An insight into the Buying function at Katies

We recently sat down with James Matthews-Newman, Head of Product for Katies to see if we could garner an insight in to the world of Apparel Buying within our iconic Katies brand. Take a read to discover what the Buying function looks like and get a sneak peek into up-coming trends for AW16.

Can you tell us what your role as Head of Product does within Katies?

"In short, I manage the best buying team in Australia! I’ve been with Katies for a year now & am still impressed about the high performing nature of the team! Essentially, I manage the process of getting product to market; working closely with our suppliers to building relationships; setting the strategic direction of the categories & implementing sales initiatives.

I’m also the conduit between our Design and Merchandise Planning functions, as well as working closely with Visual Merchandise, Marketing & Store Operations."

James looking very dapper in a tux! 

What have you loved about your role so far?

"12 months has absolutely flown by! The teams moral, work ethic & ability for all the departments to pull together is truly inspiring. I love the huge design focus that we have within the Katies brand. Very few ‘high-street’ brands, at our price point, invest like we do in the design element of our product. Whilst, I have a career that spans 15years in the fashion & retail industry I’ve found the last year has been packed full of learning for me & I truly feel like I am surrounded by some of the best in the industry & we all come from a very diverse background. We all want the brand to be successful & will do whatever it takes to get the product looking its’ best to meet & exceed our customers’ expectations!"

What does a ‘typical’ week involve for a Buyer in your team?

"Haha, I wish I could answer that but as anyone who has worked in buying knows, there’s no such thing! The only two certainties are the Monday morning trade meetings, to review the previous weeks performance, & that it will be crazy busy! But we wouldn’t have it any other way."

Everyone says a role in Buying is “fast paced” what does this mean at Katies?

"It is fast paced and therefore not for the faint-hearted. You need to be on top of your game, be highly organised and able to multi-task & prioritise. The teams focus is on getting the most up to date products for our customer; it’s not about giving her “youth” trends, it’s about interpreting the trends and colours so she can buy into them, feel relevant & be trend appropriate.

We work 6 months ahead and have a new ‘story’ dropping in each week. We are a volume fashion environment & with volume comes the need to be fast. Our Buyers have multi-category responsibility & deal with a broad supplier base. Some people thrive in fast paced & others struggle – for us we need Buyers who love being in the thick of it with a broad variety of work to be involved in & who can make good decisions quickly based on their skills, experience & knowledge."

How often do Buyers get to travel & where do they get to go?

"There’s a lot of travel involved in most buying roles & for us the trips typically include; London, Los Angeles, New York, Europe, China & Bangladesh."

How would you describe the Katies brand environment & team culture?

"Katies is very much a team focused environment; everyone works well together & truly wants to see the brand achieve success & provide great product to our fabulous customer – she deserves it! I am a great believer that you are only as good as your team."

The Katies team having fun on Melbourne cup! 

What exciting things can we expect from Katies in 2016?

"I can’t give too much away as don’t want the competition getting wind of this, but we have some exciting new “capsules” launching……………………………………"

What’s the most challenging part of a Buying role for a new person joining the business?

"As when joining any business, it’s the first few weeks where you just feel like you don’t know anything; new systems, you’ve inherited someone else’s range, different business language etc. We’ve all been there & my advice is that you have to manage those frustrations safe in the knowledge that it will all fall into place. We encourage out new starters to ask loads of questions, don’t be afraid to get stuck in & have a voice & opinion, make notes and smile!"

What’s your top career tip for a Buyer looking to progress their career?

"Remember why we are in this industry; it’s about providing amazing clothes for our customers, never lose sight of why we do this & never under estimate your customer, learn to love her. If you are passionate about fashion & love what you do that will show in the results!"

What’s the best thing about working in the Katies brand?

"We operate like a high-end designer with great attention to detail, amazing prints & artworks that are designed in London & Europe. This strong design focus coupled with offering this to our customers at great price is what stands us apart!

It is amazing the amount of work & effort that goes into every single product that we produce and the fact that we can offer such a great price never fails to impress me."

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

"Usually it’s my two dogs waiting to get into the bedroom & jump on the bed! But on a serious note, my team & my passion for what I do." 

Any sneaky insight into the top trends we should be looking out for in AW16?

1. "It’s going to be a great colour season with some gorgeous rich tones of rust, camel & ochres.
2. Knitwear is going to huge with the key shapes being the cape & poncho.
3. Another colour story that will be really strong this year is midnight blues; think Indigo and denim leading the way!  
4. My top tip would be to invest in a beautiful, quality winter coat, camel is the hottest colour this season!"

Thanks James! 

Editor 

Sneak peak to Katies AW16 collection

Crossroads Pop-Up Fit Bus

We are very excited to announce the arrival of the Crossroads Pop-Up Fit Bus!!!  We launched this last week at the Sydney Royal Easter Show where we will open for business for the next two weeks before we head off on a 20-week trip down the East Coast of Australia with Westfield centres. 

