Lyndsey Williams

Support the Head of Buying & Merchandising by overseeing the merchandising team & driving growth through stock management & commercial awareness.

In addition to Branch merch role, cover merchandise planning across all Apparel & accessories product. Working across retail, ecom & wholesale channels to maximises sales and profit. Working closely with all product focused teams to build and deliver great product, from supplier to shop floor. Analyse product performance to understand trends and forecast future season ranges.

Covering a growing retail estate +60 stores. Reviewing branch performance whilst trading through high seasonal peak periods. Monitoring stock & sales to ensure the right product is in the right store at the right time.

Oversee Allocation workload in line with Merchandising critical Path Objective to improve the overall structure of the Allocation team within the merchandising Function Work closely with Branch Merchandising Function (Store Grading & New Store Packages) Manage an Allocation Team of 4 departmental Allocators Oversea & Plan key 'Peak Planning' trials & set-ups for a successful Peak Trading Work closely with International & Wholesale departments to reach Business Targets Oversee & complete Training of new Allocators on Futura systems & departmental analysis.

In addition to Allocator responsibilities, worked with all areas of the business to conduct 'peak planning' procedures, helping to implement changes to grow the current business procedures in Allocation and Logistics. 'Buddy' allocator to the Businesses Top Market Stores to ensure they have optimum stock for a successful Peak trade and the upcoming New Seasons.

Plan store optimum stock levels. Manage store delivery schedule with warehouse and retail. Continually review allocation levels by store by product including ecom. Plan and manage new store allocation packages. Act as ‘buddy’ to designated branches. Carry out shop performance analysis to identify profit opportunities. Provides stock communications to shops. Creates and distributes weekly departmental reports. Provides shop performance reports. Carries out seasonal & ad hoc analysis as required by department. Works with branch merchandising function on store planning.

As an optimiser at New Look Head Office, I was responsible for the distribution and optimisation of products for the Lingerie, Nightwear and swimwear departments (previously Inspire, Maternity, Tall and Petite) across the Business, including new store openings in China.

Barratts Shoes Concession Manager in Londons Oxford Street Debenhams Flagship Store. Managing a Team of 9 staff, including a Deputy Manager and Supervisor. Ensuring a smooth running of the concession, especially at busy trading times. Planning and organising department moves. Liasing with head office contacts. Training and motivating staff members to reach sales targets. Encouraging excellent customer service. Ensuring the concession and its staff work well within the host environment. Visual Merchandising. Stock control. Staff rotas and payroll control.

Managing a Team of 4 staff. Staff Rotas & Payroll. Visual Merchandising. Stock Control. Ensuring the concession is profitable. Encouraging Sales & Excellent Customer Service. Meeting Sales Targets. Communicate with Area Manager.

Work on selective design briefs, occasionally working with live projects and clients. Create concepts to generate imaginative yet workable design ideas for briefs. Produce 2D & 3D work to display at Exhibition. Verbally present final schemes to clients.