Rianna Constantinou

Outwear & Holiday

• Fast tracked the modernisation of the range alongside new Buyer. Constantly challenging product boundaries through closely working with suppliers to increase co-create mix. Identifying opportunities within product and price against competitors (Introduced 5x new entry competitive PPs vs YR). Challenging our store presence alongside VM to renew customers perception of Holiday Shop at M&S.
• Strong contributions to a strategic reset moment for the whole department, across Swim, Beach and Linen. Delivered these resets amongst a challenging supply base, multiple changes across the team and the ongoing Cyber Incident.
• Contributed to project managing Swim Blocks update.
• Recently taken on Linen as an area to own and range build as acting JB, ensuring decisions take into account the Global importance of Linen as a category. Exploring opportunities to move the category on, focusing on fabric and style updates, within a cost challenging climate for Linen in particular.
• Working closely with International trading team to ensure range is suitable for global offer and suggesting IBOs where necessary.
• Critical Path management and supplier management / communication key across multi product area. Buying multi product across 4-5 regions.
• Implementing better ways of working to align across functions, with a focus on maintaining key critical path milestones.
• Contributed to driving the product strategy for the department, with challenging options & budget, worked to reduce core and historic styles to make way for more modern and exciting trend, whilst maintaining an extremely profitable and balanced range with some viral sell out styles to be proud of.
• Developed strong cost negotiation skills on a very component heavy area, usually face to face with key suppliers from Hong Kong and Shanghai, developing close relationships.
• Worked very closely with Junior Merch and Designer to range build, stepping up during Buyers Maternity to cover Strategy/sign off meetings suitably.
• Contributed to a great season of growth. SS24 Outerwear sales of £24.9m (+26.3% vs YR).
• Managing and developing 2x BAAs.

• Gained experience across a highly technical, component-heavy product area requiring strong attention to detail and negotiation skills.
• Built strong supplier relationships across Hong Kong and Shanghai, developing robust negotiation and costing capabilities.
• Supported strategy and sign-off meetings during Buyer’s maternity cover, working closely with Merchandising and Design.
• Mentored, managed and trained 2 entry-level BAAs.

• Played a key role in building and delivering the Essentials Shop strategy, driving +6% sales beat to plan and +38% YOY.
• Independently range built with Design, applying trend and comp shop insights to balance commerciality with innovation.
• Supported Summer Tee campaign, delivering newness aligned to customer profile.
• Strengthened cost negotiation skills, securing improved margins across Jersey.
• Analysed sales data to identify bestsellers and de-risk weaker categories.
• Organised and led fit sessions, presented ranges at International Live Buy, and partnered with Marketing and VM to deliver aligned strategies.
• Led the BAA Peer Group, gaining exposure to senior leadership and mentoring peers.

• Managed department critical path and product approvals.
• Built strong supplier relationships while supporting cost negotiations.
• Coordinated sample management, range room preparation, and buyer presentations.