On the age of 9, Megan Lye learnt to cross-stitch, one thing which sparked a childhood obsession. It was a youthful interest that may lead her to a profession in Amazon Trend in addition to a spot on the celebrated Drapers 30 beneath 30 listing.
“I’ve beloved style for so long as I can keep in mind,” stated Megan. “I like something to do with clothes, how we use it, what it means to us, how we specific ourselves, and our id by way of it. My mum has all the time been wonderful at stitching and that first sparked my curiosity.”
After turning into on this planet of style all through her childhood and teenage years, Megan studied Trend and Clothes at her native faculty earlier than becoming a member of the Trend Retail Academy: an industry-focused faculty in London that specialises in creating employment-ready graduates.
Graduating on a Friday, Megan began her first head workplace function in Trend Merchandising on the next Monday. She spent the next 5 years at British manufacturers Ted Baker and Subsequent respectively, earlier than becoming a member of Amazon in 2019. Since then, she has been working at our London HQ as a part of the UK Attire Group.
To have fun Megan’s achievements, we sat down along with her to search out out extra about her profession thus far.
What does it imply to be included within the Drapers 30 beneath 30?
It means loads to me! Drapers is likely one of the main style {industry} publications within the UK and is the one subscription I learn day-after-day. I’ve adopted the Drapers 30 beneath 30 awards since I used to be in faculty. It’s all the time been a supply of inspiration for me, so to be included this yr is an actual ‘pinch-me’ second.
Inform us about your journey thus far at Amazon.
I’ve learnt a lot since I began right here. I joined as Affiliate Vendor Supervisor three months earlier than the pandemic and needed to work at home. This may not have been frequent observe within the style {industry}, however due to tech we had been nonetheless capable of make shopping for choices just about.
I learnt an enormous quantity and I additionally obtained promoted within the two years whereas working from dwelling. My function within the Amazon Vendor Partnership is to establish progress alternatives that drive our technique. I want to know our vendor’s targets, what’s necessary to them and their model now and within the subsequent 5 years, and the way Amazon can assist them ship on their technique, whether or not that’s by increasing into new international locations, buyer acquisition, or utilizing Prime to ship to clients actually quick.
How has your expertise of the function modified because the pandemic?
I lately attended the Scoop commerce present, which was a terrific alternative to see the place product traits could also be headed, together with the place new applied sciences could also be rising within the {industry}.
I beloved getting on the market to satisfy rising manufacturers and make new connections to broaden Amazon Trend’s community.
It was additionally great to satisfy current distributors in particular person and construct collaborative relationships. The hot button is all the time to know a associate’s targets and drill into the small print to see the place Amazon may be of assist.
Did your expertise at Amazon allow you to to make the listing?
Amazon has had a big effect on my profession – I work with a tremendous workforce, with very good leaders, and I’m given the house to assume outdoors the field.
Typically I really feel like my means to assume huge didn’t develop till I began at Amazon. Coming from the style {industry} the place issues are fairly conventional, to Amazon the place day-after-day is day one, was extraordinarily transformative and has helped form my profession.
Since I joined the corporate, I’ve been given alternatives to develop and work by myself initiatives that I actually care about to enhance buyer and vendor expertise. The tradition at Amazon has additionally taught me to be a part of a dynamic workforce, in addition to to invent, simplify, and change into customer-obsessed.
I work with a tremendous Amazon Vendor Providers workforce – specifically, my model specialists who care for numerous the day-to-day operating of the account.
The place do you need to see your profession going from right here?
My aspirations are undoubtedly inside Amazon – it’s an atmosphere the place I’ve flourished and it’s super-dynamic. I like that it’s a big firm however with a start-up mentality.
There’s an limitless listing of profession alternatives you’ll be able to pursue right here, so I’ll seemingly keep at Amazon Trend. We now have an inspiring imaginative and prescient and a lot to ship on for our distributors and for our clients. My final purpose is to change into both Head of Vendor Administration – managing and advising a workforce on tips on how to obtain progress for the entire distributors within the class – or to change into a Class Chief, targeted on class technique.
Do you’ve got any predictions for the way forward for the style {industry}?
Knowledge is a very powerful device we have now. It permits us to make choices on what merchandise our clients need, in addition to want.
It’s part of the {industry} that the ultimate buyer may not see, however we utilise the information out there to us for every thing from guiding our distributors on product choice, to deciding when the product needs to be out there to our clients.
Over the subsequent few years, I predict that that knowledge and expertise usually will proceed to form how we store. Tech has the potential to rework style in areas like sustainability in addition to comfort.
For instance, there may be potential for significant growth in digital strive on expertise, permitting clients to make higher buying choices, which ends up in extra sustainable practices throughout your entire {industry}.
What recommendation do you’ve got for others making an attempt to kick-start a profession in style?
Mentorship has additionally been an enormous a part of my journey. Each formal and casual mentors have guided me and suggested me all through my profession which has been integral to my progress.
Get on the market and meet individuals. The style {industry} is huge, and the roles are diversified. Intern as a lot as you’ll be able to, speak to individuals and study their experiences, strive various things and one can find which nook of the {industry} you like, the place you match, and what your ardour is.
Meet extra of the groups shaping the long run at Amazon Trend.