• Directed merchandising and marketing functions of specific categories for a Fortune 400 company with over $7 billion in revenue. • Analyzed $300M of annual sales, ensuring both sales and gross margin goals were met while monitoring inventory investment to achieve turn and return on investment (ROI) objectives.• Identified opportunities to right-size or regionalize assortments across more than 1700 stores in 49 states during line reviews while improving sales per square foot. • Defined and communicated strategic business plan to internal departments, management, stores, and vendors, ensuring that correct products arrived on-time, and in the right amounts. • Completed regular competitive analyses of crucial items across online and brick-and-mortar channels while driving the competitive pricing strategy, maximizing profit, and gaining market share. • Increased vendor-supported promotional funding by over 25% annually improving overall profitability of primary sales driving promotions.• Collaborated with Product Development and Global Sourcing, identifying and executing private label items that met customer needs, focusing on quality, trend, cost, and source. • Worked closely with marketing creating plan for seasonally appropriate promotions aimed at driving sales, increasing awareness, and attracting core customers through variety of advertising mediums. • Oversaw the hiring, supervision, and continuous development of Associate Buyer and Merchandise Coordinator while managing the priorities and duties of these positions.

• Managed both weather-driven and commodity-based categories, driving sales and profitability through new item placement and well-timed promotions.• Proofed images, copy, and pricing for all promotional materials, demonstrating precise abilities in covering details, and aiding in bringing projects to completion during an evolving retail environment. • Safeguarded customers made informed purchasing decisions with accurate information, minimizing profit loss by warranting the right items and prices were featured. Efforts guaranteed that store teams did not need to rework removing signs, erect new signs, or disappoint customers.• Maintained execution of annual Line Review Calendar, holding internal teams responsible for completing assigned tasks and meeting deadlines, ensuring on-time delivery and best performances in stores.• Traveled to China, working directly with factories and product development, creating and improving private label lawn and garden items.• Maximized space productivity through strong visual merchandising skills, point of purchase (POP) materials, and space allocation for high volume sales drivers. • Honored with an Excellence in Communication Award for engaging and communicating with internal departments, resulting in successful completion of a merchandising and promotional plan

• Prioritized time-critical projects such as vendor cost increases, completing tasks on time and guaranteeing execution while eliminating errors in purchase order (PO) cost.• Provided input during line-review process on product selection, packaging, and plan-o-gram set-up, collaborating and supporting cross-functional teams while accelerating personal strengths.• Supported creation of over 50 new vendors and more than 150 new items annually, managing an all-encompassing assortment of administrative and merchandising form-filling duties .

• Set product to plan-o-grams, ensuring POP placement, collecting and reporting inventory data and moving product from the stockroom to the sales floor. • Listened, comprehended, and responded to customer comments or questions in person and on the phone using available resources.• Managed, implemented, and maintained merchandise sections.• Trained employees in appropriate merchandising skills, distributed the workload, and supervised the completion of projects.• Analyzed the stock room area, developed a plan, and then persuaded supervisors to redesign the area to maximize space and to create a cleaner, safer, and more practical sales environment.

• Acted as a strategic client adviser to store management enhancing retailer relationships and providing clear and concise output.• Used superior observation, analytical, and communication skills to ensure sales opportunities at the retail level are recognized, captured, and acted upon.• Read, interpreted, and analyzed paperwork in order to complete detailed, store-specific instructions in a variety of retail environments.• Independently created weekly work schedules for team associates by prioritizing and organizing project deadlines.• Communicated with stores, vendors, and co-workers via email, fax, and voicemail to order parts, to schedule appointments, and to provide feedback.