and development
  • Data Analytical
  • Inventory Management
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Effective Time Management
  • Ability to Work Under Pressure
  • Planning in premium and luxury retail sector
  • Budget preparation
  • Strong negotiation skills with suppliers
  • Strong leadership skills to develop and communicate clearly with the teams
  • Knowledge of NetSuite, Excel, JE, TRS and Maple Lake data and forecast planning tools
  • Forecasting
  • Customer focus and trend awareness

Timeline

HEAD OF MERCHANDISING

REBECCA VALLANCE
03.2024 - 03.2025

HEAD OF MERCHANDISING

GUESS INC & STEVE MADDEN
10.2019 - 10.2023

JUNIOR MERCHANDISING MANAGER

SUZANNE GRAE
01.2017 - 10.2019

JUNIOR MERCHANDISING MANAGER

SFG SPECIALITY FASHION GROUP
08.2013 - 10.2016

SENIOR MERCHANDISER

STRANDBAGS
11.2011 - 08.2013

MERCHANDISER

USC LTD
10.2008 - 10.2011

TRAINEE GRADUATE MERCHANDISER

NEXT RETAIL LTD
04.2003 - 10.2008

Bachelor of Arts - BUSINESS ECONOMICS

Glasgow Caledonian University

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