Sammie Elliott

Motivated and creative professional, who always works to excel at all tasks given, possesses excellent administrative, diary management and commercial awareness skills. An exemplary record for providing sales and administrative support for both individual clients and corporations. Great communication skills such as active listening, confident oral communication. Experienced in taking meeting minutes, responding to emails, liaising between suppliers and different stakeholders With the ability to work independently or as part of a team. Always keen to listen and learn from others in order to improve professionally and personally.

Mountain Warehouse · London· December 2021

Senior Assistant Buyer – Mountain Warehouse - Animal; Swimwear, Outerwear, Jersey & Ski

• Collaborates with Design to create a commercial range 
• Manges full range with the Buyer for £5 mil worth of stock taking £6.6mil STD
• Reports directly to Buying manager and directors for weekly trade calls
• Regularly reviews stock, sales, orders and forecasting as well as option count planning across the regions including stores and online
• Understands and analyses reports and makes recommendations based on figures, commerciality to action in a timely manner
• Plans ranges to maximize profits and provide a commercially viable range of merchandise at competitive prices
• Regularly presents seasonal range plans to directors that reflects company goals and ambitions, to gain approval for the range
• Sources new and constantly re-evaluate, resource and review existing merchandise to ensure product remains as competitive as possible 
• Maintains strong relationships with suppliers
• Liaises with other departments within the organization to ensure projects are completed
• Participates in promotional activities and capsule ranges
• Creates style books for products, identify when to update trim labels, fabrications and packaging, and liaise with graphic designer to ensure a consistent brand image
• Manages the critical path, monitoring all orders from initial product development through to delivery, ensuring the smooth running of the development process, maintaining delivery schedules and key deadlines throughout
• Lab dip and trim approvals and feeding back to suppliers, after collecting fit and quality info from QC
• Train and supports two BAAs on the department
• Drives fit meetings with QC and models, making suggestions on fit, styling, trims etc, as well as signing off sample

ASOS · London· October 2021 – December 2021

Assistant Buyer FTC – High St Brands 

• Take team ownership of the Buying Critical Path, from sourcing to delivery in line with timelines expected to achieve sales plan. 
• Assist Buyer in developing and buying ranges across our brand portfolio
• Partner with the merchandising team and brand partners to ensure timely deliveries, and be solution orientated when issues arise.  
• Develop working relationships with brand portfolio, whilst understanding the importance of flexibility within the critical path. 
• Manage, coach and develop the BAAs.
• Critically analyse data reports alongside merchandising to support buying decisions for in season trading and strategy deep dives.
• Constantly communicate with Merchandising team and Suppliers to manage the buying process, identify problems and propose solutions to the Buyer 
• Identify & Analyse market trends across multi categories through competitor shops & industry research. Critically analyse findings to provide opportunities to drive department sales.
• Presenting CUM BTA in the Buyer’s absence, identifying clear trading actions relevant for the audience 

Amazon · London· Jan 2020 to Sep 2020

Assistant Buyer

Provided a suite of services designed to support Amazon's most strategic brands to increase their success, growth and selection on a daily basis. Worked with four large vendors in Homewares, garden and toys markets supplying the top brands on Amazon. Acting as the main point of contact identifying inputs to grow brands and improve their performance. Whilst working under pressure ensures the companies highest of standards and facilitating great business relationships and vendors’ satisfaction with the service.

• Wrote weekly business report for each vendor for directors and top line managers to understand businesses tailwinds and headwinds followed by key actions for the week. 
• Gained full ownership of four vendors across different categories managing the selection, business strategy, marketing plans and relationship with the brands. 
• Used available facilities and strategic actions to help grow multiple vendors +200% YoY. 
• Ensured all deliveries arrive on time and fix any blockers there may be in the supply chain to gain a slick and lean process. 
• Collaborated with vendors to create business strategies ensuring growth on a monthly basis, making sure targets are always met.
•  Managed and planned large scale promo activity e.g. Summer sales, Prime day and Black Friday
• Created end of year business strategy and targets to improve vendors success at Amazon 
• Analysed all sales using vast metrics on a daily basis using a very wide variety of data. Using this data to gauge what actions to take. 
• Deep dived on a daily basis any issues that a vendor may meet or pre-empt any that may happen in the future and develop action plan to solve any problem.

NEW LOOK · London· Nov 2017 to Dec 2019

Assistant Buyer 

Ensured smooth execution of all department operations by providing hands-on support to team members. Coordinated with key suppliers to address changes in product specifications, quality issues, and delivery schedules. Lead two BAA’s within the team for active participation in department meetings, managing critical paths, and meeting deadlines. Evaluate sales in accordance with booking, including repeats and move-on while handling orders cancellation. Function in close collaboration with merchandisers to maintain stock availability in store and online platforms. Planned and participated in several company meeting related to sign off, product review, and trade.

• Worked closely with supporting the Senior and Junior Buyer directly to build a commercial and balanced range influenced by market trends and catwalks.
• Managed 55% of the range £47m FY sales value.
• Adapted constantly to the challenging market conditions by supporting the company’s strategy model of protecting OTB. Maintaining more flexibility within the range enabling the company to react to emerging trends.
• Reviewed daily sales and maximising in season trading whilst reducing risk on committed orders.
• Cross costing all styles across the supply base to ensure that prices and deliveries are negotiated ensuring the profit margin target is achieved without compromising on quality.
• Built strong relationships with suppliers in both Far East and Europe/UK offices. 
• Full management of two Buyers admin assistants. Coaching and supporting their development within their role. Managing and overviewing their work ensuring they meet their deadlines. 
• Assisted with the critical path and day-to-day management of over 1,600 options per year ensuring they are delivered on time. 
• Presented best and worst sellers on Monday trade meeting to senior management.
• Worked closely with Assistant Merchandiser preparing orders from capacity plans and line monitors to ensure we are booking future intakes in line with sales to protect margin.
• Built key relationships with other functions of the business i.e. design, print team, marketing and ecommerce.
• Worked closely with Merchandising team to range build and sign off OTB of £1m sales due to over performance in absence of Buyer to Senior management
• Planning and management of the department’s fabric commitment for trading. Utilising the cloth for speed to market products.

LIPSY · London· 2016 to 2017

BUYERS ADMIN ASSISTANT

Lead all aspects of brand development for 60 brands by providing administrative support to other team members. Collaborated with brands and suppliers to manage product related activities, including sampling, product orders, and product information. Provided support to buyers in selecting appropriate products and managing buy appointments. Prepared product samples, including logging product out of stock and returning on system. Ensured on time delivery of online products by constantly communicating with suppliers, vendors, and other members of the distribution chain. Planned shot of products by coordinating withshoot team to increase product appearance.

Key Accomplishments:

• Promoted to the position of higher responsibility by demonstrating continuous commitment to hard work and high quality.
• Conducted comprehensive research on bestsellers and trade while reporting key findings to the directors on a weekly basis.

1st Class BSC (HONS) Fashion Buying and Merchandising - Manchester Metropolitan University