Category: APPAREL

         ASSOCIATE MERCHANT       Summary    Resourceful buyer with over 15 years of developing and implementing sales strategies in multiple product lines. Strengths include vendor negotiation, sourcing consumer products, and promotional planning.       Skills          Contract negotiation  Sales and trend forecasting  Interpersonal ability   Trade shows         Self-directed  Competitive analysis  Pricing strategies   Presentations              Experience      Associate Merchant   06/2015   to   Current     Company Name   City  ,   State       Driving sales by 17% or $936K in 2016 on a $10M+ category.  Evaluated and negotiated supplier contacts to support corporate initiatives.  Managed pricing, orders, and terms through SAP totaling over $60M at cost.  Partnered with Inventory and Demand to achieve the department service goal of 96% to all retail stores.  Lead product and supplier reviews on an annual basis.  Cross collaboration with Marketing to advertise product categories in print, online, and in-store promotions.  Created an onboarding and training curriculum for the Merchandising department.          Buyer   06/2013   to   06/2015     Company Name   City  ,   State       Launched product assortments for RFP/RFQ/RFIs to meet client specific parameters.  Coached the Re-Buyer on inventory management totaling over $30 million at cost.  Developed relationships with existing suppliers and source new vendors for major promotions and client requests.  Negotiated product pricing, payment terms, and rebates with manufacturers.  Analyzed sales data and market trends to present top brands and items to corporate clients.  Forecast initial inventory buys, review orders and ensure timely product deliveries.  Resolve any Account Payable, pricing, or payment issues.          Home & Garden Showplace Product Merchant   02/2011   to   06/2013     Company Name   City  ,   State       Identified new vendors and managed over 300 vendor contracts for over 350 garden centers.  Increased sales by 4% in 2012 to $56 million with extensive vendor/category management and increased retail store communication.  Developed and presented the True Value Gardens program which consisted of more than 380 traditional hardware stores.  Managed the exhibitor and department floor plan for the True Value trade shows.  Created a national marketing insert for live plants for all hardware stores.  Launched a fully functional vendor directory for store use.  Supported retail stores with invoice resolution, customer service, and vendor inquiries.          Seasonal Product Merchant   02/2005   to   03/2011     Company Name   City  ,   State       Developed and managed seasonal categories worth over $65M in sales.  Introduced a good, better, best strategy to Patio Furniture and increased sales to over $16 million dollars with an average of 30% margin.  Revamped and updated the Outdoor Living catalog to showcase a diverse product assortment of patio furniture, grills, and outdoor décor.  Launched a merchandising planning spreadsheet for category analysis, cost optimization, and inventory control.  Managed and executed seasonal category reviews to negotiate programs for import and domestic sourcing.  Created advertising and in-store marketing materials with the Senior Buyer and the Marketing department.  Attended industry trade shows to review textile trends and new product launches.          Associate Buyer   02/2000   to   01/2005     Company Name   City  ,   State       Negotiated new store opening discounts, product selection, and pricing.  Increased sales by 12.1% from 2003 to 2005 by improving merchandise costs.  Developed inventory and sales plans for Patio and Grills.  Created a Grill and Patio assortment guide for retail sales managers.  Designed a rebate center for the Appliance and Seasonal departments.  Created weekly and monthly marketing communication to the stores.          Merchandise Analyst   03/1998   to   03/2000     Company Name   City  ,   State       Allocated product assortments and replenished inventory to over 800 stores.  Formulated monthly and weekly inventory forecasts.  Communicated with vendors regularly to maintain shipping accuracy.  Awarded Buying Team of the Year for Children's Apparel in 1998.  Created an aggressive purchasing plan to completely stock mega stores in large metropolitan areas and specialty areas in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Sunbelt locations.  Initiated the review of seasonal collections with buyers to increase awareness of store trends and increase sales opportunities.          Women's Apparel Sales Manager   05/1996   to   03/1998     Company Name   City  ,   State             Management Trainee   07/1995   to   05/1996     Company Name   City  ,   State             Education and Training      B.S  :   Marketing of Textiles and Apparel    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign    Marketing of Textiles and Apparel        Skills      Product Development, Marketing, Trade Shows, Customer Service, Forecasting and Trends, Category Management, Negioation, Vendor Management  Microsoft Office Suite, SAP, PeopleSoft  Problem-Solving, Organizational Skills, Time Management, Public Leadership, Communication, Strategic Thinking, Analytical