TRACEY KUHWALD
Stockport,United Kingdom
Summary
Commercial planning and demand forecasting professional with over 16 years' experience delivering sales growth, inventory optimisation and commercial performance across premium retail and Ecommerce businesses including Character World Brands, Jigsaw, N Brown and Topshop.
Extensive experience managing demand forecasts, Open-to-Buy (OTB), WSSI, inventory planning and commercial forecasting across categories worth up to £42m. Proven ability to balance customer demand, stock investment and profitability through data-driven decision making and cross-functional collaboration.
A commercially focused leader who partners effectively with Sales, Buying, Supply Chain, Finance and Product teams to improve forecast accuracy, reduce inventory risk and optimise product availability. Advanced user of Excel, Power BI, Microsoft Dynamics and Business Central with a passion for continuous improvement and delivering measurable business results as Senior Merchandiser.
Overview
3
3
Languages
4
4
years of post-secondary education
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Merchandiser
Character World Brands
Cheadle Hulme, Manchester
2024.09 - Current
• Manage demand planning and inventory performance across key retail customer accounts.
• Increased forecast demand by 10% for major online retailer through improved availability planning and customer collaboration.
• Customer demand for 2026 is currently tracking 79% ahead of previous year through forecasting and inventory management.
• Collaboratively reduced aged inventory by 50% year-on-year through stock optimisation, promotional planning and inventory control.
• Analyse sales trends, customer demand and inventory performance to support commercial decision making and maximise product availability.
Career Break due to family commitments
-
Manchester, United Kingdom
2021.04 - 2024.08
Merchandiser - Knitwear & Outerwear
N Brown Group
Manchester, United Kingdom
2020.09 - 2021.03
- Owned forecasting, WSSI and Open-to-Buy across £18m of Womenswear categories.
- Led weekly commercial forecasting and inventory review meetings.
- Analysed demand trends and identified risks and opportunities across digital channels.
- Worked cross-functionally with Buying to respond rapidly to changes in customer demand.
- Balanced inventory investment against forecast sales and commercial targets.
Career Break due to family commitments
-
Staffordshire
2020.07 - 2020.08
- Relocated (temporary basis) from London
Senior Merchandiser – Knitwear, Jersey & Childrenswear
Jigsaw
Kew Gardens, London
2011.01 - 2019.06
- Owned end-to-end demand forecasting, WSSI and inventory strategy across £42m of business
- Managed seasonal sales forecasts, inventory investment and stock optimisation
- Identified commercial risks and opportunities through regular forecast reviews
- Presented forecasting and trading recommendations to senior leadership
- Delivered £500k additional profit through improved forecasting and depth planning
- Reduced markdown spend by 10 percentage points through inventory optimisation
- Partnered with buying, design, and senior leadership on commercially balanced range plans
- Line managed merchandising team members and deputised for head of merchandising.
- Introduced structured forecasting reviews, lessons-learned, and improved planning governance across merchandising function
Assistant Merchandiser - Dresses|Swimwear|Denim|Hosiery
TOPSHOP TOPMAN
London
2007.05 - 2010.12
- Contributed to seasonal planning for £40m dresses division, supporting occasion-led product ranges.
- Planned and traded AW09 socks range worth £1.5m, driving +4% growth.
- Managed critical path across 350 options each financial half with tight coordination.
- Supervised stock allocation teams to keep availability aligned with trading needs.
Education
BSc (Hons) - French Studies
Aston University
Birmingham 1998.01 - 2002.01
Skills
- Demand Forecasting
- Sales Forecasting
- Inventory Planning
- Inventory Optimisation
- Forecast Analysis
- WSSI Ownership
- Open-to-Buy (OTB)
- Range Planning
- Commercial Forecasting
- Margin Optimisation
- Supply & Demand Balancing
- Promotional Planning
- Inventory Risk Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Advanced Excel
- Power BI
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Business Central
- Sage
Accomplishments
- Increased Profit
- Jigsaw - By £500k (AW17 vs AW16) while maintaining high full-price sell-through through improved depth strategy on key volume lines.
- Trading & OTB Management
- N-Brown - Reduced half-year overstock by £700k through tighter OTB control and exit planning.
- Successful range-planning
- Jigsaw - Reduced markdown spend by 10 percentage points during tenure.
- Process Improvement Initiatives
- Jigsaw - Implemented structured Lessons Learnt framework to drive improved forward planning and cross-functional accountability.
- Jigsaw - Implemented critical path discipline across merchandising function
Languages
French
Upper intermediate
German
Elementary
Chinese Hakka
Beginner
Timeline
Merchandiser
Character World Brands
2024.09 - Current
Career Break due to family commitments
-
2021.04 - 2024.08
Merchandiser - Knitwear & Outerwear
N Brown Group
2020.09 - 2021.03
Career Break due to family commitments
-
2020.07 - 2020.08
Senior Merchandiser – Knitwear, Jersey & Childrenswear
Jigsaw
2011.01 - 2019.06
Assistant Merchandiser - Dresses|Swimwear|Denim|Hosiery
TOPSHOP TOPMAN
2007.05 - 2010.12
BSc (Hons) - French Studies
Aston University
1998.01 - 2002.01