Louisa Newton-Law
Sale,Greater Manchester
Summary
Highly skilled in inventory management and supply chain optimisation, with a strong focus on safety standards compliance and distribution channel awareness. Demonstrates expertise in stock control software, ERP systems, and warehouse database systems to ensure efficient inventory level management and forecasting accuracy. Known for exceptional organisational skills, consistently meeting deadlines while improving learning and performance. Career goals include advancing in roles that leverage problem-solving abilities and Microsoft Excel expertise to enhance operational efficiency.
Seasoned professional in retail merchandising with career focus on driving sales through strategic product placement and inventory management. Capable of enhancing profitability and optimising stock turnover by leveraging data analysis and market trend insights. Unique skills in team leadership, negotiation and relationship building ensure productive partnerships with suppliers and cohesive in-house teams.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Supply Chain Inventory Controller
Dulux Decorating Centre
08.2022 - 01.2026
- Managing stock within DDC stores (over 230) and meeting the needs of the sales team with regards to stock.
- Led stock performance across multiple metrics aligned to OWC targets, ensuring optimal product availability in-store.
- Managed inventory processes, including min/max reviews, promotional stock planning, and ordering, to support range reviews and superior service projects.
- Managed Inventory Administrator role, ensuring high-quality service delivery to stores, customers, and support teams.
- Built strong relationships with store colleagues and logistics partners to improve stock flow and meet business objectives.
- Delivered monthly KPI reviews and reporting, providing actionable insights to senior management and regional teams.
- Supported financial updates on OWC position and contributed to commercial planning for promotions and range changes.
- Directed stock strategy for new store openings, refurbishments, and acquisitions, ensuring availability and range credibility.
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing replenishment processes, optimizing min/max levels, and incorporating store feedback.
- Acted as first-line support for inventory-related queries and managed product recalls and returns efficiently.
- Trade paint and accessories.
Group Marketplace Senior Ecommerce Merchandiser
Regatta group
08.2018 - 08.2022
- Managing all of Marketplaces and online concessions across the 3 brands under the Regatta group.
- Regatta, Dare2B and Craghoppers brands - outdoor wear
- Achievements:
- Responsible for Strategy for online partnerships including creating FY budgets and forecasting forward monthly sales.
- Ensuring each product launch goes smoothly with management of marketplace operational team workload.
- Directly reporting figures/KPIs to key directors.
- Build and maintaining key relationships with each partner including Debenhams, eBay, Decathlon etc.
- Maximise trading opportunities across all partnership channels with promotional pricing and advertising.
- Drive sales and conversion, delivering profit through strategic analysis and effective stock management.
- Own, maintain and influence department stock hold by placing forward stock order, monitoring sell through and in the moment stock changes.
Retail & International Merchandiser (Mat Cover)
Regatta group
01.2018 - 08.2018
- Managing two of the largest wholesale accounts as well as maintaining the two largest categories within the retail stores.
- Regatta, Dare2B and Craghoppers brands - outdoor wear
- Achievements:
- Planning stock and seasonal product ranges for each store group and budgets in mind.
- Managing stock levels thought out the year for each store within my remit - USA, Spain, UK and Netherland stores.
- Forecasting and monitoring weekly rates of sale.
- Checking through margins and promotional price changes to meet targets.
- Keeping track of the critical path in line with product launches.
- Coordinate seasonal trading calendars.
- Manage sales, trading reporting and monthly trading packs.
Merchandiser
Rectella
04.2017 - 01.2018
- Managing two of the largest wholesale accounts as well as maintaining the two largest categories within the retail stores.
- Bedding and curtain wholesaler and retailer
- Achievements:
- Forecasting sales and ordering stock for the retail side of the company (Bedding and Curtains).
- WSSI – Budget managing and forecasting forward sales against budget and KIPs.
- Approving PO’s and containers.
- Reforecasting relevant categories for wholesale customers.
- Critical path management with communication from QC, Design and Supply.
- Reporting on store footage, trial stores and ad hoc reports for directors.
- Creating data for range reviews and product signoffs.
- Communicating closely with suppliers in China and Pakistan.
- Trading reports - Availability, LFL reporting, Intake, Supplier progression reports.
- Reviewing product performance.
Assistant Merchandiser
Lamoda
01.2016 - 04.2017
- Maintaining three departments with sign offs, promotions and trade while implementing a new ERP system solo.
- Russian Based company
- Achievements:
- Covering Curve, Trousers and outerwear as the main merchandiser with support from the senior merchandiser.
- Chairing and executing all meetings regarding the Integration from excel sheets to new ERP system Styleman.
- Cleaning and condensing historic data from excel sheets to input within the system including logistics costings, shipments, sales and setting up categories for later reporting.
- Sizing analysis for all departments using historic data from the program business objects on a season-to-season basis.
- Manual promotions for all styles within my departments for Lamoda website.
- Keeping relationships and communicating with wholesalers such as Asos, Shopdirect, Lipsy, Zalando, Zalora and the iconic.
- Having meetings with buyers before mini reviews and sign offs to make sure products are on trend, best sellers and to minimize risk.
- Maintaining range plans and new line cards.
- Managing an admin with ad hoc tasks and ensuring orders for wholesales are sent out in a timely manor.
