Fran Dixon-Barker Email & Phone Number

London, England, United Kingdom

London, England, United Kingdom

Achievements –• Exceeded target margin for AW23 despite detrimental FX rate increases, challenging SP restructures and rising yarn costs. • Improved communication across my direct team and as a result, increased efficiency, reduced delays and ensured all key intakes take dates were met to support increased sales across department, and wider company.• Reduced sales risk for AW23 knitwear season by working closely with suppliers to manage lead times and payment terms to support company cash flow. Duties-• Ran weekly trade updates along side merchandising to deliver department updates, reacting to sales with intuitive actions. • Lead signs off meetings, working along side design and merchandising to create an exciting, commercially balanced range that delivered a diverse offering for the customer, protecting profit margin and core knit packages whilst managing the OTB.• Over saw the development of the teams BAAs and Abs, through weekly 1-2-1, an open desk policy and focused training sessions. • Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the brands focus, trends and trade activity. Identified the potential impact on departments to positively influenced department strategy and product development, resulting in growth across categories.

Achievements - • Promoted to Junior Buyer within a year of joining the company, additionally taking on full buying responsibility for the newly launched activewear brand • Worked to successfully set up & launch a sustainable activewear brand – working with design & garment tech to develop a multi product range of 80+ pieces, sourcing additional suppliers, researching ethical & technical fabrics, developing new labelling, planning websites, catalogues & shoots with the creative team alongside managing the OTB & reporting directly to the CEO • Continued to increase sustainable yarn offering across departments, achieving +25% YOY for SS22, whilst surpassing margin targets by +1% for SS22.• Took on additional role of Sustainability Manager, working to define brand’s approach to responsible product sourcing, environmental sustainability and supplier working conditions, reporting directly to the CEO. Duties – • Successfully range planning & managing OTBs for multiple departments, maximizing profit through constant analysis of stock & sales as well as customer buying habits • Developing & supporting an entry level AB, whilst continuing to oversee the development of the BAAs • Regularly reviewing company and department trading performance, identifying opportunities and taking actions to maximize sales whilst minimizing markdown. • Working closely with Design and Garment Tech teams to develop new and exciting, high quality garments with superior fit and finish, ensuring that the customer was pivotal in all decision making. • Setting company CSR and sustainability strategy, working to deliver on targets and report achievements directly to CEO in quarterly business reviews and board meetings.

Achievements – • Performed above my position, supporting a part-time Senior Buyer, by presenting trade meetings, reporting directly to Head of Buying, running fit session and leading sign off meetings. • Worked to beat category margin targets, achieving +2% for AW21, despite rising costs and strategy to move into more organic and eco yarns. • Successfully onboarded a labelling supplier, resulting in cost and time savings for the company and our suppliers. Showed flexibility by seamlessly working between creative, PR, buying and garment tech teams to sign off final products and coordinate launch. • Intuitively preempted lead time disruptions for SS21/AW21 as a result of Covid/Brexit and seamlessly implemented flexible book by dates across departments. Duties – • Took the lead in preparing for selection meetings, confidently presenting new products along with season analysis, lessons learnt and supplier strategy to brand directors. • Regularly showed strong leadership capabilities though creatively resolving critical path concerns, running fit sessions and managing unreliable lead times throughout the pandemic, whilst still demonstrating a flexibility for taking direction.

London, United Kingdom

Achievements – • Responsible for transforming two under potentialised departments through consumer research, sourcing and product development, resulting in elevated sales and an increased budget season on season. • Sourced two new hosiery suppliers for AW20, subsequently increasing margin from 67% to 71%. • Utilised a newly sourced supplier to coordinate replacing branded tights with own brand product, increasing margin from 47% to 68% whilst maintaining RRP. Duties – • Sole responsibility for buying the nightwear and accessories ranges, as well supporting a part time Senior Buyer across knitwear and tailoring. • Operated an effective sign off process, on both long and short lead-times, ensuring products were delivered to brief, met intake deadlines and exceeded company margin targets. • Managed both up and down to build a high performing team, overseeing the critical path and managing the development of multiple BAAs.

London, United Kingdom

Achievements – • Implemented a system for monitoring book by dates, ensuring they were received from each supplier prior to a new season, helping to successfully achieve company targets for margins and intake dates. Duties – • Assisted Merchandising in SWOT analysis and helped Design prepare and send technical packs in advance of buying trips. These strong relationships with other teams, ensured awareness of any delivery or pricing restrictions to help limit delays whilst achieving the best margin. • Managed our team’s buy sheets, ensuring cost prices, margin, sample tracking and delivery amendments were kept up to date. • Approved lab dips, trims and bulk production and attended fit sessions, taking responsibility for ensuring garments were sealed in line with the critical dates, without compromising quality and fit.• Responsibility for analysing and presenting best/worst sellers to company directors in weekly trade meetings. • Managed BAAs, and oversaw the critical path to proactively pre-empt and prevent delays, communicating any potential issues to the Buyer and Merchandisers.

London, United Kingdom

• Took control of the critical path for multiple product categories, whilst reporting in to two buyers. • Developed understanding of the negotiating process and began analysing sales. Set up and implemented a training plan and manual for new BAAs. • Grew relationships with suppliers and other teams whilst continuing to exceed expectations in the position of BAA.

London, United Kingdom

• Managed the critical path within a fast paced, multi-channel supplier. Gained an invaluable insight into working across multiple brands, supporting buying, design and manufacturing teams. • Maintained the sample library, raised purchase orders and learnt how to liaise with overseas suppliers to ensure high quality and timely outcomes were achieved. • Utilized my aptitude to self motivate to excel in the position, gaining invaluable knowledge of the buying industry.

Short Course, Design For Sustainabilty, Pass

Ba Hons, Fashion Design, Menswear, 2:1

A-Levels, Art, Photography, Biology, English Literature, A-C

Gcse'S, 10 At Grade A*-B