Melissa Craft

I am the key interface between Buying/Merchandising and the supply base including offshore offices, Buyer direct suppliers and third-party suppliers to ensure the alignment and integration of the Womenswear sourcing strategy ahead of the purchasing deadlines. On Debenhams’ ‘Executive Training Scheme’, which recognises individuals with the potential to move into senior leadership roles. ‘Employee of the Year’ 2011 and 2015. • Responsible for setting and implementing the long and short-term Strategies for my areas inline with company requirements. • Total supply base management including sourcing hubs, direct and third-party suppliers. When sourcing globally I remain conscious of the strengths and limitations of key sourcing countries. I can recommend best fit country and suppliers to mitigate any margin implications. • Ability to identify gaps within the supply base and review how to fill these - considering costing analysis, factory and country capabilities. • Strong understanding of sourcing and manufacturing processes which I use to identify opportunities to reduce costs whilst maintaining quality and provenance. • Good understanding of product, garment and fabric make up costs. Review open costings and benchmark costing to negotiate successfully ensuring we are paying a fair price. • Fundamental in setting up and growing Debenhams direct business working with the Bangladesh Sourcing office from concept to managing over £120 million worth of intake at cost. • Frequent overseas travel. • Deputise and work on Divisional roles with the Head of Sourcing. • Conduct regular supplier update meetings discussing forward strategy and results of KPIs. • Strong Leadership skills to manage and motivate teams both within Sourcing and from the wider Commercial team. • With Ethical Trade Developed and delivered Better Buying workshops to all Buying teams.

Multi-product buyer with experience of managing different brand portfolios. Previous Buying roles included Men's Underwear and Loungewear, Formal Shirts, Men's Accessories and Men's multi-product clothing brands. • Worked closely with the Design and Merchandising teams to devise and implement a strategy aimed at developing creative and balanced product reflecting the brand profile and company strategy to improve profitability. • Provided extensive input on product particularly with reference to commerciality, brand identity and strategy, design direction and colour palettes, and awareness of key trends, maintaining a comprehensive and exciting product offer. • Experience of working with luxury branded suppliers ensuring we build a comprehensive growth strategy for each brand.

Combination of art and design subjects alongside business modules to provide me with all the skills necessary to transfer my creative ideas successfully into fabrics, using the extensive range of industrial equipment available whilst developing awareness of technical, commercial, marketing and fashion elements. The course included studio-based design projects, fabric production lectures and technical fabric science labs where I learnt about the fundamental textile processes of fibre-to-yarn and yarn-to-fabric conversion as well as design management, design processes and Computer Aided Design. In the final year I completed a major design project and a dissertation and exhibited work at the annual degree show.