2007 – heden Ad interim,
Approached by the biggest international dutch importer of fashion accessories (bags, wallets, scarfs, winter accessories, hosiery, belt, shoes, custom jewellery, swimwear etc.) to design, develop and buy their full collection in the Far East. We design, develop and buy specifically for (inter)national customers all over Europe besides the developing and buying of our own collections. Until they have found a permanent person who can meet with their high requirements for this job of senior product manager/senior accountmanager I will be taking over.

2006 – 2007 Senior Consultant, (Mode)
Approached by the board members (CEO/CFO/ buying director) in November 2006 to define to what extent the current fittings and sizes are in line with customer expectations in the South of France and Spain.
How will X be able to realize quick wins and how will they continue profitable sales growth for the next years during expansion.
This also concerns possibilities in adjusting the all over collection and allocation for these particular countries and switch to modular buying. When the results of these analyses are finished, recommendations will be made and the impact on processes and total organization will be defined.

2005 - 2006 Senior Buyer Living (children’s room decorations, clocks, candles, living accessories, small furniture etc.)
Responsible for turnover, profit margin, stock level and aimed market share of these departments. To generate the profitable sales growth in these departments sales analyses and financial plans were made continuously which also concerned logistics and marketing.
Global sourcing for the right suppliers and buying markets to the relevant product categories were an elementary component in the buying strategy.
What was also of vital importance to the responsibility of a senior buyer was the quality and trend level of the collections: initiating the appropriate strategy to develop the right product ranges in the right time.
All buyers are responsible for big groups with high turnovers amounts with a big variety of product ranges.
Almost all the groups needed to improve on both turnover and profitability. The specific task was to reduce suppliers (amend supplier portfolio), source for new markets, reduce the amount of styles and create a more appealing new collection.
This was needed to generate more profitable sales growth and to create a more trendy new collection within the frame of the identity.
Two buying assistants assisted on the departments and helped me to succeed, reach the identified targets and achieve the determined goals.

2003 - 2004 Buying manager Fashion accessories,
Responsible for total turnover targets, profit per square meter and aimed market shares per product group. Also responsible for developing the right collections/assortments within the framework of the defined private labels both in quality and in quantity.
Developing both a commercial and financial vision for all product groups in addition to the marketing strategy and price strategy.
Playing an active roll (together with my buyers) in selecting and sourcing new suppliers globally. Leading in all buying- and merchandising processes to gain the determined outputs.
Managing 4 buying groups, in total of around 15 people.
The product groups consisted of: all fashion accessories (hats, scarf’s, belts etc.), all bags, leather goods, hosiery and socks, all shoes and custom jewellery.
The specific target, besides the whole financial framework for all the groups, was to implement 5 different new labels for different target groups in all departments.
The other specific target was to bring in many new external brands, which would reinforce the image of our own private labels and to continue sales growth and profitability.

2002 - 2003 Senior Buyer ladies fashion,
Responsible for turnover, profit margin, stock level and aimed market share of a specific department. Financial buying plans were made, which were approved by the buying manager. Choosing suppliers and buying markets carefully and conclude contracts in Far East, Europe and Holland. Responsible for both quality and trend level of the collections.
Acquired buying experience in ladies fashion for around 1,5 years.
The overall goal was to expand the newer trendy label in ladies fashion called ‘Soho’ which consisted out of both woven and knitted items. In 1,5 years this new label was responsible for a quite reasonable part of the total ladies fashion turnover.

1998 - 2002 Buyer bags, leathergoods, fashionaccessories,
Acquired buying experience in bags, leather goods and fashion accessories for about 4 years. These were the most profitable buying groups of the whole department store and reached the biggest annual growth between (9%-13%) in both turnover and profibility.
Responsibilities same as mentioned above.

1996 - 1998 Junior Buyer swimwear and lingerie,
Responsible for swimwear and partly responsible for lingerie also. The specific task was, next to the financial budgets, to develop and create swimwear for smaller (4 yrs-10 yrs) and bigger (11 yrs-15 yrs) girls and boys next to ladies and men swimwear. In these two years this group became responsible for 25% of total turnover in swimwear.
For all the different buying groups over the years I brought in and dealt with a lot of external brands: Esprit, Mexx, Kipling, Triumph, Speedo, Disney etc.
For around 5 years I was responsible for several junior buyers and buying/commercial assistents. I needed to guide them to develop into independent and strong buyers.

HTS for Fashion and Design, Bachelor in Economics, Gymnasium.

Cursussen: Master Class courses VendexKBB, Supplier management course; Prof. Dr. A. van Weele, Education coordinator Junior Buyers, IGDS course for international departments stores, Cambridge Profiency Exam (CPE).

Languages: Dutch, English, German, French

Computer skills: Windows NT, MS Office, MS Outlook, SAP and various internal buying-and information systems