Bethany Manning Email & Phone Number

Michigan City, In

Hired by Nike, Inc. the world's innovative Athletic Market Leader as an experienced Professional sales and merchandiser. Team player assigned to assist manage a $10 million Nike Factory Store business.-Responsible for sales and merchandising initiatives for $4.8 million Women's and Kid's apparel business to achieve strategic growth and profitability results.-Increased and maintained Apparel penetration from 40% to 46% of total store business.-Instrumental in increasing total store business 106% fiscal year 2017 accomplishing $10 million Nike Factory store business. -Analyze weekly statistics report to drive business based on month and season-to-date sales performance, maintained margin % and turnover. -Collaborate with cross functional teams including Regional Sales Manager, Store Manager, Operations Manager, Human Resource Manager and Regional Visual Merchandiser. -Dedicated to maintaining Nike, Inc.'s high level of customer service by connecting directly with the customer and providing product performance information to assist each customer meet their athletic apparel needs.-Innovative in nature with the ability to recruit, train, teach, mentor, develop and retain a winning team of sales associates to meet the mission, objectives and goals of driving store sales and brand loyalty.-Utilize the Nike, Inc. fundamentals of greet, engage, service and thank to achieve strategic sales goals.-Positive role model creating an enthusiastic team oriented work environment based on optimism and hard work creating a positive shopping experience for the Nike customer.-Responsible for all Visual merchandising initiatives. Nike Visual merchandising principles; Tell stories, Edit and amplify, Distort hero items, Make powerful statements, Plan to the space, Create credible outfits, Keep it fresh, Amplify and accelerate, Win at the moment of truth.-Work Hard. Play Hard. Create a positive team work environment.

Chicago, Il

Promoted in 2009 to Senior Buyer for Women's Elevated Sportswear for three quality specialty stores in the Greater Chicago area.-Responsible for buying 40% of the 2012 Women's Division volume managing over 40 Collections.-Excellent merchandise selection skills resulting in 80% regular price selling contributing an average of 48% net profit to the total Women's Division business.-Planned seasonal assortments with a focus on current trend to meet the Mark Shale customer's evolving wardrobe needs. -Conducted competitor analysis and researched new upscale vendors to create the Elevated Sportswear Department. -Negotiated opening distribution with designer collections for Mark Shale stores.-Added new upscale collections including Brochu Walker, Nili Lotan, Joseph, Harvey Faircloth, Raoul, Halston Heritage, Inhabit, Leroy & Perry, M. Patmos, Allude, James Perse, Chinti + Parker and Minnie Rose.-Negotiated exclusive merchandise for Mark Shale stores.-Maintained strong communications and business relations with all vendors.-Expertise in developing private label sportswear programs in all categories of apparel.-Traveled to New York six times a year to shop multi-line showrooms and attend all seasonal trade shows.

Chicago, Il

Promoted in 2000 to Senior Buyer for $5.8 million Women's Casual Sportswear and Branded Collection Business for eight specialty stores, catalog and E-commerce business.-Ensured excitement in the merchandise assortment by identifying growth opportunities and developed financial plans to increase the established budget.-Achieved sales growth by creating a new comtemporary merchandise assortment by allying with vendors such as Vince, Theory, DVF, Milly, Trina Turk, Alice and Olivia, Joie, Splendid, Ella Moss, Marika Charles, Twenty, Majestic, AG, J Brand and Citizens of Humanity.-Built volume to peak at $5.8 million resulting in sales volume increase of +127.3%. During same period, total Women's Division volume declined $8.6 million resulting in sales decrease of (-25%).-Increased Casual Sportswear performance from 7.5% to 22.6% of total Women's business.-Selected Women's Casual Sportswear featured on the Mark Shale website and six catalogs per year with total annual sales of $8.0 million and annual circulation of 3.7 million.-Presented merchandise ideas to catalog staff and creative director.-Achieved $796,800 annual website/catalog sales which represented 27.5% of total $2.9 million Women's annual website/catalog business.

Chicago, Il

Buyer for $2.9 million Women's Dress and Accessory business. -Increased sales volume +20.0%.-Improved department sales from 7.0% to 8.3% of total Women's Division business.-Worked with Store managers to increase department presentation in stores. Shared suggestive selling techniques with sales associates.

Hoffman Estates, Il

Buyer for $17.5 million Tailored jewelry business for 1500 chain stores nationwide.Increased sales volume +9.3% and gross margin to 70.0%.-Worked directly with Hong Kong office on development of import product.-Traveled to Hong Kong, China and Korea to visit new factories, source new import vendors and develop new product.-Tested import product, planned assortment strategies and negotiated price and delivery terms.

Chicago, Il

Promoted to Buyer in 1992 for $6.1 million Women's Blouse, Knitwear and Coordinates business for 40 quality specialty stores nationwide.-Created private label programs through direct importing and domestic sourcing and supervised all aspects of development from inception to final product.-Negotiated effectively with vendors despite constant shifts in ownerhip.-Supervised and trained Associate Buyer with buying responsibility for $1.5 million Accessory, Casual Career and Outerwear business.

Chicago, Il

Assisted buyer with $8.9 million Women's Tailored Separates business with sole buying responsibility for $4.1 million Coordinates business.-Participated in buying $4.5 million Tailored Separates business for Barrie Pace Ltd. catalog.-Shopped market and recommended appropriate selections for store and catalog.-Accurately projected sales, markdowns and receipts to calculate monthly open-to-buy report.-Maintained efficient vendor communications which ensured prompt delivery.

Chicago, Il

Promoted to Senior Assistant store manager of $4.8 million Women's specialty store. Managed and trained sales and support associates who consistently achieved sales goals. Developed and executed all visual and in store merchandising.

New York, Ny

Assisted buyer with all aspects of $16 million Accessory business for 135 specialty stores nationwide.Contributed to product development and selection.

New York, Ny

Advanced to assist buyer of $10 million business for 26 stores from sales manager of $2.5 million business.Recruited and hired to participate in Macy's executive training program upon graduating from Purdue University.

Bachelor Of Science, Retail Management/Buying And Merchandising

Associate'S Degree, Fashion Buying And Merchandising

Level 1 Certification And Level 2 Certification, Restorative Yoga, 90 Hours Of Yoga Alliance Certification