Behind every fashion product, collection or storefront, there’s an ambitious designer, buyer, merchandise planner, wholesale or e-commerce manager who has spent years arming themselves with a unique set of skills. And for every one of these fashion industry experts, there’s an inspiring career journey.
In Style Arcade’s Fashion Career Series, we leverage our passionate network to go beneath the glamour of fashion’s most sought-after roles—and take a seat with the people whose hard work and dedication are shaping the future of retail.
Meet Romy Hengeveld, Senior Buyer at Australia and New Zealand’s premium style destination, Stylerunner. Get an in-depth look at Romy’s typical week as she leads the footwear department, her best resources for leadership growth, and the key advice that’s helped her along her career trajectory.
Style Arcade: Describe where you grew up and how your early experiences shaped your career today.
Romy Hengeveld: Growing up in The Netherlands, I was immersed in the world of fashion from a young age. Unlike the Australian school system, our freedom of expression extended to our attire, making fashion a significant aspect of social dynamics. Coupled with my mother's career as a seasoned buyer, my passion for the industry was ignited early on.
SA: Did you go to college or university? If so, which courses did you do and why?
RH: I completed a 4 year Bachelor course at TMO Fashion Business University. It is the only applied sciences program in The Netherlands aimed specifically at filling commercial management positions in the fashion industry. The courses are led by inspirational lecturers, who have first-hand experience within the fashion industry. Courses covered topics such as management, marketing, digitalization, fashion trends, sustainability and entrepreneurship as central.
SA: Tell us about your career journey so far: from internships to junior roles, to where you are now.
RH: While at university, I was fortunate to intern with both Nike and PVH. These early experiences provided exposure and reinforcement to the path that I was on.
Upon graduation, I joined Assembly Label and will be forever grateful to the owners for taking a chance on me. My career progressed from a Buyer's Admin Assistant, to Assistant Buyer and then Buyer. In this role, I gained valuable experience around the critical path of a vertical business and formed a deep appreciation of the importance of developing a strong working relationship with external brands.
Subsequently, I moved to The Iconic, where I held the positions of Buyer and Senior Buyer. This pure-play retail behemoth provided insight into the world of e-commerce that I hold as invaluable for me at any retailer into the future. And that leads me to where I am today, Senior Buyer at Stylerunner, leading the footwear department. Emerging as an online retailer, Stylerunner has now well and truly established itself as a destination providing an omnichannel experience to customers across Australia and New Zealand with an expanding store network.
SA: Take us through what a standard week looks like for you at the moment. What is the best part of your current role?
RH: I am fortunate to be part of a strong team. While I am accountable for the performance of the footwear department, the trust I hold in those around me has allowed me to shift my focus towards areas where I can add the most value. While a standard week doesn’t come around too often, the average of my time centers around:
Consumer Focus:
- Product Launch: Bringing current products to market in an impactful way through effective merchandising and marketing strategies
- Trend Analysis: Identifying emerging trends and opportunities to cater to future consumer needs and preferences
Vendor Relations:
- Open Communication: Fostering open and honest communication with vendors to discuss product performance, challenges, and opportunities
- Strategic Partnerships: Building strong partnerships with vendors based on mutual trust and collaboration
Product Selection:
- Curated Assortment: Curating a well-rounded assortment of footwear that aligns with the brand's identity and target customer
- Strategic Sourcing: Identifying and sourcing innovative and on-trend products from both established and emerging brands
I gain the most satisfaction from vendor relations. Although intangible, this aspect of the job is most real to me. The collaborative process, the shared vision, and the mutual respect we develop is incredibly rewarding.
SA: Has there been a pivotal event or experience that you consider as a driving force behind your journey to success in your career? Tell us about the impact it had on you.
RH: Perhaps not a singular event, but certainly a singular force—mentorship. I have been fortunate to develop strong relationships with many who have walked the path before me and their mentorship has shaped my career. Thank you, you know who you are!
SA: What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received and who was it from?
RH: A mentor and good friend, Jonny Wallace, imparted two invaluable pieces of advice that have guided me: "Take the initiative. Be proactive and assertive. If not you, then who?" and "Perpetual learning is paramount. Question everything, embrace knowledge and foster growth."
SA: What advice or learnings would you give to anyone interested in a similar career path in fashion?
RH: Expect to start as a buyers administration assistant and understand that you are performing a critical role although you may not be acknowledged as doing such. Experience is far more valuable than your hourly rate at this point. Create opportunities to learn, build relationships with stakeholders (relationships are everything) and seek feedback treating it as a gift. Achieving this, understand that exploring opportunities to continue your growth at an alternate organisation is beneficial and should not come at the cost of burning bridges.
SA: What has helped you develop your leadership skills?
RH: Listing a few points below that have made a significant impact on me in the hope that they can inspire others:
- Self-learning: ‘Good to Great’ by Jim Collins, ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Caregie, ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’ by Patrick Lencioni
- Leadership course by Terry Hawkins
- Business mentorship (Christine Beard, Action Coach)
- Mentorship (Anna Brennan!!)
SA: What are you most looking forward to within the next 12 months?
RH: I am looking forward to our next trip to Europe. This provides an opportunity to witness the trends firsthand in key markets, immerse ourselves in the vision of brand partners at their head office, and not to mention visit family and friends. An added bonus!
