Kelly Taylor Smith

KELLY TAYLOR-SMITH Senior Advanced Assistant Merchandiser | Strategic Planning | Team Leadership | Data-driven Decisions- --- LONDON Summary _________________________________________________________________________________________ Highly accomplished and results-orientated professional with over 13 years of progressive experience demonstrating strong organisational skills, strategic planning, meticulous data analysis, and effective communication. Proven ability to manage complex tasks, prioritise effectively, and drive positive outcomes. A proactive and adaptable individual with experience in team leadership and leveraging data-driven insights. Seeking a challenging Virtual Assistant opportunity to contribute expertise and a strong work ethic within a dynamic environment. Adept at working independently and managing responsibilities remotely. Key Skills _________________________________________________________________________________________ Project and task management Data analysis and reporting Communication and stakeholder management Time management and prioritisation Proficiency in productivity software (MS Office Suite, Google Workspace) Problem solving and initiative Commercial awareness and mark research Budget management and cost control Strong retail software skills (SAP, CRM systems) Experience _________________________________________________________________________________________ Marks & Spencer – Senior Advanced Assistant MerchandiserJan 2020 – Present T02 Women’s Footwear & Slippers Successfully managed complex projects and workflows, ensuring timely completion of critical tasks and adherence to deadlines (critical path management) Demonstrated strong analytical skills by identifying trends in sales data to inform strategic decisions and optimise performance Effectively communicated and collaborated with diverse stakeholders, including suppliers, internal teams, and international partners Developed and implemented new strategies and processes, resulting in improved efficiency and outcomes (stock reduction, new fit strategies) Took ownership of end-to-end processes (markdown management), demonstrating strong organisational and problem-solving abilities Provided support and guidance to team members, fostering a collaborative and productive environment Championed the implementation of new systems and processes, showcasing adaptability and technical aptitude Marks & Spencer – Senior Advanced Assistant MerchandiserFeb 2018 – Jan 2020 T52 Holiday Contributed to the development and delivery of seasonal departmental strategy and budgets, liaising with senior management for agreement Analysed sales trading performance to identify opportunities and mitigate risks, implementing actions such as rebuys and cancellations Managed the departmental markdown and outlet processes to optimise stock and minimise losses Collaborated with Assistant Buyer on regional critical paths, reviewing shipments and addressing potential risks Led weekly trade and monthly run-rate meetings, contributing to seasonal strategy and commercial reviews Mentored and trained Merchandising Admin Assistants Kurt Geiger – Junior MerchandiserSept 2017 – Feb 2018 Geiger London, Miss KG Brands Prepared seasonal sales target by brand across all relevant sales outlets (retail stores, concessions, wholesale) Converted branch sales plans into monthly sales, stocks and gross profit plans, ultimately determining OTB for each of my brands, whilst ensuring stock target were not exceeded Worked with Buyer to ensure OTB spends were agreed by store Made proactive trading proposals (e.g. promotional activities, OTB, ecom engagement etc) within weekly trade meetings, to deliver additional turnover, margin and reduce SiS risk Managed stock levels against pre-determined monthly stock targets for each brand This involved weekly WSSI lockdowns, comparing sales, stocks and profit performance to budgets and LY Prepared end of season lessons learnt analysis of category, colour, size, heel height and performance Presented brand budgets at seasonal sign offs to creative director and merchandising team Marks & Spencer - Assistant Merchandiser Level 3Jan 2013 – Sept 2017 Managed around 350 Hosiery lines (across tights and socks) with an annual UK full price turnover of £100m net, achieving an annual profit of £50m Contributed to department strategic development through budgeting, managing operating plans, mitigating reduced/sale risk, improving/exploiting opportunities and their communication to international accounts Traded ranges through store visits, re-forecasting sales & stock targets to identify opportunities for OTB, whilst working with Buyer to exploit key decisions through use of accurate analysis of information Maintained good stakeholder relationships through positive regional office relations Managed departmental seasonal launches and fulfilment, reduced and outlet processes, and supplier annual turnover tool Worked with allocation team to ensure availability targets of 90% were achieved and drove commerciality through best use of available stock Planned range to take products from buy to warehouse, hitting targets and deadlines throughout all phases of season – first availability through lead-times and buying timetable Marks & Spencer - Merchandising Admin Assistant Level 2 (Ladies Footwear)Mar 2011 – Jan 2013 E-Commerce & Marketing Champion Developed and implemented new systems for monitoring e-commerce sales and availability, improving data accuracy and accessibility Managed and maintained key IT systems, ensuring data integrity and efficient information flow Analysed sales, stock and margin data to provide insightful reports in line with the departmental objectives Established strong working relationships with internal and external contacts to facilitate effective communication and collaboration Provided administrative support to the Merchandising team, including document management and purchase order creation Education / Qualifications / Courses _________________________________________________________________________________________ INTERNAL TRAINING Advanced Excel M&S Internal Training including Merchandising Fundamentals, Planning, Buying & Trading a Range, Product Lifecycle and Understanding International RELEVANT SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE Internal programmes: FUSE, MP, JDA, ESSI, SAP, Range Planner, Supplier Turnover MS Office, including extensive Excel use, with attendance to both internal & external training QUALIFICATIONS London College of Fashion, BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion (PR) London College of Fashion, Access in Fashion Promotion Media