Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
RETAIL INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL I am a highly organized, creative, and analytical problem-solver and people person with BS in Retailing Merchandising and 12 years of rapid advance in chain, mass merchandising, independent and franchise retail settings. I possess strong software skills, including retail reports analysis and MS Excel for trend analysis. Interested in: Buying · Retail Market Analytics · Merchandise Analytics · Brand / Category Management · Planning · Product Development · Consumer Behavior Analytics Strengths include – • Managing multiple projects and tasks at one time in a fast pace environment • Analyzing and reporting on / presenting consumer behavior / buying trends / sales analysis • Prioritizing and working efficiently to solve problems and deliver results • Developing strong relationships with internal and external partners
• Work as a liaison between Target buyers and the vendor teams communicating product changes, trouble-shooting, navigating shipping challenges, and providing proactive issue resolution. • Work with the Sales Manager and internal product development/creative team, trend shop to seek new items/designs/colors/patterns/substrates for product within my programs. • Identify product gaps and white space opportunities that are appropriate for my programs and the Target guest. • Shop Target's competition for various product categories to assess the competitive landscape. Identify product trends that are specific to relevant categories • Pull historical sales data, competitive information, trend information, and set product in POG format for line reviews with Target buyers • Meet with buyer to detail all items final selected for POG and communicate selections to vendor. Begin item set up, forecasting and imaging process. • Provide weekly sales analyses to my vendors calling out key drivers and insights on performance • Supply Chain Optimization - Work with vendors and Target partners on COP diversification • Update Vendor Income trackers, validating vendor income accuracy and sending updates to vendor • Identify promotional opportunities and work with vendor on estimated funding. • Lead weekly status calls with Vendors, keeping team informed on what is happening across the business and communicate any outstanding topics, timing and action, and updates. • Maintain Business Summaries for each vendor and program (items, costing, door counts, casepacks, VOPs, vendor IDs etc.) • Project manage owned brand businesses, including T&A, development, communication with vendors and Target, answer any audit and compliance questions and troubleshoot as needed
Accomplishments • Lead development of 5 new Exclusive Brand products, launching Fall 2021 • Assisted in development of new Men’s Brand, Prototype. 12 SKUs Launching Summer 2021 • Continue to oversee other key accounts including Wella International and PPE vendors. Key Responsibilities • Provide input into assortment plans to meet sales, margin and turnover targets, measuring performance and making real time adjustments • Develop and execute strategies for assortment optimization that are brand relevant and enhance overall guest experience • Forecast new Exclusive Brand item launches and replenishment using historical and competitive data • Analyze inventory and calculate replenishment needs based on lead times of up to 9 months • Collaborate with cross-functional teams on marketing, print advertising, education, and business development
Accomplishments • Assisted in complete re-brand of the Regis’s private label DESIGNLINE and launch of 3 new owned brands, Blossom Pure Haircare, Design Define Brows, and Power of Professional Tools • Partnered with Education to create consumer and stylist facing Private Label product knowledge videos • Coordinated vendor outreach program for SPS assortment, fulfillment, and analytics initiative Key Responsibilities • Create annual inventory forecast and forward-looking receipt plans (over $65M/year) that support sales forecasts • Responsible for inventory levels in the DCs and salons that support sales forecasts within open to buy budget • Manage vendor relationships and identify opportunities to improve operational processes and supply chain efficiencies • Support buying team in strategizing and forecasting assortment changes and promotional plans • Leveraged negotiation, opportunity buys, and promotional offers to purchase inventory at the best possible cost and provide margin support • Oversee a team of 3 Associate Merchandise Planners, encouraging optimal performance and maximizing development
