Zara Simmonds

Managing the buying strategy for the Health & Beauty category seeking out sales opportunities and identifying gaps to offer a compelling proposition against competitors; contributing to an increased awareness of the category with strong YoY sales growth and record market share performance.

Key Achievements

• Driving record category sales performance for 22/23, resulting in sales +71% YoY.
• Winner of ‘2022 CCO Star of Peak' across the 2000+ head office colleagues & runner up for ‘2023 We Win Together' (CCO Annual awards).
• Presented the category strategy, 3-year sales projection & target market share to the Currys CEO, CCO & COO.

Category Strategy

• Ownership of the category strategy presenting to Director stakeholders within the business supported with key insights such as sales & market share.
• Working closely with the Go To Market Manager to develop a cohesive marketing strategy for the category to drive awareness to consumers via ATL & BTL activity.

Trading Performance

• Analysing sales daily across key metrics (sales, margin and stock) ensuring we hit weekly and period forecasts.
• Taking strategic actions to ensure we hit the desired sales plan via supplier negotiations.
• Determining the pricing strategy for the product range: ensuring the right price points are met across a ‘good, better, best' proposition and delivering on margin requirements by supplier negotiation on cost pricing, sales out allowances and contract terms agreements.
• Weekly market share analysis via GFK: evaluating the success of product and brand assortment and taking necessary actions to improve market share.
• Analysing paid and organic website data to enhance Return On Investment (ROI).

Supplier & Team Management

• Line managing the Health & Beauty Assistant Buyer.
• Collaborating across internal colleagues (GTM, Online, Retail and Commercial initiatives team) to ensure we deliver the commercial strategy for the year.
• Holding weekly meetings with key suppliers; driving sales out opportunities and building a rapport with key supplier base.
• Presenting in QBRs with key strategic supplier base.
• Working closely with Merchandising to make sure we hit desired forecasts and sales out requirements, negotiating with suppliers on sales out allowances to improve aged and excess stock.
• Negotiating contracts and improved prices and terms with suppliers to improve profitability.
• Influencing key stake holders and decision-makers on how best to reach target consumers and build awareness of the category.

• Supported the Senior Buyer for the Built-In & Integrated range within the Major Domestic category.
• Independently managed the Integrated (instore & online) range.
• Tracked market trends and changing conditions to maintain competitive advantage.
• Evaluated product sales performance to provide accurate reports and identify improvement opportunities.

• Accountable for making all decisions on the product assortment, sourcing, brand positioning, price structure & margins in line with the category strategy.
• Responsible for commercial negotiations which included cost pricing, rebates agreements, sales out allowances & any value-added promotional support.
• Collaborated with internal specialist functions to execute and plan product launches.
• Worked with Trading Operations team to ensure the Buying office negotiated rebate targets are achieved.
• Built a rapport with suppliers/brands to ensure we hit sales agreement rates, attended weekly meetings and taking necessary actions to help achieve forecasts.

Provided support to the Senior Buyer for the second largest category with the MDA business & independently managing the Seasonal range by sourcing new brands & seeking out sales opportunities to offer a compelling range against competitors.

• Effectively managed the Buying function across 130 suppliers within three categories (Kitchen, Homeware & Furniture) reporting directly to the Group Buying Director.
• Sourced and presented new brands after successfully negotiating on boarding targets (margin, pack sizing splitting, MOQs & Drop Ship requirements).
• Explored the key growth potential of core brands through quarterly brand reviews.
• Delivered product ranges to margin expectations through cost price negotiations and cost-effective supply solutions.
• Continuously identified new business opportunities within top 50 brands to grow sales and profitability.
• Worked closely with key suppliers and key stakeholders internally to implement projects to improve margins.
• Line managing, leading, training and supporting the Buying Admin Assistant.
• Holding quarterly performance reviews with key suppliers to contribute to future supplier strategies.
• Evaluated the market continuously by identifying trends and gaps in the company's product offering by attending trade shows seasonally as well as completing seasonal comp shops, social media analysis and magazine/web subscriptions, taking appropriate commercial action where necessary.

• Managed the Purchasing function within the business for all client gift lists, reporting to the Managing Director.
• Managed a team of 6 Purchasing Assistants.
• Oversaw the fulfillment of all Purchase Orders from the 350-supplier holding.
• Reported key functional metrics to reduce supplier lead times and improve effectiveness of the Purchasing function within the business.
• Presented accurate quarterly stock figures to monitor department success.
• Established and managed relationships with new and existing suppliers to strengthen supply chain.

• Managed the end-to-end procurement of all purchase orders for clients gift lists.

• Supported the Junior Buyer through administrative tasks & sample management.