Senior Merchandiser Assistant
Arcadia
09.2015 - 01.2016
- To support the merchandiser with analyse on selected departments while maintaining deliveries, availability on products within stores, wholesale parties and e-com.
- Dorothy Perkins
- Achievements:
- Ensuring stock is allocated daily and sent to the selected grading.
- Maintaining strong relationships with entry level admins and providing training.
- Providing analyse and presenting findings.
- Updating and publishing promotions for large events.
- Visiting stores and completing store reports.
Merchandiser Admin Assistant
Jacques Vert Group Ltd
10.2014 - 09.2015
- To provide support to the merchandiser/assistant merchandiser with any administrative and analytical duties, to manage any intake and due into the warehouse.
- Fashion Retailers across different brands
- Achievements:
- Maintaining intake; chasing suppliers, updating RP with quantities/dates.
- Upholding a strong working relationship with the merchandising team.
- Inputting mark down sales on Merret correctly and within time restrictions.
- Completing size analysis – supply buyers with ratios in a timely manor.
- Finalising any ad hoc analys given by merchandising team.
- Updating and understanding the daily sales with own analysis.
- Ensuring business continuity with distributor and buying assistant.
Distributor
Jacques Vert Group Ltd
06.2013 - 10.2014
- To implement product ranges decided by buyers and merchandisers and oversee delivery to stores. Ensuring a stock availability across 3 brands managing hundreds of unique products from DC to 200+ stores. Use performance reporting to control stock levels and support stores availability. Manage stock delivery to new stores and reclamation from closing stores. Directly manage 5 of the company’s spotlight stores.
- Fashion Retailers across different brands
- Achievements:
- Developed and extensive understanding of Merret systems and gained Super User status. This allows me to train other users within the organisation.
- Taken responsibility of an extra brand from my initial 2 and maintaining consistent and high work standards over an 8 month period.
- Very efficient with stock building, stock tracker management and availability reporting.
- Confident in delegating workload to other team members.
- Maintaining great levels of communication with branch merchandisers, brand teams and the warehouse staff.
ELC Direct & Stores Allocator
Mothercare Ltd
11.2011 - 04.2013
- Manage stock flow for 2,500+ SKUs from the central DC to 300+ stores and three websites, ensuring 95%+ on-shelf availability across key categories. Oversee supply chain planning and reporting, including launching the Amazon sales channel during peak trading. Collaborate with 3PL partners to optimise allocation, replenishment, and rework processes. Support new line ranging and system setup for smooth seasonal launches.
- Retailers of Toys and Child Merchandise
- Achievements:
- Built strong relationships with Merchandisers to align stock allocation with sales targets, ensuring products were available in-store on time.
- Effectively managed time and priorities while allocating stock for both Mothercare and ELC brands to meet planned targets.
- Led team training on allocation processes for Mothercare stores using a bespoke JDA system.
- Maintained high on-shelf availability in key departments by managing store-specific replenishment and stock grades.
- Set up allocation parameters in advance of seasonal launches, including ranging and stock level limits.
- Developed advanced expertise in JDA to optimize allocation and distribution for Mothercare, ELC, and Amazon UK.
- Improved supply chain efficiency through close collaboration with DHL, ensuring timely merchandise delivery.
- Enhanced sales performance by analysing and maintaining allocation, replenishment, and delivery reporting tools.
- Consistently met critical business and 3PL deadlines, safeguarding delivery schedules and service levels.
Education
BSc - Media Tech
Manchester University
09.2007 - 07.2010
Skills
- Organisation Always meet deadlines Dependable and reliable
- Problem solving Enjoys solving problems independently and working with others
- Distribution channel awareness
- Improving own learning and performance Conscientious, hard working and determined to work to the best of my ability
- Stock control software
- Safety standards compliance
- Inventory optimisation
- Perpetual inventory system mastery
- Supply chain understanding
- Forecasting accuracy
- Microsoft excel expertise
- Forecasting proficiency
- Warehouse database systems
- Stock ordering
- Pricing report generating
- ERP systems knowledge
- Inventory level management
- Inventory forecasting
References
References are available on request.
Affiliations
- Passionate reader and book collector
- Baker with a skill for cupcakes and cake design
- Live music
Accomplishments
I have completed courses on personal effectiveness, Management training, Mental health first aider.
Certification
I am a mental health first aider and have been for 5 years.
Timeline
Supply Chain Inventory Controller
Dulux Decorating Centre
08.2022 - 01.2026
Group Marketplace Senior Ecommerce Merchandiser
Regatta group
08.2018 - 08.2022
Retail & International Merchandiser (Mat Cover)
Regatta group
01.2018 - 08.2018
Merchandiser
Rectella
04.2017 - 01.2018
Assistant Merchandiser
Lamoda
01.2016 - 04.2017
Senior Merchandiser Assistant
Arcadia
09.2015 - 01.2016
Merchandiser Admin Assistant
Jacques Vert Group Ltd
10.2014 - 09.2015
Distributor
Jacques Vert Group Ltd
06.2013 - 10.2014
ELC Direct & Stores Allocator
Mothercare Ltd
11.2011 - 04.2013
BSc - Media Tech
Manchester University
09.2007 - 07.2010