Cassandra Ware Email & Phone Number

Oakland, Ca, Us

San Francisco, Ca, Us

Responsible for management of all categories for store and ecommerce. Maintain brand identity while making strategic assortment adjustments to maximize sales & profitability.Develop seasonal milestone calendars for the countries.Develop and drive sal strategies and lead both pre-season and in-season execution.Establish and maintain strong cross- functional relationships.Participate in visual store mapping/ floor plan direction to support sales plans.Provide collection level analysis to leadership with an understanding of country nuances.Partner with Planning to ensure financials metrics are met ( dept roll ups, promotional strategies, markdown management, etc)

Accountable for the development and communication of category product strategies that align with financial goals for the season.Deliver on best in class product assortment architecture within area of responsibility.Develops and builds department & class level plans that support market/division strategyRoadmap/Assorts based on market specific seasonality, sales trends and opportunities while maintaining the Global Old Navy product vision.Meet category sales, GM, and inventory goalsDevelop seasonal hindsight and the strategic opportunities used to inform pre-line.

Chicago, Il, Us

Ownership of overall business processes to achieve sales, margin, and inventory turnover.Drives sales and gross profit through the optimization of the product assortment.Manage private label brand development.Partner with planning to complete accurate forecasts, evaluating sales, markdowns, and receipts. Work with store operation team on planogram maintenance.

Chicago, Il, Us

Ownership of overall business processes to achieve sales, margin, and inventory turnover.Drives sales and gross profit through the optimization of the product assortment in assigned department or categories.Manage integration with Product Development regarding design, sourcing and brand development.Partner with planning to complete accurate forecasts, evaluating sales, markdowns, and receipt.Develop strong cross-functional partnerships.Provide supervision and development opportunities for associates.

Chicago, Il, Us

Men’s Tops – Private Label: Outdoor Life, Nordic TrackOwnership of overall business processes to achieve sales, margin, and inventory turnoveAnalyze trend, key items, vendor profitability, and inventory to make recommendations for driving improved sales performance.Work closely with inventory planning, marketing, pricing, and store execution to improve profitability and maximize shareholder value.Assist and support the development of customer driven assortment plans. Manage integration with Product Development regarding design, sourcing and brand developmentMaintain knowledge base of industry and competitor market trends. Identify and shop the competition and make product recommendations.Manages cost negotiations with internal sourcing team and external market vendors to achieve IMU goals.Partner with planning to complete accurate forecasts, evaluating sales, markdowns, and receipts.Creates and inputs advertising plans. Provide direction during advertising turn-in and proofing. Provide information for inputs for point of sale signage and maintains integrity of signage for ease of execution at store level.Visit stores to evaluate merchandise mix, observe competition, store needs and translate findings into executable product plans

General Merchandise, Household Goods, Seasonal MerchandiseResearch industry trends and new market opportunities.Define product features, requirements and pricing with input from stakeholders.Develop business processes, when applicable.Create cost-benefit analysis. Manage timelines and responsibilities for internal and external resources.Lead the development of requirements for new products to meet business objectives with input from key stakeholders and cross-functional teams. Activities include, but are not limited to, conducting competitive analysis, defining product features, functionality and pricing, cost negotiations, and developing and implementing timelines.Interact with multiple disciplines within the organization.May additionally support other activities including managing vendor and cross-functional relationships, developing product enhancements, and creating sales analysis summary.

Juniors, Active SportswearManage development process from concept through placementPartner with Buyers and Designers to develop Owned Brand product strategy and assortment.Identify, develop, and support a reliable and consistent vendor base that meets our current product/production needs. Financially responsible for meeting IMU and corporate objectives for all Owned Brand product. Partner with Sourcing team to establish sourcing strategies for the division globally. Identify top 3-5 vendors and strategize development and placement accordingly.Manage vendor's Time & Action and post placement follow up on product approvals, delivery, quality, technical specifications, color, regulatory issue, re-orders.Seek development opportunities through procurement of samples and market intelligence overseas, ensuring contingency planning worldwide as necessary. Develop and manage the contingency planning process each to ensure we are able to chase/speed source into key item categories as needed. Work with Li & Fung to source and place Owned Brand product, following all details, pricing strategies and timing. Work with cross-functional team to ensure Production Calendar timelines are being followed to secure on-time delivery of our product to the stores.Partner with Sourcing team to maintain an intimate understanding of Government Affairs and trade implications impacting sourcing decisions and strategies. Use this knowledge to direct product placement and to take advantage of free trade agreements. Work with Brand Compliance Manager to know and be involved in Brand Compliance requirements Partner with Product Director to identify joint sourcing across divisions, by working with Design team to identify core programs and manage the process through placement.Build strong partnerships with agents, vendor, buying, and design teams.Manage, coach and develop team.

Men's, Home, and ShoesImprove operational performance across merchant, DC, and vendor base.Drive improvements for top 20% of vendors in the areas of, lead times, order processing and vendor compliance performance.Maintain reports and/or databases to monitor vendor performance.Leverage relationships within the director group and all levels throughout the supply chain to enable operational success. Including standing meetings with Planning Managers and Merchants to identify and implement program flow to reduce supply chain costs.Identify industry standards and procedures that will reduce wait time at the DC's and increase efficiencies within the product pipeline.Implement strategies to reduce processing time and improve flow of goods.Monitor vendor performance to insure that floor ready standards and level of service are followed.Build cross-departmental program timeline's for all owned and national brand merchandise to validate the optimal flow strategy.Monthly TB's w/MP Mgrs and IM to communicate changes, updates, calendars, etc. Attend MP Director monthly staff meetings to give updates on Logistics goals/objectives, etc. Weekly updates to the departments on vendor status (testing, approvals, time & action calendar)Develop and implement plans to improve productivity.Review departmental case pack opportunities on a quarterly basis Maintain best practice documentation to support strategic initiatives.

