Chris Ponder Email & Phone Number

Bristol, RI, US

Greater New York City Area

Greater New York City Area

• Manage a complex process of production, warehousing, and shipping to the following accounts:o January 2012 to present. Annual shipments of $40M in Polo/Ralph Lauren Underwear and Sleepwear to Bloomingdales, Belk, The.
• Integral in the development of seasonal assortments to complement a basics business. Shop markets for new styles and fabrications. Determine “white space” on a selling floor and develop strategies to take advantage of.
• Develop and execute production and shipment plans by account. Partner with planning and sourcing to optimize warehouse inventory to insure in-stock rates for shipments while eliminating unproductive inventory.
• Analyze customer selling at both the national and local levels. Use market data and Hanes national selling to develop and recommend a strategic assortment tailored to the strength of each account.
• Develop seasonal trade spend (give-back) plans to optimize each account’s pricing, promotions and advertising where possible.
• Partner with each account to tailor an assortment and develop new product that satisfies the customer base of the account. Develop specific better product with high average unit retails for the better department store.

Macy’s, Atlanta GA Buyer, Men’s Dress Shirts and Neckwear ($98M in Annual Sales), February 2008 – Present · Drove annual volume of $98M (highest sales volume in the Men’s Department). Developed, managed, and achieved annual Sales, Inventory, and Gross Margin plans. Achieved the highest sales trend to plan and last year (100.8% to PL and LY) in total Macy’s.

·Drove Annual volume of $39M. Achieved the highest sales penetration growth in total Macy’s Inc (1.5% of total store sales versus 1.4% LY).·Drove store visual direction for each business seasonally. Directed merchandising strategy and built inventory to support national events. Achieved highest national event sales in Macys (120.0% to LY). ·Successfully.

·Managed the composition of $270M of average stock with $350M in purchases of replenishment merchandise using Macy’s replenishment system (Inforem) and analysis at the style/location level. ·Internal Consultant to Managers of Planning, Merchandise Planners, and Buyers assortment management to optimize inventory productivity. ·Worked closely with.

·Develop monthly financial sales and stock flows at lower classification levels. Achieve yearly sales and margin plans.·Aggressively build key-item structure in top selling brands while reducing the number of styles in slow turning and low penetrating brands.·Incorporate Private Label Imported Merchandise, Domestic Fashion and Domestic Basic Merchandise.

·Internal Consultant for Replenishment programs in several departments·Spearheaded several style reduction projects to eliminate unproductive stock to reallocate into our key item programs. Reduced Weeks of Supply carried on the floor.

·Development position to learn sales and stock flows, systems, partnerships, and basics of buying·Worked with Buyer to plan topside sales and stock flows

·Develop merchandising techniques to drive sales in store.·Manage staffs of Salaried and Commissioned Sales Associates.

Ma, Economics

M.A. in Economics, July 1994 Masters Thesis entitled “The Determinants of the Number of Automobile Dealerships in the South Carolina New.

Ba, International Studies And Economics

B.A. in International Studies and Economics, May 1992