STEFANIA MEOLA

Company Overview: Textile Omnichannel retail division for French and foreign markets, 330M€ annual turnover (75% of the company's sales mix)

Key achievements:

• Implemented planning tools
• Implemented and improved senior management KPI reports
• Established a common language and bridged the gap between business and finance
• 30% Inventory reduction

Key responsibilities:

• Develop divisional sales strategy to support company financial objectives
• Develop top down product strategy inclusive of sales turnover, margin and inventory levels: from globe to distribution channels and foreign markets
• Validate pre-season buying budgets and in season open to buy management in accordance with commitment and inventory targets and cash flow requirements
• Produce and present detailed division analysis and trade reports on a weekly and monthly basis
• Forecasting and scenario building based on sales analysis and trends
• Responsible for delivering assortment plans consistent with merchandise strategies and buying budgets: nb of SKU / product depth / store cluster / product lifecycle
• Validate product line sales forecast and replenishment for « never out of stock products »
• Lead in global product analysis and country reviews and define corrective actions
• Monitor seasonal sell through rates for division and product categories
• Lead and develop a team of 5 product planners and 3 business analysts
• Cross functional responsibilities included working closely with product, buying, finance, commercial, IT and supply chain teams

Company Overview: Menswear Omnichannel retail division for the French Market

• Responsible for delivering assortment plans consistent with merchandise strategies and buying budgets: nb of SKU / product depth / store cluster / product lifecycle
• Validate product line sales forecast and purchase volumes for the retail division
• Build weekly demand forecasts and optimise supplier production capacities
• Delivery monitoring and replenishment management
• Management of a team of 9 product planners, including 1 person based in Hong Kong
• Menswear Omnichannel retail division for the French Market

Company Overview: High street fashion for women

• Pre season strategic seasonal merchandise plans to drive product profitability and achieve financial targets
• In season stock management: review product rate-of-sales, weekly cover and sell through rates
• Lead weekly trading meetings with product teams and board members to review KPI's
• Validate and lead purchasing meetings: commitment rate, Buying-in-margin, assortment plan
• Review rolling sales and margin forecast (OTB management) for division and product categories
• Define the markdown policies for promotional events and end of season sales
• Established and led the international department, structuring processes and operations
• Manage, coach and develop a team of Merchandise Planners
• Pre season strategic seasonal merchandise plans to drive product profitability and achieve financial targets

I have progressed and worked on many product categories within the company, requiring a varied planning approach depending on its sourcing base

• Store replenishment for the Jersey Tops department
• Optimise in-store inventory levels via product rate of sale and life cycle analysis
• Monitor deliveries