The Fit Bus is a pop-up shop where new and existing customers can come and see the Crossroads brand and our fantastic fit proposition brought to life. In the ‘store’ are skilled ‘fit specialists’ who help ladies chose the best fit pant’s for them. With 5 styles, 7 colours and 3 leg length we have got you covered! Some of the features of our range include:

• Tummy smoothing 
• Waist adjuster 
• Tummy control 
• Rear shaping 
• Elastane rich fabric 

Our first day was really busy and we had an opportunity to really engage with customers on a more intimate basis.  The bus has some great features that allow us to showcase our Denim and Black Pants range and allows the customer to get the best fitting product! 

This concept was pulled together in record time by the Crossroads team.  In just 5 weeks the team have worked to get the bus fully re-built on the interior, stocked, staffed, video made, marketing collateral created and printed, tour organised and new bags printed to name a few of the core activities!

Well done to team Crossroads!

The latest catwalk from our Millers Brand; gently transitioning you from Summer into Autumn!

Over the past few days our wonderful team of regional managers from our Millers brand, have come together for a conference to introduce the trans-seasonal range to the team and provide an update on the next chapter of Millers. 

The conference was upbeat and energetic with our Team Members discussing how to provide our Millers customers with the best shopping experience! 

In the picture below are three of our lovely Regional Managers; Jenny, Rebecca & Monique. In this blog they give us a behind the scenes insight to the conference and the fantastic new range.

Left to Right: Jenny, Rebecca and Monique

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Rebecca: The people! The team I work with are amazing and everyone pulls together to get results. The customers treat each other like family; it’s a wonderful part of the job. 

Monique: I get to work with amazing women every day and meet incredible customers. They are very special; they are loyal and like a family, it’s so great to have that. 

Jenny: The people; the team and the customers. They are so lovely, I’m so lucky. Many customers know the names of the store team members and they know theirs! That’s really special and makes our customers unique.  

What’s the best quality of our Millers customer?

Rebecca: All for one, one for all! I’ve said it already, but just coming back to the idea of the Miller’s family; there’s no them and us - we are one big family. It’s also great that they represent all different types of Australian women. 

Monique: They are genuine, real women. They are grandmas, mothers, they’re us! We can relate to each other really well.

Jenny: Our customers are down to earth, real women. 

What are your favourite trends this season?

Rebecca: Animal print!

Monique: Palazzo, soft pants – they’re so comfy!

Jenny: I love the animal print too!

What are you most looking forward to for Millers in 2015?

Rebecca: Taking the brand to the next level and giving our customers what they deserve! 

Monique: I agree with Bec, I’m so excited to be a part of a brand giving back to Australian women and giving them something that’s unique to them. 

Jenny: Miller’s is launching the first new concept store in New Zealand – it’s super exciting!!  

A sneak peak at the trans-seasonal evening wear!

What's your favourite Miller's accessory for the season? 

Rebecca: Statement necklaces – you can wear them with a whole range of outfits and mix and match them with your looks. 

Monique: Scarves – You can wear them so many different ways!  I experiment with tying them in my hair, around my head or as a neck scarf; they have such functionality and versatility!

Jenny: Jewellery – You can instantly dress up outfits and add a touch of glam.

What 'sneak peak's' can you reveal? 

Rebecca: There are loads of transitional pieces that mean you can mix the new range with last season’s pieces to create a versatile wardrobe.

Monique: I love the look of new dresses using fabric such as such as lace. We also have a great new ‘after 5’ range that has stepped up a level. 

Jenny: It’s very on trend, not over the top, so, anyone can wear it.

The conference also featured a fabulous and fun fashion show displaying new tran-seasonal outfits that will be hitting stores and online soon!

What’s your fondest memory of Millers so far?

Rebecca: This conference! It’s easily been the best I’ve ever been too. There iss a united team and everyone’s on the same page. Everyone’s very passionate and excited and that’s great to see.

Monique: There is one customer who brings baked goods every fortnight to her local store. Why? Because she feels like Millers was a part of her family and she loves them. It was so great to see such wonderful and strong relationships and staff who are passionate about their customers. 

Jenny: I love going into stores and seeing customer’s husbands come with them and they would know the staff’s names! It really shows how unique our customers are, and how strong the relationships are. 

What’s your top pick for the season?

Rebecca: The wrap scarf – It’s never out of fashion and can be easily added into your wardrobe. It can make an outfit – you can have a simple outfit and with a wrap it can dress it up a level and make it modern. I also love the new knits, they have such a luxurious feel. 

Monique: The crepe jacket; it’s fantastic value. It’s a statement piece on its own and ladies can dress it up or down. The colour range for the season is very on trend and won’t date quickly. 

Jenny: The new knitwear looks fab! It’s glamorous and practical. The long-line cardigan, 'coat-igan' and sweater have such soft fabrics. In NZ, it can get so cold and it’s wonderful that we can be warm and stylish.

Any last words?

Rebecca: We’re on a journey together with our customers and it’s about giving customers what they deserve.  

Monique: As a customer myself, I’m very excited for the next chapter of Millers. 

Jenny: I’m excited about the journey, every step we take is a step closer to giving back to our customer.

Team Millers