Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

NICOLE TAN

Summary

Experienced professional with over 20 years of expertise in the merchandising and retail industry. Currently serving as a Senior Planner at VF Corporation, playing a pivotal role in demand and inventory planning for VF\'s Asia market, specifically Japan and Korea. Primary focus on effectively managing and controlling inventory levels to achieve concept sales, inventory, profit, and turnover objectives. Excels at identifying business risks and opportunities, offering innovative solutions to maximize sales objectives. Prior positions include Merchandiser roles with various established organizations, successfully handling product development, sourcing, costing, price negotiations, and production management. Skills encompass market analysis, merchandising strategies, product assortment planning, buying, inventory management/control, and monitoring market/consumer trends to optimize sales through an ideal product mix ensuring profitability and inventory productivity.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Planner- Emerging Markets

VF Corporation
12.2021 - Current
  • Support Planning Manager in developing Top-down, merchandise financial plan
  • Develop and own bottom-up merchandise financial plan and store planning
  • Partner and work closely with Retail Buying to develop seasonal merchandise plans that reflect future opportunities and deficiencies
  • Develop the seasonal product flow plan, with support and partnership with Retail Buyers & Retail Allocator
  • Analyzing and creating seasonal size curves to support seasonal buys
  • Prepare weekly re-projections based on current trends to effectively manage inventory and drive margin
  • Monthly plan review process to develop sales, markdown, receipt, and inventory re-forecasts
  • Recap business performance weekly, reviewing variance to plan and assess any deviations to current trend; recommend actions by current trends
  • Collaborate with Retail Buyers, Allocators, and Retail Market Leads to identify in-season growth opportunities and minimize down-trending business
  • Recommending and reviewing markdown and promotion opportunities
  • Understanding key connectivity and interactions required for all business process steps
  • Ensure structured reporting deliverables are met, evaluating reports for accuracy, performance efficiency, and standardized best practices
  • Participate in continuous efforts to improve the planning process and strategies
  • Support implementation of new systems and raise efficiencies to ensure processes enhance workflow and optimize inventory to achieve financial plans
  • Support ad-hoc duties and projects when required

Senior Demand and Inventory Planner

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
05.2015 - 11.2021
  • Managing Textile division with Net Sales of 6.7mil contributing to 30% of total Kids business
  • Run the quarterly report for total brand to facilitate pre-season planning - Hindsight document, budget file, and kick-off document
  • Work with directors and stakeholders to develop annual and seasonal financial plans that support brand strategies
  • Manage and maintain department merchandise financial forecast (OTB/rolling forecast)
  • Take timely action to maximize sales, profitability, and inventory productivity
  • Review and revise inventory purchases to maintain optimum inventory flow and determine quantity to purchase for new and continuing SKUs
  • Achieving +4.3% to Net sales Budget and +15.2% to MMU$
  • Maintain and update sales data re-order tool to ensure the accuracy of item-level projections
  • Collaborating with vendors and internal stakeholders to optimize sales, maintain a healthy inventory level, and buy plans for new collections
  • Achieve 95% of SKU availability for A+B performance SKU and reduce least performing SKU to 7.5% of total cost inventory
  • Analyze product performance and drive recommendations on future assortments as well as recommend exit strategies for nonproductive inventory
  • Experience in managing various categories such as Tabletop, Decorative Accessories, and Textiles with an average of 3000 SKU per category
  • Lead or participate in department projects to improve systems or efficiencies
  • Managed, coached, and mentored one Order Management Specialist and one Assistant Buyer, reporting directly to the Director of Inventory in Singapore
  • Leverage the company's career phases to manage and develop direct reports
  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility

