Beth Hafer Email & Phone Number

• Partner with Product Development team to develop an assortment of merchandise for a specified category of business by evaluating the competition and market trends.• Traveled overseas, met with vendors to evaluate developed samples and negotiate cost prices.• Purchased inventory that tied to financial plans and need.• Submit and manage purchase orders, follow-up with vendors on delivery status, production flow, development issues, and negotiate price concessions when necessary.• Collaborate with team to develop plan-o-gram for merchandise placement, to assist stores in their visual presentation.• Create and analyze Excel spreadsheet reports that track sales and profit to react to business trends.• Developed marketing calendar that tied to financial goals, analyzed results for future improvement.

Merchandise Planner • Developed store seasonal financial plans – sales, gross margin, and turnover goals, based on current business trends, store profiles, demographics and competition. • Partnered with buying group, to create purchasing guidelines by store assortment to support financial plans and key items.• Directed staff in daily retail planning and execution, by providing motivation and performance feedback and creating a work environment focused on respect, diversity and achievement.• Created accurate forecasts through analysis of financial components based on current trends and knowledge of upcoming events that assisted in developing future planning goals.• Formulated replenishment assortments and annual sales plans by location, monitored sales by store/item, and made modifications that reflected business trends. Recommended assortment edits of poor performing styles/SKUs• Assisted Store Planning in planning fixture needs and placement for store group.• Liaison with stores to monitor and react to business performance by addressing business trends, inventory stock levels and stock productivity.• Reviewed purchase order allocations, ensuring that stores had proper quantities based on trend and presentation, communicated and negotiated reorder needs to market staff.Buyer • Created forecasts by evaluating financial components on business trends and adjusted orders accordingly.• Created reports for vendor meetings and market preparation to negotiate support from vendors.• Traveled monthly to New York and Los Angeles apparel markets – selected and purchased product, kept abreast of new emerging trends and managed vendor relationships.• Maintained purchase orders, negotiated price concessions, calculated vendor rebates and charge back allowances.• Determined promotional calendar prepared advertising copy and processed vendor co-op advertising.