Victoria Ryan
Redacción - Tradesport17/03/2013
REGATTA LTD, Urmston, Manchester
NOV 2009 – PRESENT – EUROPEAN PRODUCT MANAGER - FOOTWEAR & CORPORATE APPAREL
• Accountable for co-ordinating the content and direction of the range offer to maximise turnover and margin. Assume all range management responsibility including researching, building and presenting range proposals to Senior Management, Development Teams and Buying Teams
• Work with design and buying teams to define, develop and deliver appropriate product on time by extensively researching UK and European markets to recognise competitors, understand price positioning and spot relevant trends and innovations. Visit European countries, Trade Shows (Ispo, Friedrichshafen,etc) Customers (Go Outdoors, Debenhams, Galeries Lafayette, Intersport, El Corte Ingles, etc)
• Research and communicate product & design briefs to freelance design resource and buying teams outlining appropriate materials, sole units and component parts, performance criteria, product spec & tech features and any styling/branding requirements
• Approve all design and colourways work, linking in with clothing ranges to ensure a brand synergy is achieved
• Work closely with buying teams to produce commercially viable products to price targets
• Manage range hierarchy identifying any changes in or additional market opportunities within the development cycle
• Approve development samples and salesman samples to ensure on time bulk samples for Product Launches – I conduct this in both our Asia factories and UK office
• Liase with key customers and sales people in the UK and Export markets to understand the marketplace
• Work closely with the Planning dept to produce and interpret range analysis reports, using this information to back up range building strategies
• Upkeep of all range documents for all key meetings and communicate all development changes to the relevant departments
• Working closely with Brand Manager and marketing teams. Responsible for creation of bullet points and marketing info for brochures, training manuals and swingtickets.
• Reporting into the Marketing Director and manage a team of 4 people
• Work with design and buying teams to define, develop and deliver appropriate product on time by extensively researching UK and European markets to recognise competitors, understand price positioning and spot relevant trends and innovations. Visit European countries, Trade Shows (Ispo, Friedrichshafen,etc) Customers (Go Outdoors, Debenhams, Galeries Lafayette, Intersport, El Corte Ingles, etc)
• Research and communicate product & design briefs to freelance design resource and buying teams outlining appropriate materials, sole units and component parts, performance criteria, product spec & tech features and any styling/branding requirements
• Approve all design and colourways work, linking in with clothing ranges to ensure a brand synergy is achieved
• Work closely with buying teams to produce commercially viable products to price targets
• Manage range hierarchy identifying any changes in or additional market opportunities within the development cycle
• Approve development samples and salesman samples to ensure on time bulk samples for Product Launches – I conduct this in both our Asia factories and UK office
• Liase with key customers and sales people in the UK and Export markets to understand the marketplace
• Work closely with the Planning dept to produce and interpret range analysis reports, using this information to back up range building strategies
• Upkeep of all range documents for all key meetings and communicate all development changes to the relevant departments
• Working closely with Brand Manager and marketing teams. Responsible for creation of bullet points and marketing info for brochures, training manuals and swingtickets.
• Reporting into the Marketing Director and manage a team of 4 people
JOHN E ROBINSON LTD FOOTWEAR IMPORTER, Waterloo, Liverpool
MAR 2006 – NOV 2009 – FOOTWEAR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
• Responsible for appropriate product selection from overseas factories to provide the most commercial range for the UK market
• Responsible for private label product development of several high street fashion brand including Cath Kidston, Lambretta, John Lewis and Selfridges.
• Working with approx 20 factories in 3 countries, China, India & Pakistan & a broad retail & wholesale client base on the UK. I work with our customers and buyers in order to understand their needs to source & develop specific product with the best suited factory to their individual product & price specs.
• Extensive travel overseas to factories several times a year & visit trade shows in China (Canton Fair), Europe (Bread & Butter, Micam, Garda) & UK to research & source new factories & products
• Work with suppliers in order to achieve satisfactory factory audit reports
• Negotiate prices with customers & factories to ensure company margins are achieved
• Accountable for all product sampling from development to bulk production
• Responsible for managing critical paths, placing purchase orders in line with customers supplier manuals, ensure factory’s production is running to schedule & containers & vessel space is booked for agreed shipment date, process shipping docs & arrange transport with shipping lines/freight forwarding company in order to deliver customers booking requirement. Accountable for invoicing customers’ goods according to deliveries made
• Reporting directly to the Managing Director & work with a team of three
• Responsible for private label product development of several high street fashion brand including Cath Kidston, Lambretta, John Lewis and Selfridges.