Assistant Brand Planner

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
05.2012 - 05.2015
  • Assist Brand Planner with day-to-day activities of creating and tracking purchase orders from point of origin to franchisee partner (ME) and company-owned stores (AUZ)
  • Monitoring and Maintain Company-Owned/Franchise Merchandise List (Assortment change/Adds/Drops, Cost/Retail Changes) and fully owned coordination and communication between the Planner, Sourcing, and vendors
  • Establish and maintain strong relationships with global franchise partners and global merchants
  • Handles all PO-related matters independently with accuracy of purchase order delivery dates and ensures proper franchise and/or customer notification is provided on shipment status changes
  • Monitor purchase order status: production, shipment tracking, and receiving status of shipments ensuring orders are in time for floor set and season launch and B fulfillments
  • Run weekly and monthly business-related and revenue forecasting reports for both franchisee and company-owned stores
  • Prepare inventory transfer for Retail and Outlet divisions
  • Handled all delegated tasks, duties, and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor
  • Build strong team relationships with cross-functional business partners
  • Mentor and educate new hires
  • Demonstrated self-reliance by meeting and exceeding workflow needs
  • Streamlined workflow processes for improved team productivity and project outcomes

Merchandiser

SL Ponie Pte Ltd
05.2009 - 05.2012
  • Development of styles (average 100 styles per season)
  • Coordinate with sample room and trim supplier for timely sample submission to secure programs for the company
  • PO creation using a global data entry system
  • Daily follow-up on garment production and coordination with buyers and vendors
  • Production tracking to ensure timely shipments
  • Countercheck on all fitting and pre-production samples
  • Create and update charts/ reports for every season and buy on a weekly/ monthly and seasonal basis
  • Liaise with counterparts on costing and production issues
  • Travel to the factory to work on production issues when required
  • Assist department Director on allocated projects/tasks
  • Schedule and arrange appointments/meetings
  • Maintain and order stationery for the department
  • Any other ad-hoc duties as assigned by the reporting manager
  • Reason for leaving: Looking for career change and advancement where one can gain new skills and knowledge in other industries

Merchandiser

Gap International Sourcing Pte Ltd
01.2003 - 12.2009
  • Provide focused services to the design and global production team
  • Support new procurement capabilities (e.g., Sourcing trim/fabric suppliers)
  • Liaise with San Francisco counter parts on costing and production issues
  • Manage a strong vendor base and effective production tracking system to meet timely delivery and quality standards
  • Managed costing/merchandising/sourcing and order placement process for the entire department
  • Travel to the Malaysia factory to monitor production periodically
  • Administrative duties such as generating order and purchase summary reports for the department manager
  • Act as stationery and awards co-coordinator for a department of 13 people
  • Achieved 2.5% of cost savings by sourcing trims and fabric from alternative supplier sources
  • Tracked shipping, including weekly and monthly fallout, achieved 95% ~ 98% of timely shipments every season
  • Reason for leaving: Company relocation

Education

High School Diploma -

NANYANG ACADEMY of FINE ARTS
12.1998

High School Diploma -

Mei Chin Secondary School
12.1992

Skills

  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Forecasting Expertise
  • Data Interpretation Proficiency
  • Analytical Problem-Solving
  • Time Management Skills
  • Effective Multi-Tasking
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Stakeholder Relationship Management

Accomplishments

  • Promoted from Assistant Planner to Planner, 05/2015
  • Promoted to handle a bigger portfolio with Pottery Barn, 12/2016
  • Moved to Pottery Barn Kids for growth opportunity handling 2nd biggest division, 12/2019
  • Received Catch the Spirit award twice for consistently embracing the values of Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
  • Received the People First award twice for recognition of embodying the People First philosophy
  • Used Microsoft Excel and software to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets
  • Collaborated with teammates in developing dashboards using Tableau software

Timeline

Senior Planner- Emerging Markets

VF Corporation
12.2021 - Current

Senior Demand and Inventory Planner

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
05.2015 - 11.2021

Assistant Brand Planner

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
05.2012 - 05.2015

Merchandiser

SL Ponie Pte Ltd
05.2009 - 05.2012

Merchandiser

Gap International Sourcing Pte Ltd
01.2003 - 12.2009

High School Diploma -

Mei Chin Secondary School

High School Diploma -

NANYANG ACADEMY of FINE ARTS

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