Purchasing and Planning

Education/Qualification

• Online Training – HND Interior Design Level 7
• NVQ Retail Operations
• Hopwood Hall College – HND Surface Pattern Design
• Hopwood Hall College – ND Fine Art and Photography
• Whitworth High School – 9 GCSEs including Mathematics and English

Systems used

• Microsoft Word and Excel – Intermediate for Forecasting / Planning and Analysis
• Mertex
• In House Systems

Career Summary

Current Employer – Leading Global Supplier of Fabrics and Accessories

Position – Purchasing Planner / Buyer

Dates – April 2023 – Present

• Reports to the Head of Supply Chain / working closely with Buying and Product Development Director – works as part of a team of 6
• Responsible for Planning / Forecasting for Goods / Materials from China and Pakistan – Commodity Goods – low value / high stock quantity
• Also works with Production Mill based in Rochdale – works to plan Production Schedules and Stock Planning to ensure that the Supply Chain could be completed
• Works closely with the UK Logistics teams to book 40-foot Containers / multiple Warehouse Sites
• Extensive Query Management / Problem Solving – late Containers etc – works via Teams and WhatsApp
• Responsible for ongoing review of Stock Movement / Expediting Orders, and ensuring all Data and Dates are accurate
• Responsible for management of Supplier Portfolios – raise new PO’s / Set up new Products etc. – Negotiate Terms etc. / Process Invoices
• Building relationships with Suppliers, liaise to arrange Production and Shipments of Stock
• Attending New Product Development and Range Review Meetings
• Constant use and update of Excel Forecast Sheets – extracting Data from Excel and preparing Analysis using Mertex
• Forecasting Products to ensure availability and demand is met and implement changes based on Sales History and Trends
• Ad hoc duties as needed

Previous Employer – Furniture Store

Position – Product Technologist

Dates – January 2023 – April 2023 (3 Month Temp Contract)

• Worked closely with Sales, Merchandising and Buying Departments to ensure complete product information is available to produce accurate product specifications
• Produced full technical documentation for issue to the factories, thus ensuring each product is manufactured to highest possible standards and complies with designated specifications
• Requested and assessed pre-production and pre-shipment seal samples for make-up, stitching and dimensions

Previous Employer – Fabric and Wallpaper Supplier

Position – Product Development and Purchasing Manager

Dates – July 2020 – December 2022

• Reported to Senior Manager – worked as part of a Team
• Responsible for all aspects of Stock Control, including management of Stock Levels – Planning according to Forecasts based on Sales and Trend research
• Building relationships with key Stake Holders, both Internally and Externally
• Negotiated Terms, monitored Costs and Margins whilst processing all POs to deadlines
• Worked with Shipping and Hauler Companies to Track and Monitor Shipments
• Maintained communication with Warehouse and Technical teams to identify any quality control issues or faulty stock
• Weekly, Monthly and Quarterly reporting including Sales, Slow Sellers, Stock availability, Supplier performance, outstanding Customer Orders
• Product development responsibilities to manage Critical Path end to end
• Research and Trend Forecasting, identifying and contacting new Suppliers and arranging sampling and testing through to placing initial purchase orders
• Working to specific launch dates to ensure all aspects of the product is ready for the customer
• Ad hoc duties

Reason for Leaving; made redundant

Previous Employer – Wholesaler

Position – Visual Display Showroom Manager

Dates – June 2019 – June 2020

Previous Employer – Museum 

Position – National Visual Operations Manager

Dates – September 2017 – June 2019

• Delivery of store layouts, window displays, seasonal promotions, POS installations and brand strategies across Museum
• Elevated sales and retail footprint through project management, floor planning and executing detailed retail display installations throughout all the UK Museum sites
• Accomplished successful brand awareness by leading product placement and installation training activities including analysing of KPI’s, floor planning, execution and implementing exhibition and seasonal specific visual guidelines – whilst always remaining commercial
• Project manager responsible for coordinating the planning and implementation of pop up / temporary retail spaces for worldwide touring exhibitions
• Researched and sourced a collection of bespoke made furniture for an exhibition to be utilized nationwide. Negotiated pricing with contractors to ensure pricing came with set budgets whilst optimizing multiple usage opportunities
• Collaborating with the creative brand manager to roll out groupwide brand guidelines to help streamline POS and marketing materials across all retail offerings

Position – Retail Store Manager

Dates – May 2014 – September 2017