Research, Development and Sourcing.

Responsible for leading buying, merchandising and designing team to meet given targets. To meet sales samples and delivery deadlines for customers such as Peacocks, Mad House, D2, El Cortes Ingles, TJ Hughes and other individual store groups by conducting daily meetings with buying, merchandising and shipping team.Dealing with detail management of all purchase order requirements by liaising extensively with merchandising team, in house quality assurance, designing and shipping department. Ensuring fabric and trim approvals, lab dips, production and sales samples process runs smoothly and on time.Generating and communicating key product direction for each season by working closely with design & sales team of Citytex and RE-59. (RE-59 is Citytex own retail stores for ladies and menswear).Developing new sources/suppliers when required, negotiating target prices and managing all supplier performance issues as well as sourcing globally for improved vendors for quality and price.Arranging seasonal sampling for MODA shows and for stores meeting. Maintaining best sales samples for the sales team throughout the seasons. Planning buying budget, presenting buying forecasts and figures to Managing Directors. Also responsible for managing all recruitment and team development and training for buying, merchandising and designing department.Visiting company's own stores (RE-59) and conducting meetings with Store Managers and sales team for buying plan, discount, promotions and ongoing progress in all departments.Key Achievements:Using my vast sourcing and merchandising experience the company started to import goods directly from suppliers and leading sourcing agents; Developed new labels for the company and successfully open account with leading stores (Mad House, Peacocks, El Cortes Ingles (Spain) etc. With the help of my experience with H&M I helped company to open retail stores in London.

Responsible for maximising sales by providing high standard of customer service through good product knowledge, presentation and till operationConducting various other tasks such as replenishing stock effectively and maintaining a safe working environment

Responsible for communicating directly with wholesalers/importers within UK as well as making appointments and visiting customers all over UK.Creating purchase orders and placing orders with a supplier ensuring potential for improved on-time performance, cost reductions, opportunities and quality performance.Liaising with suppliers on lab dips, bulk fabric approvals, fits, accessories as well as assuring all timely submissions as per critical path plus checking and approving all pre production and shipment samples.Identifying freight costs from shipping agents and planning delivery dates according to buyer’s requirement.Conducting various other tasks such as import procedure to attain import license by working with DTI and BERR.Key Achievement:Successfully took first order from an importer in London within a month of joining the company and executed the order on time.

Responsible for dealing with detail management for all purchase requirements by effectively communicating with customers, vendors, in house quality assurance departments and assistant merchandisers. Monitoring tasks given to merchandising team, developing new sources and products as well as composing independent correspondence with the customers. Choosing right supplier for each product. Coordinating with quality and production departments for the smooth execution of samples and orders as well as working closely with buyers in all commercial decisions.Accompanying customers on their visit to factories for final inspection of ready shipments and Director to Hong Kong and Dubai for meeting with customers.Key Achievements:Successfully handled various major customers including Wolverine, Marmaxx, T.J Maxx, Perry Ellis, Campus Crew, Vanity Fair, Kliernert’s Buster Brown, Sanyei Corporation Ltd and Hong Kong (Sourcing Agent)Managed one of the most valuable accounts Kliernert’s Buster Brown within 3 months of joining the company,Worked on the challenging account The North Face in 2001 with responsibility for gaining the factories compliance and approval from the account holders.

Responsible for developing prototype, production and sales samples for buyer's approval as well as planning, controlling and monitoring the purchase and effective distribution of merchandiseCoordinating with quality and production departments for the smooth execution of samples and ordersMonitoring all quality aspects of development samples and running production with QA Team as well as managing large scale orders, production and on-time delivery for USA store groups included Wal Mart, TJ Max, Dickies and String Theory.Composing independent correspondence with customers and working closely with buyers in commercial decisions