Men's SweatersManage placement and sourcing strategies globallyWork with Pre-Production to develop strategic plans for vendors during sampling stages. Ensure that final placement supports the sample adoption ratio. Ensure 80% of placement is with our Top 5 vendors.Confirm program and vendor placement with sourcing channels.Implement and manage weekly conference calls with Hong Kong office.Annual strategic planning/forecasting by quarter.Maintain quarterly Forecasting Tool, and review with Sourcing offices to agree upon top vendors.Validate and Manage Time and Action calendar and develop plan of action strategies as needed.Manage pre-production approval process (including color, yarn, stitch, gauge, etc as needed)Manage cost negotiation process to ensure IMU goals are met each season.Develop action plan for post placement open issues.Implement and manage quality processes to ensure standards are consistent within the category.Work with factory to have approved sample on hand prior to the start of bulk production, in and effort to reduce in quality related issues that arise during in-season store visits.Maintain and update a quality log to be shared and reviewed with factories and work on resolutions. Manage product integrity by reviewing testing exception reports.Manage and drive cost savings and publish results.Develop Direct reports through training, behavioral feedback, and coaching.Ensure accuracy of order management system. Manage DOO and make recommendations for receipt month/OTB issues.Manage liabilities and recommend solutions for disposition.Attend weekly fittings with Merchandising and Technical Services teams.Complete quarterly Hindsight packages and present to VP of Adult production.International travel to offshore/Asian vendors and factories.

Manage placement strategies. Execute strategy in partnership with merchandising, planning, and distribution.Worked with sourcing channels to reduce lead times on basic programs, and developed chase strategies for key items by moving programs produced in El Salvador to Saipan, Philippines, etc.Reduce fabric lead time by having goods produced closer to fabric origin, allowed merchants to not need to book 5 months out, giving them more time actualize/analyze sales. Increase flexibility by being able to react to business trends.Increase percentage of on time shipping.Manage and track all production details.Manage cost negotiation process to ensure IMU goals are met each season. Review vendor samples for accuracy of BOMs, and quality. Identify and assess production issues and make viable recommendations to resolve the problem. Lead weekly production meetings with cross-functional team.Managed Basics process allowing cross-functional team members to be pro-active about managing the business.Revamped Basics process: Developed Excel tool to provide agents with rolling annual projections utilizing Planning's basic buy plan. Re-forecasting based on sales and inventory each month.Developed Excel tool for agent to enter purchase orders into the spreadsheet and send back w/confirmations. Confirm orders each month and track all qty revisions.Validate and Manage time and action calendars from sourcing channels.Monitor on-time delivery by utilizing SCAN and exception shipping reports.Develop action plans for post-placement open issues.Complete and present quarterly Hindsight packages.Actively participate in discussions for department, division, or brand initiatives.International travel to offshore/Asian vendors and factories.

Personal Care/Fragrance/Cosmetics/Accessories · Worked with Pre-Production/Product Development to create product placement/sourcing strategies, confirm program placement with sourcing channels, and develop action plans for post placement open issues.Manage launches of all new products: So Pink Fragrance, and Gap Color cosmetics.Created and managed cosmetic pack and hold component strategy for basic/seasonal basic lipsticks and eye shadows.Manage time and action calendars and WIP reports.Revamped Standard Operating Procedures for domestic shipments: Worked with logistics to set up minimum expectation on communication and responsibility level for Danzas.Set up special procedures for Japan and Europe orders to reduce custom delays.Worked with Logistics to ensure vendor manuals had reference section that covered the shipping of hazardous materials.Work with vendors to comply w/company initiative on pre-pack goalsManage costing negotiation process to ensure IMU goal is met each season. Attend weekly Project Planning meetings with Product Development and Pre-Production team to be pro-active in addressing any potential issues that could cause delays in deliveries.Manage liabilities.Attend bi-weekly BIOSCREEN meetings to review test results, as well as vendor audit results.Train and Develop direct reports (Assist Prod Mgr. and OMS) through special projects, formal training, weekly touch base meetings, and quarterly review of goals set.Manage Basics processDeveloped a component management system that allowed cross functional team to be proactive in managing the business and manage speed to market/chase strategies Domestic travel.

Managed Prompt (purchase order system) creating purchase, color breakdowns, creating styles for Intl programs, revising quantities, retails, deliveries, season codes, etc.Managed cost sheets: creating each season, updating with: first cost, country of origin, pack factors, retails,Participated in Walk Through and sign off meetings each season, working with Visual Dept to create store set up and presenting key item looks and big buys. Assist in strategy and development of seasonal merchandise assortmentParticipated in all seasonal Retail Meetings to develop pricing strategies to achieve brand reinforcement.Managed all communicated with agents on: quantity/color revisions, delivery changes, ship modes, ticketing information, and new store quantity/ in dc date info. Managed "Detail-on-Order" to ensure all on order matches what has been set up in Prompt and in cost sheets, making sure that deliveries fall in the correct OTB month, season codes are correct, and canceling any miscellaneous units on order. Managing OTB roll-up sheets to calculate on order by season code/month, as well as retail and cost info by season code/month.Daily Business Update reports to show retail cost, units, GM% weekly projections versus plan and Open-to-Buy. And weekly APS report to show selling of each style within a season, and reflect actual aps versus planned aps.