• Working with approx 20 factories in 3 countries, China, India & Pakistan & a broad retail & wholesale client base on the UK. I work with our customers and buyers in order to understand their needs to source & develop specific product with the best suited factory to their individual product & price specs.
• Extensive travel overseas to factories several times a year & visit trade shows in China (Canton Fair), Europe (Bread & Butter, Micam, Garda) & UK to research & source new factories & products
• Work with suppliers in order to achieve satisfactory factory audit reports
• Negotiate prices with customers & factories to ensure company margins are achieved
• Accountable for all product sampling from development to bulk production
• Responsible for managing critical paths, placing purchase orders in line with customers supplier manuals, ensure factory’s production is running to schedule & containers & vessel space is booked for agreed shipment date, process shipping docs & arrange transport with shipping lines/freight forwarding company in order to deliver customers booking requirement. Accountable for invoicing customers’ goods according to deliveries made
• Reporting directly to the Managing Director & work with a team of three
LITTLEWOODS RETAIL GROUP, Liverpool Head Office
OCT 2001 – FEB 2006 – MENS CLOTHING BUYER
• Responsible for sourcing, buying and managing a menswear range of branded & own brand product. Range Presentation to Buying Director and Manager at Range Sign Off
• Responsible for advising the Stylist and Photographer on correct product fit
• In regular contact with Far East offices, briefing requirements for development samples and monitoring prices
• Attended QA Returns Meetings at warehouses
• Liase closely with all suppliers to ensure all photographic, development, Red Seal & production samples are correct. E.g. supply all product packaging & labelling info
• Management of all critical path and schedule deadlines
• Comprehensive working knowledge of company administrative systems
• Buying from major fashion brands including Ted Baker, French Connection, Alpha Industries, Fred Perry, Diesel
• Responsible for advising the Stylist and Photographer on correct product fit
• In regular contact with Far East offices, briefing requirements for development samples and monitoring prices
• Attended QA Returns Meetings at warehouses
• Liase closely with all suppliers to ensure all photographic, development, Red Seal & production samples are correct. E.g. supply all product packaging & labelling info
• Management of all critical path and schedule deadlines
• Comprehensive working knowledge of company administrative systems
• Buying from major fashion brands including Ted Baker, French Connection, Alpha Industries, Fred Perry, Diesel
2000-2001 LUNN POLY Ltd, Liverpool
- Travels sales Consultant. Worked towards meeting team and individual targets on a daily basis
1998-2000 LITTLEWOODS HOME SHOPPING GROUP, Crosby
- Customer Service Advisor in call centre. Duties included data input, selling financial services and dealing with all customer queries and complaints
1995-1998 DIRTY SPORTS Ltd, St Johns Precinct, Liverpool
- Sales Assistant with merchandising and stock control responsibilities. Dealt efficiently with public during busy times. Worked in a team within a very lively retail environment
SKILLS PROfiLE
COMMUNICATION
- Good communication skills gained from giving presentations at seminars, completing written assignments and projects in university. Skills, which are further advanced from advising, instructing and dealing with customers and negotiating prices and deals with suppliers
TEAMWORK
- Successful coursework was dependent upon participation and motivation of project groups.
- Experience of working in an environment were the meeting of targets as a team was essential
- Have experienced a sense of team spirit from an early age when competing in athletics to semi-pro level
PROBLEM SOLVING
- Development of analytic problem solving skills as part of my degree course
- Previous employment has taught me to find solutions to customers’ problems in a calm and efficient manner
COMPUTING
- Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel spreadsheet, Power Point presentations, Internet & e-mail
DRIVING LICENCE
- Full clean UK Licence held
LEISURE INTERESTS
I was a member of an athletics team for 10 years and have competed at local, regional and national level, gaining a representative vest for Merseyside and the North of England. This has developed my competitiveness from an early age, however I also enjoyed being part of a sprint relay team and working together as part of a running club, In 2001 I was elected to be the Senior Women’s Team Manager for the North of England League. Although my job today is based in the outdoor industry whilst travelling I always took the opportunity to look around the European fashion brands as fashion is a personal passion of mine, I also follow many European fashion blogs including Chiara Ferragni from italy, Golestaneh from Germany, Elin Kling from Sweden. I particulary like the Swedish sense of style!
