Boux Avenue poaches merchandising director from M&S

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Jun 11, 2019

Boux Avenue has hired a lingerie specialist from Marks & Spencer as its new merchandising director. Rachel Harley will take up her new role on 13 June.

Boux Avenue said Harley, who is currently head of merchandising for lingerie, swim, sleepwear, hosiery and active at M&S, will bring a wealth of experience in the area, having in-depth knowledge of the planning, buying and trading complexities associated with multi-channel retailing.

Her appointment follows that of chief executive officer Michael Kerr in October last year. Kerr was also an M&S executive, spending more than 35 years at the department store group.

Interestingly, Marks & Spencer is famous in the UK for its wide range of affordable and comfortable lingerie. It has been estimated that more than one in four women buy underwear from the store, with some shoppers buying nothing else for decades. But the chain is less popular when it comes to glamorous lingerie, which is one Boux Avenue’s key features.

Before working at M&S, Harley started her career at Topshop.

Boux Avenue owner and chairman, Theo Paphitis, commented on her appointment: “Rachel completes the new look Boux Avenue management team and with her specific expertise will ensure that the Boux Avenue brand is driven forward and reaches the next level through fresh ideas, products and energy."

The brand has been working towards adding new product categories and continuing its expansion. Last year, the company announced the first decline in comparable sales since its launch in 2011, whilst revenues fell £2m to £47.4m.