Nicole Wischnewski
Summary
Experienced Fashion Buying Professional. Demonstrated history in change management within the retail industry. Skilled in strategic buying, brand focus, assortment strategy, marketing, brand definition and creative concepts. Strong people management skills.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Product Manager/ Buyer Children
Marca Trading OHG, Wear
1997.09 - 2002.01
earlier
Product Manager/ Buyer Ladies', Men's, Children's Underwear, Swimwear, Cosmetics, and Accessories
C&A Mode KG
1992.01 - 2002.01
Director Innovation, Marketing & Design
J Club International B.V
2021.09 - Current
- Top Client/ Partner Focus
- Brand Strategy Definition
- Collection Management
- Development of Communication Concept
- Overseeing Design Process, Creative Concepts
- VM Strategy
- Member of Management Team
Owner
NW Management Solutions
2019.09 - Current
- Change Management & Restructuring
- Management Consulting
- Buying, Design & Sourcing Advice
- Branding & Marketing Focus
- Supply Chain Expertise
Manager Buying & Planning
J Club International B.V
2019.09 - 2021.10
- Top Client/ Partner Focus
- Streamlining Buying and Planning Process
- Collection Management
- Overseeing Design Process
- Establishment of Buying Calendar
- Compliance & Quality Strategy
- Upgrade of Supplier Manual
- Member of Management Team
Buying & Collection Director
E5 Mode NV/ European Clothing Group
2018.09 - 2019.08
- Change Management
- Transformation Product-Development Dept. into Strategic Buying Department (38 heads)
- Strategic Re-definition of target customer group
- Assortment Strategy Definition
- Gatekeeper for Brand consistency
- Relation Management A-Brands
- Budget plan & OTB Management; Reporting
- Coach & Mentor for Buying Teams
- Marketing Plan
- Member of Management Team
Head of Merchandise Management Benelux
Charles Vögele Benelux
2011.09 - 2017.05
- Strategic A Brand & Assortment Definition for all formulas
- Coaching T/O reporting & KPI analysis for Merchandise Management Dept
- Overseeing In-season Management
- Member of Management Team, Management Benelux
- Change Management
- Restructuring two separate Merchandise Management Organisations by merging them into one Benelux Organisation of 10 people
- Member of Management Team Benelux
- Realising steady growth in TO LFL for all depts in Benelux
- Profit increase by optimizing seasonal MKD policy
- Price Policy for Benelux Market
- Definition of T/O reporting & KPI analysis
- Acting Advisor on Benelux Collection in Central Buying Organisation in CH (Styling & Quantities), all departments
- Monthly exchange with all European entities
Good Grace
2010.05 - 2011.08
- Kids Wear Brand
- Brand concept/ identity
- Colours & Styling of seasonal collections
- Nomination of supplier sources in Asia
- Marketing strategy (printed media)
- Assignment of agents in the Benelux
- Set up of transportation and allocation network
Sourcing Mngr/Head of Division Kids, Lingerie,Swim
Euro Shoe Group
2007.06 - 2010.04
(Responsibility was split into 2 jobs): Sourcing Manager Textile Division, all departments
- Definition of ESG's “General Terms of Trade” Far East
- Supplier Manual for Far East Buying
- Streamlining Buying Procedures Asia
- Shifting production towards new markets
Head of Division Kids Wear, Kids Shoes, Lingerie & Swim Wear
- Team responsibility of 7
- Turn-around of collection with focus on Benelux customer (textile & shoes)
- Buying plan (Avance, Bristol)
- Redefinition of price structure
- Adapt supplier base according to market needs
Product Manager/Buyer Children's Wear
Charles Vögele Trading
2003.11 - 2007.05
- Team responsibility for designer, jun. buyer and assistants
- Trend Spotting & Translation into commercial collections
- Monthly interaction with all European entities
Country-Buyer Ladies Wear
Charles Vögele Belgium
2002.11 - 2003.11
- Definition of collection and assortment for the local market
- Decision on price points
- Merchandising, Allocation and stock-controlling
- Markdown management
- Liquidation of overstock through outlet-sales
Management Trainee at Several C&A Stores
C&A Mode KG
1992.08 - 1997.08
Hamburg, Nuremberg, Mannheim etc.
Skills
- Member of the Management Team
- Change Management
- Budget responsibility
- Strategic leadership
- Team Management & Mentor
- Intermediator
- Communicator
- Assortment strategy
- Strategic Brand definition
- Supplier relations & management (including contracts)
- Sourcing specialist for new markets (increase short-term buying)
- Staff recruitment
- GDI, Sustainability & QC
- Identification & evaluation of potential markets & suppliers
- Supervision of sources in Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, India & Indonesia in terms of GDI & Supplier Manual
- Short term sourcing in Italy, Turkey & Portugal
- Ensure code of conduct for supply of merchandise
- Intermediator for suppliers & buyers
- Supplier evaluation & performance analysis
- Factory visits
- Consolidation of order placement, including spread of risks
- Sourcing new fabrics & manufacturing-procedures
DIRECTOR LEVEL:
SOURCING
BUYING
- Market expertise on product group level
- Clear customer focus
- Trend identification & Translation into commercial collections
- Supplier visits (Europe and Far East)
- Supplier selection, management, and evaluation
- Price negotiation
- Order placement & administration
- Quality assurance
- Selection of yarns, fabrics, accessories
- Ensure code of conduct for supply of merchandise
- Lead-time management according to overall timelines
- Intake/order tracking
- Stock management (min and max stock levels)
- Development of merchandising strategy based on market analysis
- Buying Plans/ Budgets
- Intake Planning vs sales-planning
- OTB Management
- Price Policy Management
- Definition/ monitoring of size breakdowns per target customer group
- Store grading
- Optimising store potential and stock levels
- Sales evaluation
- Supervision and in-season management of MKD budget
- In-store promotions
MERCHANDISE MANAGEMENT
Further Qualifications
Attendance of numerous seminars;
leadership, appraisals, communication; interpersonal skills, time- and self-management, as well as garment-knowledge & quality management
Hobbies
Travelling, City Trips and Asia
Architecture, Design
Art
Reading
High affinity for Lifestyle goods & luxury brands
PC knowledge and languages
- MS-Office, Mac, SAP
- German: Native or bilingual proficiency
- Dutch: Native or bilingual proficiency
- English: Full professional proficiency
- French: Elementary proficiency
Timeline
Director Innovation, Marketing & Design
J Club International B.V
2021.09 - Current
Manager Buying & Planning
J Club International B.V
2019.09 - 2021.10
Owner
NW Management Solutions
2019.09 - Current
Buying & Collection Director
E5 Mode NV/ European Clothing Group
2018.09 - 2019.08
Head of Merchandise Management Benelux
Charles Vögele Benelux
2011.09 - 2017.05
Good Grace
2010.05 - 2011.08
Sourcing Mngr/Head of Division Kids, Lingerie,Swim
Euro Shoe Group
2007.06 - 2010.04
Product Manager/Buyer Children's Wear
Charles Vögele Trading
2003.11 - 2007.05
Country-Buyer Ladies Wear
Charles Vögele Belgium
2002.11 - 2003.11
Product Manager/ Buyer Children
Marca Trading OHG, Wear
1997.09 - 2002.01
Management Trainee at Several C&A Stores
C&A Mode KG
1992.08 - 1997.08
C&A Mode KG
1992.01 - 2002.01