Alastair Murdie

As Buyer, I lead the strategy, selection, and performance of my categories and brand portfolio, reporting into the Buying & Merchandising Director. I combine commercial insight, market awareness, and creative vision to deliver product ranges that drive growth and strengthen brand identity. Key Highlights: - Own full category performance, analysing KPIs to drive profitability and maximise sales. - Define and deliver seasonal product strategies aligned with customer demand and business goals. - Negotiate with suppliers to secure competitive terms and build long-term, collaborative relationships. - Anticipate consumer behaviour and market shifts to maintain a forward-thinking product offer. - Partner with digital, marketing, and merchandising teams to deliver cohesive brand campaigns. - Mentor and support junior team members, fostering growth and capability within the buying function. - Present strategies and range reviews to senior leadership, influencing key commercial decisions. I am passionate about shaping commercially successful ranges, championing trend-led buying, and building partnerships that drive sustainable business growth.

As Junior Buyer, I managed dedicated categories and a portfolio of brands, supporting the Senior Buyer to deliver commercially successful product ranges. My role combined creativity, market awareness, and cross-functional collaboration in a dynamic retail environment. Key Highlights: - Researched consumer trends and analysed sales data to inform range planning and product selection. - Monitored KPIs to identify opportunities, improve performance, and optimise buying decisions. - Adapted quickly to changes in demand and supply chain to maintain a strong product offering. - Built strong supplier relationships and supported negotiations to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. - Partnered with digital, marketing, and merchandising teams to support cohesive campaign launches. - Prepared and presented seasonal product proposals and range reviews to the Buying & Merchandising Director. Passionate about trend-led buying and customer-focused product research, I contributed to shaping ranges that enhanced brand identity and drove sales growth.

As Assistant Buyer, I worked closely with the Head Buyer to prepare, execute, and develop seasonal ranges that align with market trends and brand objectives. My role involved combining analytical insights with collaboration to ensure success in a fast-paced environment. Key Contributions: 🔍 Price & Margin Analysis: Reviewed price points, margin performance, and retailer margins versus budget to identify growth opportunities. 🤝 Supplier Partnerships: Supported negotiations and fostered strong relationships with suppliers to drive mutual success. 🔗 Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered with marketing, finance, and operations teams to align strategies and deliver impactful projects. 📊 Data-Driven Insights: Provided analytics and detailed reports to inform decision-making and enhance performance. This role allowed me to combine precision, creativity, and teamwork to bring trend-driven clothing and outerwear to the outdoor market.

In this role, I played a pivotal part in supporting both the buying and merchandising teams, managing and prioritising tasks across departments to ensure seamless operations. I maintained strong supplier relationships through responsibilities such as in-season stock call-offs and reviewing order confirmations. My merchandising experience allowed me to develop advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel, for data analysis and reporting. Additionally, I demonstrated a keen eye for detail by handling price updates, season code changes, and store consolidations with precision. By balancing and streamlining tasks across both teams, I contributed to the overall efficiency of the department and gained valuable insight into the end-to-end retail process.

My main duty was assisting the senior buying with all aspects of the buying process from the initial supplier meetings through to range sign off and implementation within model store conferences. Communication with suppliers was important. I developed negotiation skills through the yearly negotiation of CTM and rebate terms. I attended buying appointments as well as trade shows with the senior buyer. All of these were undertaken as well as maintaining my administrative duties of a Buying and Merchandising Assistant.

In my role at Edinburgh-based mental health charity Health in Mind, I supported the Community Fundraiser with essential tasks while also managing my own fundraising initiatives. Notably, I led projects with British clothing brand Jack Wills and Edinburgh-based company Big Red Teapot Ltd, successfully raising over £1,200 for the charity. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance, determination, and courage in overcoming challenges to achieve meaningful results. Additionally, I played a key role in recruiting and coordinating volunteers to support the charity’s fundraising efforts, further contributing to its impactful work in the community.

As well as the comprehensive and intense courses of the Diploma in Professional Lgeal Practice, I was also part of the Committee of the Diploma Society. The Society was aimed at providing an informal platform where students of the Diploma could network and socialise. Additionally, the Committee organised a number of events that raised money for the Free Legal Advice Centre at Edinburgh University. I personally organised the Diploma Ball, catering for over 130 people and raising over £500 for the Free Legal Advice Centre.

As well as completing the required courses by the Law Society of Scotland, my honours courses include subject such as European Competition Law, Individual Rights in EU Law and Law and Medical Ethics. Through hard work and dedication and thorough research I managed to achieve a First Class dissertation. Dissertation title: The Inter-Relationship between EU Directives and General Principles of EU Law: an analysis with particular reference to case law in relation to Mangold. Is this a legally acceptable expansion of EU law or further breakdown of legal certainty?