Haylea Smith

Responsible for leading the Supply Chain / Merchandising / Display Planning teams for all product categories - Direction and management of the open to buy process - Creation and delivery of cost of stock, quality of stock and availability of stock targets. - Management of range changes ensuring optimal exit routes identified for outgoing ranges and effective launch of new ranges - Control identification of problem stock and ensure stock exit strategies are managed and implemented - Development and delivery of value adding Inventory, Merchandising and Display Planning initiatives and strategies - Management of a team of 19 colleagues including 4 direct reports - Regular interaction with senior management team to CEO level

Performed the Merchandise Planning Manager role in a number of categories including Toys, Seasonal and Sound & Vision. Managing teams of up to 14 colleagues to achieve: - Creation of sales, stock, profit, markdown and availability budgets, and the planning and reforecast of these targets in season. - In season weekly trade response to minimise markdown and maximise sales and profit - Optimisation of store level / grade level stock holding - Creation of store range build plans to optimise available space in conjunction with the buyers - Range analysis for range direction meetings, selection meetings and sign off meetings - Managing progress of all orders both domestic and Far East sourced to optimise availability in store whilst ensuring that buys are appropriate to achieve stock budgets - Creation of online assortment plans to deliver online financial plans and serviceability - Negotiation of lead times, order quantities, shipping agreements with vendors / agents - Management of the supply base with regular review of vendors, agents, factories, etc. vs KPIs - Colleague development and performance management - Deputising for the Head Of Merchandising in their absence

- Interface between the Trading and Retail divisions as Sainsbury’s embarked upon its aggressive General Merchandise expansion programme - Responsible for ensuring timely and consistent implementation of commercial strategies across the store estate, within budget - Ensured that retail routines and procedures were adapted, communicated and established to enable the changes needed in store to achieve the commercial targets of the Trading division - This role required interaction and engagement with colleagues from all levels of the organisation from Board Directors through to junior store colleagues

- Inbound forecasting and supply management of the Home, Seasonal & Toys categories across the domestic and Far East supply base - Responsible for optimisation of availability whilst managing stock turn and minimising markdown

- Responsible for demand fulfilment and supply management of the Produce, Floral, Meat, Fish and Poultry categories for all Sainsbury’s Supermarkets (500+ locations) via 9 distribution centres - Responsible for supply chain management of short life products to sales value in excess of £3bn per annum - Developing collaborative relationships with our suppliers and ensuring that all suppliers understand and fully comply with service level agreements and supply chain dependencies - Managing key supplier metrics and fulfilling customer demand whilst managing wastage budgets - Identifying new cost saving opportunities and new ways of increasing supplier responsiveness including implementation of a direct sourcing process for citrus products resulting in extensive savings - Problem resolution and project work as required