Post by Olson-Ng Retail Consulting Group

Olson-Ng Retail Consulting Group is celebrating in August “Extraordinary Planning and Allocation Executives” with whom we’ve worked who made major contributions through their exceptional abilities… serving as the critical Investment Analysts to manage retail’s single largest investment, the inventories… taking Buyers’ visions and determining how to achieve the best ROI. Melissa Umbrianna was Director of Inventory Management, then promoted to Director of Pricing and Promotions at J. Jill. She is Planner with a gift: Knowing how to eke strong margins from markdowns. With her highly successful CEO, Paula Bennett, Melissa managed the twice yearly end-of-season clearance events, reviewing eligible product and quantities, assigning the right prices and placements online and in print to liquidate aged inventory and maximize margins. Some seasons had new product sales and in-season markdown events so strong that clearance books had to be canceled. Yes, it’s true! Always enjoying work, amazing to watch, her skills and focus for achieving goals were always spot on. She lives by the Irving Thalberg (late, of MGM) quote: “Never let your standards be less than great”. Melissa Umbrianna… need we say more? Warmest regards, Rod Olson and Kim Ng