Part 3:
Having spent an amazing 6 months travelling around South America, it was time to come home and find a new role. It was to be John Lewis. The timing was perfect as they were expanding their Merchandise team. The role was a new challenge, one that pushed me to grow professionally. In John Lewis, I worked in various product categories, becoming an expert in more areas of Fashion including Babywear, Shoes, Schoolwear, Men’s and Women’s.
My experience in clothing had so far only been in Own Brand, as John Lewis also offered Branded merchandise, I was about to learn a whole new side to the product. Understanding what our customers wanted needed to be weighed up against the financial differences and our in-house capability which brought about an intriguing challenge. It was a new experience of not having direct input into the range, required adapting to new dynamics and understanding the delicate balance between different product lines.
During my time, I was also offered a chance to get involved in an IT system implementation project as a Subject Matter Expert (SME). This role provided invaluable insights into the intricate workings of our IT systems, and how every element in the company was interconnected. It was a completely different way of working and led to me becoming qualified in continuous improvement. My particular focus was on pricing, and alongside our team, we developed a solution that significantly reduced the hours of data entry in the Buying Offices while upholding all legal requirements. This achievement gave me a real sense of accomplishment, even though I missed the hands-on aspect of working directly with products.
So, when my time on the project came to an end, I headed back into the Buying Offices with more knowledge about the company and its workings. Not too long after, the onset of Covid-19 brought its own set of challenges. At the time, I was managing both the Kid’s Shoes and Schoolwear offices so predicting the pandemic’s impact on school uniform sales became a critical task. My experience and foresight helped navigate these turbulent times, ensuring that our orders were adjusted rather than cancelled, which kept our suppliers afloat. One supplier even drove to their factory, despite police checks, to discuss the order in person. They were relieved to hear our strategy, which alleviated their financial concerns. It was a tough but rewarding time though hopefully one that I won’t need to experience again.
Despite my love for the role, company restructuring signalled that things were changing, and it was time for me to move on. After 13 amazing years, supporting the Fashion area and helping achieve its targets, I knew it was time for a new chapter.
