Sophie Haywood

Product and Range Development:

• Developing and maintaining the range and helping to build a commercial range that reflects the customer trend with an eye for detail
• Range planning for the season ahead with the Buyer, Designer and Merchandiser
• Sourced new fabric bases for key programs across the multiple areas I have worked on, pushing the range forward and delivering newness
• Worked with independent suppliers to develop new shapes on boys knitwear resulting in sales success and an opportunity for product growth
• Worked directly with mills and laundries to engineer new wash work for both core programs and fashion lines in line with price structure
• Sourced the bases and developed wash work for the mega stretch program and the jersey denim program on boys denim
• Initializing projects and briefs to supply base following shopping and trend research in line with the critical path
• Developed new fits and shapes across the product areas I have worked on, that have become part of the core range, working closing with the product technologists to deliver this
• Strong technical knowledge, involvement in weekly fit meetings and leading technical selections.

Cost Price Negotiation and Global Sourcing:

• Negotiating prices ensuring we have a competitive range and target margins are being achieved
• Cross sourced core fabric bases with supply base resulting in margin improvements on key programs
• Setting pricing structure for new programs
• Directly discuss efficiency with factories to help improve prices on core lines

Sales Delivery and Trading:

• Analyzing sales and trend information identifying missed opportunities
• Worked with supply base to back versatile bases to help reduce lead times
• Used fabric liability to work into new smart shapes

Strategy:

• Monitor supplier performance and work on strategies for the season ahead
• Within my time on knitwear I have been heavily involved in bringing on a new quick response supplier, building the relationship from the very beginning
• Spotted opportunities on knit and shirts to bring on board new suppliers to create competition within the supply base
• Build and maintain relationship's with supply base
• Maintain and develop relationships with merchandising, design and technical team to deliver department strategy each season
• Regular Inspirational shopping visits to the high street and online for new product opportunities
• Work closely with directory to discuss styling and shots for online, maximizing the sales
• Mentoring and managing the trainee buyer, supporting with daily issues and processes involved with assistant role

• Responsible for buying the casual woven area managing over 150 options
• Selecting fabrics and negotiating fabric prices directly with the fabric mills
• Assisting senior buyer plan the range with design
• Setting up for range building and chasing in samples
• Negotiating prices and deliveries with suppliers
• Reviewing new buying samples and giving feedback to supplier
• Ensuring product systems are up to date and all information is loaded accurately
• Inspirational shopping visits both UK and international.

• Build the range along with the buyer
• Sole responsibility for licenced product across older boys department
• Liaise with the merchandise team in repeats of best sellers on jersey tops to gain quick repeat out of turkey
• Liaise with merchandise team on markdown proposal on my areas and also input in planned promotions.

• Work with buyer to develop newborn girls dress category
• Development of licence options on newborn across boys and girls and presenting these ranges in selection
• Raising and sending contracts to suppliers
• Running the weekly progress meetings.

• Selection main range product for international franchise partners
• Issuing contracts for international orders.

• I worked at universal grinding services whilst I was achieving my NVQ in business administration.