ERIKA STEPHENSON
Altona,Australia
Summary
Senior Production Specialist driving commercially successful ranges in Apparel and Homewares. Experienced in end-to-end product development—from concept to store delivery—delivering high-quality, profitable, and on-time results. Skilled in leading critical paths, negotiating costs, and managing suppliers while collaborating with buyers, designers, and offshore teams. Recognised for technical expertise, textile knowledge, and a solutions-focused approach. Proven ability to optimise product fit, quality, and functionality, consistently contributing to sales growth and exceeding business objectives.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Production Manager
Caprice – Target and Myer Accounts
08.2025 - Current
- Manage end-to-end production across all styles, ensuring each stage of development, approval, and bulk execution meets required timelines.
- Create and manage customer-specific critical paths, synchronising milestones with shipping and delivery schedules.
- Direct cost management, margin reporting, and supplier negotiation processes.
- Coordinate weekly cross-functional production meetings with suppliers and internal departments to manage priorities and critical paths.
- Source and assess fabrics with suppliers to achieve required quality, compliance, and cost targets.
- Track and report on the full production schedule, providing clear status updates and identifying risks or delays.
- Liaise with the China office to obtain all shipment documentation in line with compliance.
- Partner with customers, sales teams, and warehouse personnel to confirm delivery expectations and ensure all dates are met.
- Review lab dips and strike-offs with the Production Assistant and submit to external labs and licensors.
Senior Production Coordinator
Commonry Womenswear & Accessories - Brandbank Group
09.2024 - 08.2025
- Created and managed critical paths to track key milestones and deadlines.
- Successfully negotiated costs with suppliers to achieve department goals and margin expansion.
- Evaluated potential elements of each style with the Creative Director and design team to identify implications for cost and aesthetic outcomes.
- Facilitated problem-solving discussions and explored alternative solutions to keep the critical path moving forward.
- Managed Production Tracker to ensure all submissions and fits were sent for approval on time to avoid delivery delays.
- Led weekly production meetings with internal product team and external suppliers to improve communication, track progress of products, and ensure timely, successful monthly ranges.
- Worked closely with Accounts Payable to verify and authorize supplier invoices.
- Partnered with the compliance team to onboard suppliers, evaluate audit results, and ensure products complied with all safety standards and ethical, social, and environmental regulations.
- Conducted cross-functional meetings with logistics teams to ensure efficient shipment tracking and timely delivery to retail stores.
- Worked with Planning Manager to project core line forecasts and negotiated large supplier programs.
Senior Production Coordinator
Seed Heritage Childrenswear - Brandbank Group
06.2022 - 09.2024
- Executed product development with suppliers after handover with designer for each range month.
- Collaborated with Design Team to ensure their vision is executed correctly and discuss potential components of each style that may impact margin or styling results.
- Prepared supplier tech packs with comprehensive information including graded specification, fabrication content, weight, technical details, style colours, regional quantities, label codes and designated appropriate care instructions.
- Sourced new fabric qualities and trims across several vendors to achieve best quality and price.
- Effectively negotiated supplier costs to meet departmental targets and improve margins, through strategic relationship-building focused on trust, collaboration, and long-term value.
- Commented on all fabric, lab dip, trim and strike off submissions from suppliers.
- Led fit sessions with cross-functional teams, including design manager and buyers to ensure alignment with design intent and market standard for all initial, pre-production and shipment samples.
- Offered guidance on all alterations and improvements.
- Communicated clear and concise fit requirements, changes, and expectations with suppliers to ensure that they achieved optimal garment fit.
- Managed Production Tracker to ensure all submissions and fits were sent for approval on time to avoid delivery delays.
- Engaged in regular meetings with compliance team to ensure that garments not only met design and fit criteria but also adhered to all relevant regulations, standards, safety protocols and assessed any potential risks.
- Checked and approved all requested fabric test reports ensuring compliance standards were met.
- Reviewed all bulk inspection reports to ensure goods were fit for delivery.
- Attended Qualspec seminars and internal training sessions with QA Manager to keep up to date on all compliance, testing and QC regulations within the Australian and International markets.
Senior Production Coordinator
Fine Day Lifestyle and Homeware’s - Brandbank Group
12.2020 - 06.2022
- Worked alongside Creative Director on the set up and launch of new lifestyle, sleep, and homewares brand.
- Successfully sourced, onboarded, and managed 23 new suppliers across 7 worldwide regions, including local manufacturers.
- Managed multiple lifestyle and homeware categories including towels, bedding, dinnerware, glassware, apparel, sleepwear, childrenswear, pet products, hardgoods, and cutlery.
- Achieved target margins through rigorous cost negotiation with suppliers.
- Closely examined the cost components of products, including raw materials, labor, and transportation to understand the cost breakdown and identify areas where negotiation could lead to cost savings.
- Dealt with fabric and garment minimums, lead times, and surcharges, effectively managing costs while maintaining product quality.
- Established strong relationships with suppliers to ensure mutual success and foster long-term collaboration.
