Clare Walker Email & Phone Number

Marlow, Gb

Marlow, England, United Kingdom

Marlow, England, United Kingdom

Reading, United Kingdom

Men's Footwear Department:• Responsible for developing and buying the Mens Footwear range. Within two seasons, I successfully turned around an underperforming key line focussed business into a profitable fashion driven department.• Reviewed and streamlined the pricing architecture to offer a more cohesive message to the customer whilst ensuring we remained competitive. In addition the ASP (Average Selling Price) was able to be increased without affecting sales thanks to the improved product offer.• Dramatically reduced markdown rates from 20% to 7% after two seasons. • Reviewed and restructured the supply base, stripping out weaker factories and introducing new suppliers as a result.• Responsible for managing and training an Assistant Buyer and Trainee Buyer, who bought their own areas under my guidance.• Regularly undertook buying and sourcing trips to China, and inspirational shopping trips to Hong Kong, New York, Tokyo and various European cities.Women's Footwear Department:• Responsible for buying ballerinas, formal shoes, canvas/sports shoes and wide fit shoes.• Turned around a previously poor performing formal shoe offer to be +80% on the year by reducing options, implementing a new pricing architecture and increasing the mix of fashion product.• Launched the wide fit footwear range in 20 stores in SS10, which was well received by the customer. The range grew to account for 10% of total footwear sales and was extended to an all store distribution.• Responsible for liaising between Primark’s Ethical department and my supply base to ensure all factories adhered to the company’s strict ethical code of conduct.• I designed a press range of formal shoes for SS11 which was well received by fashion magazines and resulted in coverage in Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and the Sunday Times Style magazine. This was the first time Primark’s footwear had been featured in these publications.

London, United Kingdom

• Was responsible for the buying, planning and design of the entire LK Bennett footwear range, which accounted for 40% of company sales with a £30 million yearly turnover.• Managed a team of five assistants including the footwear QC team.• Gained excellent supplier contacts through sourcing premium product from an exclusively high end Italian and Spanish supply base.• Developed an in depth knowledge of high quality tanneries, material and trim suppliers.• Regularly attended footwear and material trade fairs (e.g. Lineapelle, Micam).• Worked closely alongside clothing and accessories teams to ensure complete colour/trend coordination across all departments.• Presented product ranges and reported directly into CEO and Chairman.• Undertook a project to improve fit and product quality of the footwear offer. I recruited a Footwear Technologist to assist with this process.• Bought the bags and accessories ranges for 6 months alongside my role as Footwear Buyer. I bought bags, purses, jewellery, scarves and belts from an Italian and Far East supply base.

Weymouth

• Was responsible for the buying, planning and design of the Women’s formal footwear range and wide fit footwear range (approximate turnover of £100 million). • Range accounted for approximately 50% of total footwear department annual turnover, 10% of company annual turnover and achieved +100% v LY sales.• Bought 150 options every 6 weeks, due to the high stock turn requirement of the department.• Sourced product from Vietnam, Cambodia, Brazil and Italy.• Managed capacity planning for all major factories and reviewed on monthly basis.• Was responsible for the management and development of a team of three assistants.

Weymouth

• Processed all orders for the department which involved negotiating cost prices and delivery dates on behalf of the Buyer.

London, United Kingdom

Responsible for all adminstrative duties for the Footwear and Accessories departments.

Nutrition Sciences

Facebook Adcelerator Course, Facebook Advertising, Pass

Diploma, Social Media Management, Pass

6 month intensive Social Media Management course. Skills learnt: • How to manage an effective multi-platform social media campaign •.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Business Studies, 2.1