Stephane Marion
Summary
With over 6 years experience in retail, specialising in Buying and Merchandising, my skills and expertise span across both branded and vertical business models.
Known for strong analytical skills and a natural commercial acumen, I can swiftly adapt to new areas & develop long lasting relationships with key business partners and internal stakeholders.
Experienced in managing multi million dollar OTB, I will confidently define, and drive tailored strategies identifying key success drivers, and take targeted actions to achieve better results.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchandiser - Women's Apparel Focus Categories
ZIMMERMANN
06.2024 - 11.2024
- Reporting to the Merchandising Director, I was responsible for executing the product strategy for Zimmermann's focus Categories Knitwear and Denim across RTW and Resort Collections:
- Define collection structure to brief the Design team based on creative director's vision, market & competition review, retail & wholesale performance: width, functions, shapes, materials, construction, costs & target prices
- Monitor the development of the collection from sketch to sample, leading reviews with Design team and Design studio director
- Set up and update range plans and merchandising trackers to achieve brief and meet budgets
- Define prices and ensure target positioning and margins are achieved across markets
- Build and lead collection presentations and buying strategy for Retail & Wholesale
Buyer - Women's Apparel & Footwear - Own Brand DAZIE
THE ICONIC
03.2023 - 06.2024
- Manage yearly OTB of $12Mil and deliver key department targets for sales, stock turn & profit
- Conduct market research and develop ranges in line with trend & product performance
- Drive and present monthly range and buy sign off for Footwear, Dresses, Cut&Sew, Knitwear categories
- Analyse products performance identify & execute trade actions to drive results in line with weekly, monthly & seasonal targets
- Manage fit sessions with Garment Tech to achieve fit and quality standards
- Monitor inventory levels to maintain adequate stock levels
- Negotiate with suppliers to improve intake margin
- Oversee efficiency of the end to end management of product Critical Path
- Provide guidance and mentoring to Assistant Buyer
- Post season analysis
Buyer - Women's Lingerie, Sleepwear & Loungewear
THE ICONIC
04.2022 - 03.2023
- Manage yearly OTB of $5 Mil
- Deliver key department targets for sales, stock turn & profit
- Attend showing, select and quantify orders
- Brand sign off presentation to Planners/BM/CM
- Share performance updates (monthly & seasonally) with brands
- Negotiate Brand Partnership marketing opportunities
- Maintain strong, commercial supplier relationships with regular communication
- Manage requests for stock return, mark down contribution and rebates
- Analyse and present weekly trade with actions
- Analyse and present in monthly re forecast with actions
- Lead Monthly 'Go To Market' buying input in Marketing calendar
- Manage team of 2 direct reports
- Seasonal SWOT analysis & presentation to key stakeholders
Assistant Buyer - Women's Designer Apparel, FTW & ACC
THE ICONIC
05.2021 - 04.2022
- Support with weekly trade analysis and actions
- Manage Visual Marketing SKU lists
- Maintain accurate brand plans
- Providing Senior buyer and vendors accurate Performance reports ahead of showings
- Analysis and commentary on weekly brand performance
- Attend showings with Senior Buyer and support with ranging post showings
- Work cross functionally to identify, communicate and support the execution of marketing opportunities
- Assist with vendor on boarding process
- Take ownership and manage small portfolio of brands with guidance and support from Senior Buyer
- Identify and drive in season trade opportunities
- SWOT analysis and presentation
- Manage Admin assistant training, workload and development
- Work collaboratively and cross functionally with e-com team to achieve better outcomes and consistency across product pages
Assistant Buyer - Beauty
THE ICONIC
10.2020 - 04.2021
- Support to Beauty Senior Buyer and wider ICONIC team in the set up and development of a new Category as well as delivering support across intake management, trade analysis, buying cycles and overall optimisation of brand performance
- Set up and manage vendor on boarding critical path
- Provide daily/weekly/monthly reporting on brand performance
- Manage order raising, intake accuracy and brand plan update
- Assist with weekly trade reporting, analysis and comments
- Acts as the main point of contact for all brands and provide adhoc performance feedback and support for all product related enquiries
- Ensure all reporting is accurate and manage ongoing data integrity
- Liaise with Marketing on plans & execution of all Beauty campaigns (GTM, paid partnership, social)
Category Admin Assistant - Womens Accessories & Footwear
THE ICONIC
03.2019 - 10.2020
- Provide support to Buying team through intake management, order raising, reporting, brand management and competitor analysis
- Track all intake orders ensuring purchase order accuracy and escalate any issues that pose risk to late delivery or delivery failures to our Buyers
- Partner with Fulfilment Centre team to ensure deliveries are on time and in full
- Enter all purchase orders and quality check all order information through relevant systems
- Support weekly trade and vendor meetings by running best and worst product review reports
- Manage ongoing data integrity to ensure accurate reporting
Education
Microsoft Excel Advanced Formulas & Functions -
UDEMY.COM
02.2019
Certificate IV in Business -
FBI Fashion College Pty Ltd
Glebe02.2017
Bachelor of Arts Honours - International Business
Middlesex University
London05.2012
DUMA (University Diploma Assistant Manager) -
IUP
Clermont-Ferrand05.2009
Skills
- Retail Buying & Category management
- Product performance analysis
- Stock management
- Range building
- Collection merchandising
- Product development
- Vendor relations
- Pricing strategy
- Trend identification
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Critical thinking
- Team collaboration
Residency
Permanent Resident
Structured Workplace Training
- GUCCI Australia, PR & Communication Assistant, 09/01/16, 12/31/16
- Vogue Australia, Fashion Assistant, 03/01/16, 07/31/16
- L'Express Magazine Paris, Project Manager, 01/01/11, 06/30/11
- Louis Vuitton Paris, Sales Advisor, 04/01/09, 08/31/09
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
French
Native or Bilingual
Italian
Elementary
Timeline
Merchandiser - Women's Apparel Focus Categories
ZIMMERMANN
06.2024 - 11.2024
Buyer - Women's Apparel & Footwear - Own Brand DAZIE
THE ICONIC
03.2023 - 06.2024
Buyer - Women's Lingerie, Sleepwear & Loungewear
THE ICONIC
04.2022 - 03.2023
Assistant Buyer - Women's Designer Apparel, FTW & ACC
THE ICONIC
05.2021 - 04.2022
Assistant Buyer - Beauty
THE ICONIC
10.2020 - 04.2021
Category Admin Assistant - Womens Accessories & Footwear
THE ICONIC
03.2019 - 10.2020
Certificate IV in Business -
FBI Fashion College Pty Ltd
Bachelor of Arts Honours - International Business
Middlesex University
DUMA (University Diploma Assistant Manager) -
IUP
Microsoft Excel Advanced Formulas & Functions -
UDEMY.COM
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