- Supported and managed design and planning teams to achieve critical path milestones, ensuring timely delivery and maximizing outcomes.
- Held weekly production meetings with internal teams and suppliers, to enhance collaboration and ensure timely production, resulting in a successful product launch.
- Checked and approved all requested fabric test reports to ensure compliance standards were met.
- Reviewed all bulk inspection reports to ensure goods were fit for delivery.
- Reviewed supplier performance regularly to ensure compliance with company objectives, budgets, and quality standards.
Production Manager
Elwood & Mossimo - Brand Collective
03.2017 - 03.2020
- Executed the sourcing strategy by diversifying the supplier base and establishing relationships with new vendors to improve quality, reduce costs, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency.
- Conducted onboarding process with new suppliers to ensure all compliant and required standards were met.
- Monitored supplier performance closely, regularly reviewing on-time delivery, product quality, and cost efficiency to ensure sustained margin expansion.
- Maximised FOB reduction based on production volume.
- Dealt with all issues relating to fabric/garment minimums, lead times, surcharges.
- Proactively addressed any issues or challenges that arose, collaborating with suppliers to find effective solutions and maintain strong partnerships.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration between sales, design, and supply chain teams to manage and achieve critical path milestones.
- Participated in order consolidation/indent buy with Brand Manager and Sales Managers.
- Directed Final Buy meeting to obtain sign off from Commercial Manager.
- Created and managed OTB to forecast order cycles and raise PO’s.
- Coordinated QC approval process for third party inspections.
- Checked and approved all bulk inspection reports and shipping samples before delivery.
Production Coordinator
Seed Heritage & French Connection - Brandbank Group
07.2012 - 03.2017
- Sourced new suppliers / direct factories.
- Managed the critical path to plan and schedule production to ensure best deliveries and prices.
- Created tech packs, set up garment specifications and graded full size specs.
- Negotiated costs with suppliers to achieve target margins.
- Visited o/s suppliers to approve styles, negotiate costs, new development.
- Coordinated fit sessions and fit comments for all initial, pre-production and shipment samples.
- Processed and approved lab dips, fabric qualities, trims, strike offs.
- Regular store visits to monitor quality of stock and meet with store managers.
Account Manager
Bradmill Pty Ltd
04.2011 - 06.2012
- Maintained the existing client base for fabric and garments sales.
- Developed and secured new customers within the target market.
- Maximised sales through detailed product / market knowledge.
- Attended product conferences at Denim Mill in Istanbul to expand knowledge/skill set.
- Addressed customer queries in a detailed and timely manner.
Product Developer
Dickies
11.2009 - 03.2011
- Worked alongside the Director on trend research, themes, creating colour palettes and developing ranges.
- Managed development and sampling process with suppliers.
Product Developer
Pacific Brands
01.2004 - 10.2009
- Worked with Design Manager on trend research, themes, colour palettes.
- Designed a commercial range each season in accordance with market/trend research.
- Travelled to major international cities for trend research and sample buy.
- Travelled interstate to assist agents in the selling process with accounts.
- Visited o/s suppliers to approve styles, negotiate costs, new development.
- Negotiated with suppliers to optimise product costs while maintaining quality and margin targets.
- Created and managed the critical path to plan and schedule production and ensure best deliveries and prices.
Education
Diploma of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear -
R.M.I.T
Melbourne, VIC12.2003
Diploma of Frontline Management - undefined
R.M.I.T
Melbourne, VIC12.2002
Skills
- Product Development & Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of textiles, garment construction, homewares, and grading across multiple size ranges
- Cost Negotiation: Skilled in supplier negotiations to achieve quality, commercial, and margin targets
- Time & Critical Path Management: Plan and manage production schedules to meet customer and delivery deadlines
- Problem-Solving: Resolve complex development challenges with innovative, practical solutions
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Effective communicator with internal teams, buyers, designers, and offshore suppliers
- Compliance & Quality Assurance: Knowledgeable in domestic and international safety, sustainability, and production standards
Timeline
Production Manager
Caprice – Target and Myer Accounts
08.2025 - Current
Senior Production Coordinator
Commonry Womenswear & Accessories - Brandbank Group
09.2024 - 08.2025
Senior Production Coordinator
Seed Heritage Childrenswear - Brandbank Group
06.2022 - 09.2024
Senior Production Coordinator
Fine Day Lifestyle and Homeware’s - Brandbank Group
12.2020 - 06.2022
Production Manager
Elwood & Mossimo - Brand Collective
03.2017 - 03.2020
Production Coordinator
Seed Heritage & French Connection - Brandbank Group
07.2012 - 03.2017
Account Manager
Bradmill Pty Ltd
04.2011 - 06.2012
Product Developer
Dickies
11.2009 - 03.2011
Product Developer
Pacific Brands
01.2004 - 10.2009
Diploma of Frontline Management - undefined
R.M.I.T
Diploma of Textiles, Clothing and Footwear -
R.M.I.T