Claire Lopez

Experience

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  River Island

  Dec 2006 - Dec 2008

  Senior Assistant Buyer

  Worked on multi-product range of soft woven separates sourced directly from India and the Far East: developed fashion forward and commercially balanced range with designer, supplier trips, range presentation to Board, day to day running of the department with two direct reports.Worked on Blouses department, sourced from short lead-time European suppliers: including managing and booking all cloth commitment for in house production team, mill appointments.

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  Monsoon Accessorize

  Jan 2009 - Feb 2013

  Senior Buyer heading up Smart, Occasion, Originals, Bridal and Bridesmaid ranges.Create ranges with designers, textile team and suppliers for Monsoon customer creating combined sales of approx. £60m across the seasons. Chosen to work with PWC on Critical Path/lead time project to streamline business processes and improve speed-to-market of product proposition.Managed Retail Inventory Management project meetings to improve product sell thru across the brand.Re-balanced FE dominated supplier base to introduce European suppliers to allow flexibility for trialling and in-season trading. De-risked business reliance on individual Far Eastern suppliers and built near east supplier base. Improved leadtimes from FE suppliers to 8 weeks.Introduced trialling strategy.Managed flow product, cloth commitment, open to buy.Competitor shopping trips and inspirational shopping trips – including to Paris, PV, New York, Hong Kong. Travel to Near and Far East suppliers. Headed up fit sessions, working alongside garment QC’s to ensure quality and fit of all items in range. Full managerial responsibility for a team of 6. Show less Delivered sales increase of 45% SS10 v SS09 with total sales of approx. £22m (+20% versus department plan).Department was fastest turning core category for SS10 with highest sell thru for the season, consistently delivering product within company top ten for cash and unit sales.Created new areas of business within bottoms and cover ups equalling £2m sales.Grew department to represent 15% of total brand sales.Re-balanced supplier base to ensure maximum flexibility for trialling and in-season trading.Supplier trips to FE and Europe: new supplier sourcing, production planning. Show less Responsible for buying largest area within the Daywear category sourced through a global supplier base both directly and through Monsoon's overseas offices. Managed a total buy of £62 m across SS and AW09 seasons and delivered a 7% sales increase within tops, equating to an additional £1m FP sales. Delivered improved sell thru on trousers, reducing markdown spend by 30%.Introduced and delivered trialling strategy across departments.Fully responsible for day to day running of department to include: cost price/order negotiation, overseeing critical path, leading fit sessions.Supplier visits to India and FE: factory visits, sourcing, supplier performance reviews.Inspirational shopping trips and UK competitor analysis.Work across the company to build cohesive ranges.Two direct reports. Show less

  • Senior Buyer - Smart and Occasion

    Jun 2011 - Feb 2013

  • Buyer - Jersey

    Sept 2009 - Jun 2011

  • Junior Buyer - tops and Trousers

    Jan 2009 - Sept 2009
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  Style by Claire Lopez

  Jan 2014 - now

  Personal Stylist

  Personal Stylist, Personal Shopper and Image Consultant working within the London area.Services include: Wardrobe Edit, Personal Shopping, Virtual Styling, Workshops, Memberships.