Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic
Tyler Slaven

Tyler Slaven

Torquay,VIC

Summary

Creative and detail-oriented Category Buyer with nearly 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, blending design expertise with strategic buying skills. Highly skilled in curating collections that align with brand vision, consumer trends, and market demands.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience

Work History

Category Buyer - Mens Woven Shorts & Pants

Cotton On Group
04.2024 - Current
  • Curating dynamic and compelling product ranges through strategic input on product placement and selection, informed by comprehensive sales data analysis.
  • Strong experience in driving creative direction and managing briefs through the graphics department.
  • Collaborating with Visual Merchandising teams to develop effective in store strategies, boosting overall store performance.
  • Conducted market research to identify emerging trends, informing strategic buying decisions for a competitive edge.
  • Strong knowledge through design and development of Woven bases through sourcing fabrics to align with quality and price expectations.
  • Experience working towards target FOB's to manage the cost of products and ensure alignment to the
  • Assisted in developing seasonal buying plans, ensuring optimal merchandise assortment to meet customer demands.
  • Collaborating with marketing teams to develop targeted advertising campaigns, highlighting key product features and driving sales growth.
  • Analyzed sales trends and adjusted purchasing strategies accordingly, maximizing profitability and minimizing overstock issues.
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to identify opportunities for process improvements, cost reductions, and efficiency gains within the supply chain.
  • Worked closely with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements and develop category-specific sourcing strategies that met both short-term needs and long-term business objectives.
  • Apply the brand strategy, brand point of view and trend to build my product categories.
  • Apply customer, brand and commercial filters and use required tools to develop lifestyle products that we want to be famous for, to grow my categories.
  • Set category strategies in line with the range strategy, to deliver financial objectives.
  • Collaborate with Production and support my team to develop compliant products in partnership with suppliers.
  • Experienced in team management and development honing my skills in mentoring individuals while aligning team goals with the businesses objectives.

Category Buyer - Mens Activewear & Accessories

Cotton On Group
05.2021 - 04.2024
  • Curating dynamic and compelling product ranges through strategic input on product placement and selection, informed by comprehensive sales data analysis.
  • Strong experience in driving creative direction and managing briefs through the graphics department.
  • Collaborating with Visual Merchandising teams to develop effective in store strategies, boosting overall store performance.
  • Experience collaborating with brand ambassadors to apply their vision through design and development of technical garments to ensure they have the best products for perform in.
  • Conducted market research to identify emerging trends, informing strategic buying decisions for a competitive edge.
  • Strong knowledge through design and development of Activewear & Accessories through sourcing fabrics to align with quality and price expectations.
  • Experience working towards target FOB's to manage the cost of products and ensure alignment to the
  • Collaborating with marketing teams to develop targeted advertising campaigns, highlighting key product features and driving sales growth.
  • Analyzed sales trends and adjusted purchasing strategies accordingly, maximizing profitability and minimizing overstock issues.
  • Apply the brand strategy, brand point of view and trend to build my product categories.
  • Apply customer, brand and commercial filters and use required tools to develop lifestyle products that we want to be famous for, to grow my categories.
  • Set category strategies in line with the range strategy, to deliver financial objectives.
  • Collaborate with production and support my team to develop compliant products in partnership with suppliers.
  • Experienced in team management and development honing my skills in mentoring individuals while aligning team goals with the businesses objectives.

Assistant Buyer - Mens Accessories

Cotton On Group
10.2020 - 05.2021


  • Assisted in creating exciting and engaging ranges inline with category strategy and direction led by Buying Manager.
  • Collaborated with marketing teams to develop targeted advertising campaigns, highlighting key product features and driving sales growth.
  • Experience in driving creative direction and managing briefs through the graphics department.
  • Collaborate with the Trend team to integrate current category trends into seasonal products, ensuring a balance of creative and commercial market appeal.
  • Conducted market research to identify emerging trends, informing strategic buying decisions for a competitive edge.
  • Managed all colour and lab dip approvals to ensure consistency with design intent and alignment with seasonal palettes.
  • Experience in analyzing sales data to strategically apply learnings through product placement from a mix of a commercial and trend lens.
  • Assist Buying Manager with product development and design working closely with the product developers in sourcing new fabrics to align with quality and price expectations.

