Pippa Oakes

Passionate, driven and conscientious individual with high standards of self-performance. I enjoy taking on new challenges and using logical thinking to seek out the most efficient approach to gain the best results. The responsibilities during my 8+ years of experience have covered a wide range of product categories over many brands. I have an extensive skill set and understanding of the industry, excellent communication skills, natural aptitude for creativity and the understanding of the need for cost management. In addition, I am adaptable to change and capable of initiating and implementing change when necessary. 

Working directly with the Senior Buyer, assisting overall buying function for 10 Outlet Retail stores. Product categories covered: Tailoring / Formal Shirts / Casual Wear / Outerwear / Accessories. In addition, buying all Casual Wear & Accessories for 44 Suit Direct Retail stores.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Range Ownership: To plan, design, source and select a commercial range of accessories within a structured supplier base. Building a range plan and considering costs, sell price in view of achieving the target margin. Present ranges for sign off by Senior Buyer. Maintain good working relationships with suppliers.
• Price Negotiation: Negotiate best cost price to enable company target margin is achieved.
• Product Development: Oversee the sampling process alongside QA from development to delivered product. Work with QA and design on best garment fit / product styling.  Final approval of bulk submits - fabrics, trims, branding and packaging
• Critical Path Management: Manage critical path, key dates to ensure on time delivery.
• Analysis: Build seasonal lessons learnt & best & worst sellers for key presentations and planning.  Monitoring daily sales & new reactions, trend analysis & sending publishing updates.
• Trend Awareness:  Maintain competitor awareness and full understanding of customer needs to maximise profits and provide a commercially viable range.
• Branding Development: Develop branding / packaging in line with brand guidelines and implementing sustainable materials.
• Product Documentation: Create and update design sheets to be issued to the factory for product development. Complete product specification and branding guidelines for production. 
• Improve Working Processes: Identify where working practice can be improved for more efficiency and implement new methods/systems where necessary.
• E-commerce: Manage all web photography, styling and copy writing to ensuring product is photographed to launch on time.

• 2011-2014 : BA Fashion Design, University of Leeds: 1st 
• 2008-2011: BA English Literature, University of Birmingham: 2:1