Kennis, opleidingen en ervaring:

Opleiding: Universitair

Stages en werkervaring: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
March 2011 –Present

Collective Brands: European Headquarters, Wholesale Lifestyle Company.

Head of Merchandising/Planning

Responsible for forecasting, buying, production planning, SKU productivity and shipment analysis to drive product and commercial strategy for the lifestyle brands in Europe consistent with US strategic direction of each brand.Saucony, Keds, Sperry and Striderite.

Responsible for a sales target of 100 million, for providing short and long term product forecasts utilizing trends, sales force forecasts, competitive information and market conditions to minimize product obsolescence.
Responsible for managing and developing a team of 6 merchandisers and 2 product line managers
Responsible for managing monthly factory buys based on forecasts while managing risk based upon forecast confidence level.
Schedules long term production to allow sourcing partners to plan manufacturing capacities and material commitments.
Manage inventory flow to meet inventory turn goals.Continuously monitor booking and shipping trends against factory buys and make necessary adjustments to factory purchase order dates, styles and/or sizes.
Drive the communication between the key teams that will allow for SKU analysis, color selection and product lifecycles to best maximize efficiencies.
Forms strategic relationships with sales management and key retailers for early feedback regarding product, shipments and/or cancellations.
Coordinate and lead regional line planning and product brief process, working in coordination with the global product lifestyle teams .Edit US line down to an aligned focused European range.
Establish strong Euro price architecture to optimize margins and work towards price harmonization in subsidiary and distributor markets.


September 2010 –February 2011

G-Star: Worldwide Headquarters, Retail and Wholesale Fashion Company.

Merchandising/Planning Project Manager for the Retail división

Responsible for creating and developing the retail merchandising/planning department.

Responsible for the Merchandising and Buying of the Retail G-star project with a sales target of 350 million throughout 250 stores worldwide
Responsible for the set up of the merchandising and planning process to enable a centralised structure across all channels (franchise monobrand and SIS) aiming at creating a 70% coherent and universal offer, an assortment based on a buy now wear now approach and sku optimization
Create financial strategies and category plans based on cluster/grade and option plans on a seasonal basis to provide a framework for Assortment and Distribution/Buy plans
Manage the product selection process to ensure all assortments selected by grade, cluster and distribution channel offer commercial choice in terms of category, silhouette, colour, price point and consumer needs whilst adhering to the brand concept.
Allign the merchandising process to marketing initiatives, business changes and visual merchandise requirements to optimise store presentation and growth
Work closely with franchise partners to keep informed about regional needs, making sure that the local needs are reflected in the assortment plans and product selection.
Partner with Styling and Design to provide collection sell thru peformance of the retail stores to contribute to the creation of the line archiecture together with design( i.e. reviewing best and worst sellers, sales performance at programme, category and option level )
Conduct competitor and consumer focused market research to ensure controlled distribution positioning is correct, alongside store visits to identify regional specific requirements


January 2008-August 2010

Mexx: European Headquarters, Retail and Wholesale Fashion Company.
Merchandiser and Planner Manager for the Women division

Deliver and trade the brand divisional product proposition to the consumer through appropriate commercial selections, whilst aligning overall strategic direction and maximizing profit.

Responsible for the Merchandising and Planning of the Women division ( 3 merchandisers) with a sales target of 200 millions through 320 stores ( Own&Operated and Franchise) , representing 70% of the retail business.
Create financial strategies and category plans on a seasonal basis to provide a framework for Assortment and Distribution/Buy plans by taking into consideration business strategy, market trends, local market and brand positioning,
Deliver against divisional financial targets and key performance indicators of turnover, full price check out, terminal stock and profitability, both seasonally and annually, across all controlled distribution channels (own retail, franchise and SIS) in line with divisional strategic direction.
Manage the product selection process (including OTB) across the Division to ensure all assortments selected by cluster, grade and distribution channel offer real choice in terms of category, silhouette, colour, price point and consumer needs whilst adhering to the brand concept.
Trading of the business, including reviewing best and worst sellers, sales performance at option level and management of rolling and end season markdown.
Communicate with finance, operations and visual merchandising to optimise store and product growth via the buying and planning process
Work with relevant country representatives to keep informed about regional needs making sure their integration in the assortment
Collaborate and partner with diverse departments to develop processes, logistics and systems (ie.Torex Merchandising tool), creating synergy across all channels.

June 2005-November 2007
Nike European Headquartes ,The Netherlands:

Retail Merchandise Planner ( for Apparel business Women, Men and Kids in O&O and franchise stores)

Responsible for an annual sales target of 120 millions ( 60% of the Retail sales plan) for +100 stores for both O&O and franchise retail distribution. Manage 1 FTE.
Formulate quarterly/seasonal buy and space plans using historical, visual and current trend information. Work with Buyers to identify opportunities for growth and to reduce liabilities.
Review in-season the fiscal year plans against in-season performance and track KPI targets. Monitor performance to plan, reviewing all Fiscal Year Sales, Markdown, Receipts, Transfers, gross/net Margin & Stock cover (Stock-turn
Work with relevant country representatives to keep informed about regional needs/changes at store, division + line level, making sure that the local needs are reflected in the option plans based on different store formats and regions
Monitor the allocation process aiming at reflecting the plan strategy

Opleidingen en cursussen: EDUCATIONAL HISTORY
2000-2002
Master of Arts in Global Political Economy, Sussex University (UK).
-Main Subjects: Political Economy of Development, Competing in the Global Economy.
- Thesis: Impact of Global Dynamics in Trade and Development. Ethical Trade as alternative approach.
Garment Industry as case study.

1997-2000
Bachelor of Arts Honours in International Relations and Politics, Lancaster University (UK).
-Main subjects: Understanding International Relations, Foreign Policy Analysis, Politics of Development,
Politics of International Institutions.
- Subsidiary courses: French Studies and Culture and Communication
-Thesis: Liberal, Realist and Marxist approaches to the Refugee Phenomenon. Kosovo crisis as case study

Workshops and Trainings
European Union Parliament Strasbourg: Cross Culture Communication
Nike: Retail Math, Personal Effectiveness, Managing for Gold, Leadership and Coaching

Overige informatie:

Rijbewijs: B

Eigen vervoer: Nee

Persoonlijke eigenschappen: PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL PROFILE

Experienced leader in Merchandising and Planning, expertise acquired in the last 10 years working for international companies
Strong strategic and analytical skills particularly in both apparel and footwear in fashion and sport industries.
Excellent commercial skills, very oriented in identifying the right strategy and product for each individual market needs.
Strong people manager, excellent communicator, relationship builder and project leader. Proactive, perseverant, flexible , decisive and hardworking.
Looking to extend and contribute my experience and knowledge, in a dynamic environment working together with a team and be accountable and responsible for the strategic and operational decision making.

Hobby's en interesses:

Gewenste contractvorm: Fulltime