Bianca Da Silva: Buying Director & Founder
Bianca Da Silva
Buying Director & Founder
United States
Skills
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Interests
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Industries
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Summary
Activity
Projects
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Work experience
Bspoke Global Sourcing & House Of Accessories
Buying Director & Founder | 09/2017 - Current
Key performance areas and responsibilities:
•   Within Bspoke Global Sourcing, I facilitate the role as an Import
Supplier to South African and African Retailers, within the following
categories: Accessories, Underwear, Seamless Product and Footwear
•   Source, develop and costing of product across the above categories
•   Early Product Development based on overseas trips and overseas trends, as well as factory developments
•   Price Negotiations with the factories in order to reach a target price which is suitable for the retailers in order to make their margins, as
well as accommodates a margin for Bspoke Global Sourcing within
the required budget
•   Conducting a precise and thorough brief process in order to ensure goods are up to quality, detail & styling specifications
•   Managing exchange rate fluctuations and costing product within the required exchange rate, duty, shipping & clearing charges
•   Source product specific to the retailer, within the required target prices and Recommended Retail Selling Prices
•   Attending local and offshore Trade Shows which facilitate the introduction of new suppliers, factories and potential customers
•   Following Retailer- specific Quality Control requirements and ensuring product quality & construction is in accordance with the standards set
•	Booking of Shipments and ensuring goods are Pre-Production
Sealed on time
•	Ensuring leadtimes are carefully followed and goods are shipped within the required time period to ensure on-time delivery
•	Managing cash-flows and ensuring the timing of funding allows for the purchasing of product for the next season
•	Selling cancelled product to Wholesalers within the market place
•	Reacting to Trade with the Buyer, ensuring a close working relationship and that relevant product is developed in advance in order to capitalize on Quick Response capabilities
•	Providing the Buyer with valuable information as to which products are in development for European Retailers which allow them the capability to test styles at a low MOQ
•	Ensure efficient and scalable operations and financial strength
•	Monitoring every stage of the product process to ensure that all product exceed the standards expected by the Retailers
Mandela Mobile (Pty) Ltd
Co-founder | 09/2017 - Current
of Mandela Accessories Division
Key performance areas and responsibilities:
•	Developing of Accessories ranges, offering a diverse range of Product, from Bags, electronic accessories, and luggage
•	Dealing directly with numerous factories in China on product development, branding, price negotiations and innovation
•	Handling the Purchase Order processing and shipment of goods
•	Dealing with the Shipping and Transportation companies, in correspondence with the factories in order to ensure goods are
loaded on the container timeously
•	Handling different kinds of payment terms, and understanding the risks involved
•	Conducting a precise and thorough brief process in order to ensure goods are up to quality, aesthetic and technical standards, as well
as in accordance with requirements for the South African
Regulatory Procedures & Market
•	Strict management of leadtimes through early product innovation
and development, as well as building lucrative and longstanding
relationships with factories
•	Attending International Trade Fairs and ensuring constant innovation, speed-to-market strategies and relevance of new
product development
•	Working with, and managing the diverse requirements within South
African Retailers, from Quality Control, shipping methods,
packaging as well as safety requirements
•	Managing and development of Seasonal Budgets
•	Proposing anticipated Recommended Retail Selling Prices to the various retails through ascertaining rebates, margins, duty and shipping figures, as well as adjusting where necessary and ensuring
prices are competitive relative to the market
•	Quality Control Check at Hong Kong Office ensuring goods are accounted for and of the specified requirement before being
shipped
•	Payment of deposits to factories to ensure space is booked for the manufacturing of goods
Silva Lux Shoes
Founder & Product Development Director | 09/2017 - Current
Key performance areas and responsibilities:
•   Managing both United States and South Africa Purchasing process for the Silva Lux Shoes brand and catering to the different seasons
in that regard
•   Attendance and intensive development conducted for the purpose of exhibiting at Trade Fairs across the United States, such as
Magic Fair NY and Atlanta
•   Analysis of Demand/ Supply ratio and implementing strategy
•   Consumer behaviour analysis combined with trend forecast to predict and purchase best-selling merchandise
•   Early product development & foresight based on catwalk trends & factory relationships
•   Product assortment planning together with margin strategy to ear- mark price points and create a conducive basket of goods across
best-selling price points
•   Facilitate the direction for all campaigns, shoots and website upgrades
•   Developing all phases of the product, across categories, from design brief, last development, sample make-up, QC and wearer-
trials
•   Development of new last shapes together with factory base in China, South Africa and Turkey
•   Tracking of inventory and fast-reaction to buying behaviour and product development in-line with consumer purchasing
•   Negotiation with vendors and adaptability to the volatility of exchange rates in order to best-cost product in the assortment
planning process so as to achieve the desired margins and high
clearance values
•   Pattern development -convey design intent while simultaneously developing upper patterns for maximum material yield,
manufacturability, cost, fit and comfort
•   Contracting with customers, lessors and factories in order to ensure transparency, yet confidentiality and that the IP of the brand is
protected at all times.
•   Wholesale trade and coordinating of wholesaler costings, including the pack size allocation
Babatex Limited
Footwear & Apparel Manager | 03/2017 - 03/2019
Key performance areas and responsibilities:
•   Dealing directly with leading Retailers in South Africa, supplying
Footwear, Apparel and Accessory merchandise
•   Execution of briefs into finished product whilst following stringent lead-times
•   Manage a large team of Merchandisers in Guangzhou, Hong Kong
and Ningbo, China who work with me in accordance with the requirements of the South African Retailers
•   Liaising with team in China with regards to new style developments, as well as feedback on trading styles and reacting accordingly
•   Manage a full Quality Control Team on the ground at the factories in China who fulfill audit reports and feedback on each style
regarding QC status per Retailer requirements
•   Manage Account with Retailers, ensuring purchase orders are put
through timeously
•   Early product development specific to the requirements and handwriting of the brands within the Retailers
•   Technical assistance to Buyers and thorough knowledge of Footwear, Denim and Accessory commodities
•   Product Development Specialist
•   Product Costing & Negotiations with Buying teams and management
•   Securing of Forward Cover on local purchases and liaison with shipping companies in accordance with securing containers
•   Handle the entire process of the importing of product, from brief to delivery at the warehouse if locally purchased, or when the goods
are handed over at the Port for FOB purchases
•   Ensuring Profit Margins are maximized and achieved on each style
•   Stringent lead-time management and follow-through
•   Speed-to-Market focus with feedback on trading styles, early product development and competitor store visits
•   Speed-to-Market focus based on Product Tests and securing bulk greige fabric or early development on footwear moulds
•   Clear communication with retailers and clever reacting to trade, as well as product development based on trends and trading styles
within each retailer
•   Control cash flow regarding purchase order vs payments
•   Manage stock fabrics and cancelled styles
•   Sourcing and developing of new fabrics, trims and prints
•   Commercial eye relevant to department when buying product overseas
Education history
Fashion Education Design Institute of South Africa
Bachelor of Laws degree
Interior Design Institute
Bachelor of Arts degree
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