Assistant Buyer - Mens Shirts & Shorts

Cotton On Group
06.2019 - 10.2020
  • Assisted in creating exciting and engaging ranges inline with category strategy and direction led by Buying Manager.
  • Collaborated with marketing teams to develop targeted advertising campaigns, highlighting key product features and driving sales growth.
  • Experience in driving creative direction and managing briefs through the graphics department.
  • Collaborate with the Trend team to integrate current category trends into seasonal products, ensuring a balance of creative and commercial market appeal.
  • Conducted market research to identify emerging trends, informing strategic buying decisions for a competitive edge.
  • Managed all colour and lab dip approvals to ensure consistency with design intent and alignment with seasonal palettes.
  • Experience in analyzing sales data to strategically apply learnings through product placement from a mix of a commercial and trend lens.
  • Assist Buying Manager with product development and design working closely with the product developers in sourcing new fabrics to align with quality and price expectations.

Product Designer - Mens Cut & Sew

Cotton On Group
09.2016 - 06.2019
  • Assisted Buying team with product development and design working closely with the product developers in sourcing new fabrics to align with quality and price expectations.
  • Managed creative direction in coordination with the Buying team to build graphic briefs for seasonal ranges.
  • Managed all briefs and provided art direction to the graphics teams, ensuring clear direction and managing timelines.
  • Designed and created graphic capsules inline with the current trends and category vision for upcoming ranges,
  • Managed all colour and lab dip approvals to ensure consistency with design intent and alignment with seasonal palettes.
  • Developed innovative product concepts through extensive market research and competitor analysis.
  • Coordinated with the Buying team to apply learnings from sales data and strategically apply to product and range assortment from a mix of a commercial and trend lens.

Mens Wetsuit Designer

Rip Curl
08.2010 - 07.2016
  • Design creative branding concepts for new seasonal wetsuit and lycra ranges.
  • Manage all graphic and technical designs for upcoming ranges
  • Create and manage tech packs for suppliers
  • Collaboration with wider teams to implement new seasonal colour palettes
  • Assist pattern makers in developing innovative wetsuit designs
  • Assist product developers in sourcing new cutting edge materials to elevate and improve functionality of products.
  • Broad knowledge in technical materials used to create highly functional and aesthetically pleasing products.
  • Experience working towards target FOB's to manage the cost of products and ensure alignment to the companies pricing structure and margin expectations.
  • Managing lab dips and approvals.

Mens Jnr Wetsuit Designer

Rip Curl
07.2008 - 08.2010
  • Assist in designing creative branding concepts for new seasonal wetsuit and lycra ranges.
  • Assist all graphic and technical designs for upcoming ranges.
  • Create and manage tech packs for suppliers.
  • Collaboration with wider teams to implement new seasonal colour palettes.
  • Assist pattern makers in developing innovative wetsuit designs.
  • Collaborate with product developers to implement new cutting edge materials to elevate and improve functionality of products.
  • Managing lab dips and approvals.

Education

Diploma of Education - Graphic Design

Gordon Institute of TAFE
Geelong, VIC
12-2007

Skills

  • Category strategy
  • Sourcing strategies
  • Market research
  • Trend forecasting
  • Problem solving
  • Team Management & Development
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Trade Analysis
  • Graphic Design
  • Pricing analysis
  • Extensive Product Expertise
  • Managing product development
  • Coordinating Creative Brief Processes
  • Adobe Suite
  • Excel

Timeline

Category Buyer - Mens Woven Shorts & Pants

Cotton On Group
04.2024 - Current

Category Buyer - Mens Activewear & Accessories

Cotton On Group
05.2021 - 04.2024

Assistant Buyer - Mens Accessories

Cotton On Group
10.2020 - 05.2021

Assistant Buyer - Mens Shirts & Shorts

Cotton On Group
06.2019 - 10.2020

Product Designer - Mens Cut & Sew

Cotton On Group
09.2016 - 06.2019

Mens Wetsuit Designer

Rip Curl
08.2010 - 07.2016

Mens Jnr Wetsuit Designer

Rip Curl
07.2008 - 08.2010

Diploma of Education - Graphic Design

Gordon Institute of TAFE

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Tyler Slaven