Accomplishments: • Merchandising Recognition Award September, October and December 2016 • Developed first ever private label 12-month forecast to more accurately predict and plan for inventory needs • Managed inventory for top 2 vendors in the company, purchasing around $50M of inventory a year • Optimized Private Label orders by revising casepacks and negotiating lower MOQs • Aided in successful launch of 16 new private label products – Developing 17 new products for Fall 2018 • Maintained 95-99% DC in stock rates across entire vendor portfolio, approx 25 vendors. • Member of CFT that launched Private Label Designline onto Amazon – generating 50x corp salon sales Key Responsibilities • Manage inbound and outbound replenishment ensuring DC and salon in stock goals are achieved with regard to open-to-buy and capital investment strategies • Analyze salon retail inventory and sales for roughly 6,000 salons to obtain optimal display minimums based on Salon/SKU tier analysis • Maintain positive vendor relationships with Private and National accounts to promote the effective flow of inventory • Understand promotional strategies by division to help in the execution of efficient and cost effective inventory flow • Work closely with Logistics, Accounts Payable, and Distribution Centers to resolve issues and execute processes
Accomplishments: • Improved Q4 2015 digital launch success by 80% for entire Shoes division • Directed MS workload grids for all of JAS/IHS to help transform MS role • Streamlined processes for National Vendor supplied images and long copy for entire Shoes division • Analyzed reporting and developed projections and recapping for Women’s Shoes weekly ads Key Responsibilities • Drive guest experience by resolving store, digital, and fulfillment center issues, improving data accuracy, and effectively communicating with partners • Order samples and set up weekly ads to support advertising and marketing initiatives • Analyze promotions and provide recapping and projections on sales to team • Develop processes that support and deliver upon merchandising strategies and goals such as sample management, item pre-work and maintenance and cross-functional partnerships • Support vendor management and inventory strategy through vendor set up and maintenance, purchase order maintenance, and vendor income
Accomplishments: • Helped drive roughly $13M in Toddler Apparel sales for 2014, $1.4M beat to plan and 63% LY comp • Helped drive over a 200% LY comp in both Online Unique and License categories • Trained a mentee and successfully handed off a portion of my business • Appointed Holiday and Easter Dressy captainship to provide recapping on sales to entire team Key Responsibilities: • Support Merchandising through the creation of sell-ready and distribution-ready items • Complete item set-up and maintenance for both domestic and import items according to launch deadlines • Interact with vendors to ensure complete and accurate set-up, obtain image and sample assets • Assist Buyers and Business Analysts in resolving issues along with additional projects when needed • Troubleshoot website, analyze errors and develop course of action to resolve • Develop strong relationships with internal and external partners to achieve goals and deliver results
Accomplishments: ·Played key role in driving store to #1 rank for sales vs. plan and #1 for comp in the region Key Responsibilities: ·In partnership with manager and home office, support company initiatives and objectives ·Analyze sales data vs. plan and work with corporate to optimize merchandise mix as possible ·Drive business results by motivating staff of 5-7 in achieving daily sales plans, controlling expenses and improving metrics through floor leadership ·Head execution of Corporate Training Programs ·Augment company visual merchandising standards with embellishments that complement unique local product mix ·Sustain high degree of personal integrity and lead by example
Accomplishments: ·Promoted within 6 months of hire to aid in retail management and work closely with corporate on analysis of sales trends and merchandise assortment Key Responsibilities: ·Set hourly staff sales goals and motivated team to meet monthly sales plan ·Delegated duties and tasks to fellow employees to ensure productivity and profitability ·Aided with day-to-day operations of specialty retail store ·Handled visual merchandising in 100% compliance with corporate standards
Connie-Mills Accessories is an independent specialty retailer focusing on fashion accessories and statement jewelry Accomplishments: ·Developed marketing pitch for 30 client organizations outlining programs (corporate gifting, in-house display and/or sales) that won 10% response rate and 50% retention rate ·Re-selected for two semesters ·Handpicked to assist buyer in merchandise selection / assortment and trade show attendance Key Responsibilities: ·Worked directly with owner and buyer on buying / merchandising – accompanied buyer to trade shows as needed to aid in new merchandise planning and selection ·Used web-based marketing and social media marketing (SMM; Facebook & Twitter) to promote website and products to new and existing customers ·Updated website through fashion / product photography and added new products using Adobe Photoshop ·Handled market research project to identify high-potential organizations in greater Madison area to expand market and client base