Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Accomplished Merchandising Leader with 10+ years of experience driving product strategy, assortment planning, and category growth for major retail and e-commerce brands. Proven success in leading teams, optimizing operational efficiency, and delivering multi-million-dollar revenue gains. Expert in data-driven decision-making, vendor negotiations, and product lifecycle management. Passionate about building strategies that meet customer needs and connecting great products with the customers they’re made for.
• Team leader for the Living Room Upholstery, Living Room Casegoods, Made-to-Order, and Outdoor categories, representing 60% of total business revenue - reported directly to the VP, Category Management • Managed and developed a high-performing team of six (Category Managers, Jr. Category Managers, and Category Specialists); directly contributed to the promotion of four team members through active mentorship and leadership • Led creation and execution of annual merchandising strategies and quarterly product roadmaps; defined key themes, category growth plans, and SKU-level budgets aligned with overarching business goals • Defined and implemented department best practices, creating documentation and training tools to drive operational excellence and consistency • Supported annual planning initiatives, including drafting and revising internal SLAs with other cross-functional leaders to establish departmental needs, expectations, and workflows to drive alignment, accountability, and operational efficiency • Contributed to annual function strategies to define departmental objectives, optimize workflow efficiency, and identifying scalable business growth opportunities • Spearheaded the introduction of the Made-to-Order (MTO) model, expanding product assortment while minimizing inventory risk and improving cash flow; delivering $5.8M in its first year • Drove revenue growth of +$10.9M across all owned categories through strategic assortment planning, pricing optimization, and operational improvements
Category Manager - Outdoor, Bedroom & Entryway • Managed a Jr. Category Manager and Category Specialists • Grew revenue by +$10.3M for assigned categories
Buyer/Category Manager - Men’s Casual Pants, Dress Pants, Shorts & Swimwear • Determined assortment, product flow, choice level planning, pricing and store clustering based on volume for 400 stores • Set design direction in partnership with the apparel development team • Ensured delivery and gross margin targets were met during vendor negotiations with the sourcing team • Managed in-season trending receipts, sales and markdowns • Provided in-season sales analysis on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly basis • Provided feedback during proto fittings and product development meetings to secure design vision/direction • Collaborated with the marketing team regarding flyer offers and product promotions • Managed the category POD which consisted of a purchasing coordinator, merchandise planner and allocations analyst • Grew category revenue by +$6.8M • Supported the launch of Baby & Kids, achieving $2M in its first year
Jr. Buyer/Jr. Category Manager - Men’s T-Shirts: • Grew category revenue +$5.5M from 2016-2018: -2016 +21% sales, +31% gross margin -2017 +7% sales, +9% gross margin -2018 +13% sales, +18% gross margin • Earned the “Quarter” award consecutively based on category performance and sales growth
• Subject matter expert and super user for both PLM and ERP systems (WFX & NetSuite) • Strategic implementation planning: met with department(s) to determine requirements, define the scope of a project, plan time scales and schedule training as needed • System configuration and set-up: clarified system specifications, understood user work practices per department and set them up as needed • Created and expanded all standard operating procedures for both systems for the entire product team; including our Hong Kong offices and vendor base • Continuous business process review per department for future improvements
Assistant Buyer/Assistant Category Manager - Menswear, Accessories & Lifestyle: • Supported the entire product management team to build one product architecture and one line plan • Supported pre-season planning, 1st line pass/buy review/SKU plan and line plan for the Men’s category • Responsible for the execution of both our Accessories and Lifestyle category buys • Reacted to top and bottom sellers on a weekly basis with re-order suggestions and/or exit strategies • Supported allocation of product to stores and acted as a liaison between product and logistics • Worked closely with the design team to ensure concept-to-store execution • Aided in defining flow, pricing, and product allocation • Provided feedback during design and colour reviews ensuring targets were met • Supported execution of seasonal meltdown, line pass, budget reviews, buy, OTB • Identified and highlighted key trends in the marketplace
• Curated and managed a portfolio of branded accessories including, but not limited to: Retro Super Future, Muttonhead, Baxter of California, Nocturnal Workshop, Komono, Qwstion, and Strathcona Stockings • Consistently evaluated performance of branded accessories through profit analysis, sales floor feedback and trend-life expectancy • Determined quantities, colour variations and replenishments • Strategically expanded or phased out brands to align with company identity and customer demand • Worked closely with product manager and design team with pre-season planning, collection direction and line plan • Managed purchase orders, vendor agreements and inventory control