Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Timeline
Generic

Zara Simmonds

London,United Kingdom

Summary

Commercially focused Buyer with a strong record of delivering profitable ranges and managing end-to-end product lifecycles across multiple categories. Skilled in range planning, strategy planning, supplier negotiation and analysing sales performance data to drive strategic decisions.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education

Work history

National Account Manager

BRG (Breville Group)
London
02.2025 - Current
  • Strengthening business relationships by effectively managing multiple national retail accounts driving sales performance.
  • Analysing sell-in and sell-out data to track market trends, identifying opportunities, and supporting with decision making.
  • Collaborating cross-functionally with trade marketing, planning marketing spend with retailers to maximise product visibility through activation campaigns.
  • Monitoring retailers stock levels and forecast demand, ensuring product availability while minimising excess stock.
  • Presenting insights and performance reports to senior stakeholders, influencing strategic business decisions.
  • Conducting comprehensive market analysis to identify new sales opportunities and areas for growth.

Buyer - Health and Beauty

Currys
London, United Kingdom
06.2022 - 01.2025
  • Led the total buying strategy for the Health and Beauty category, including an 8-week project sprint to gather insights, define key initiatives, and drive execution.
  • Exceeded on margin requirements by supplier negotiation on cost pricing, sales out allowances and contract terms agreements, which led to improved profitability year on year for the category.
  • Built strategic partnerships with suppliers, positioning Currys as a key destination for Health and Beauty through joint business plans and quarterly business reviews.
  • Developed and expanded the product range, onboarded new suppliers through complex contract negotiations, which resulted in increased sales, brand awareness, and category creditability.
  • Analysed sales daily across key metrics (sales, margin and stock) and took proactive actions to ensure sales forecasts were met.
  • Managed and mentored the Assistant Buyer, implementing structured training programs and a PDP, significantly improving performance.
  • Influenced internal stakeholders and decision-makers to drive category success, resulting in wider store presence year on year.

Assistant Buyer

Currys
London, United Kingdom
02.2022 - 05.2022
  • Supported the Senior Buyer for the Built-In and Integrated range within the Major Domestic Appliances category in Currys.

Assistant Buyer

Currys
London, United Kingdom
09.2020 - 11.2021
  • Provided support to the Senior Buyer within the Refrigeration category.
  • Managed independently the Heating and Cooling category.

Junior Buyer

The Wedding Shop
London, United Kingdom
07.2019 - 08.2020
  • Promoted within the company across the 4 years, leading to a Junior Buyer position managing 130 suppliers within three categories (Kitchen, Homeware & Furniture) reported directly to the Group Buying Director.

Purchasing Manager

The Wedding Shop
London
07.2017 - 06.2019

Purchasing Assistant

The Wedding Shop
London
08.2016 - 06.2017

Education

BA Hons - Textile and Retail Management

Birmingham City University
Birmingham
09.2011 - 06.2014

Timeline

National Account Manager

BRG (Breville Group)
02.2025 - Current

Buyer - Health and Beauty

Currys
06.2022 - 01.2025

Assistant Buyer

Currys
02.2022 - 05.2022

Assistant Buyer

Currys
09.2020 - 11.2021

Junior Buyer

The Wedding Shop
07.2019 - 08.2020

Purchasing Manager

The Wedding Shop
07.2017 - 06.2019

Purchasing Assistant

The Wedding Shop
08.2016 - 06.2017

BA Hons - Textile and Retail Management

Birmingham City University
09.2011 - 06.2014

Similar Profiles

Create profile
Zara Simmonds