Cindy Mccracken Email and Phone Number

The nation’s largest broadline closeout retailer with 1,400 stores and sales in excess of $4 Billion.Buyer, Manager of Visual Presentation. Direct Reports: 5Promoted based on a proven ability to lead staff, develop and deliver effective merchandising plans• for 1,400 stores weekly and meet and surpass goals.As a Buyer, collaborated with multiple departments throughout the company including: Planning,• Allocation,Advertising, Merchandise Presentation, Distribution and Transportation Services, andField Management teams to manage inventories, understand and improve upon internal companyprocesses, achieve goals and increase profit margins.Developed and cultivated key relationships with multiple vendors and direct sourcing groups.• Meticulously analyzed financial and market positioning reports and compared against competitor• numbers to identify areas of improvement and provide effective consultation to execution and fieldmanagers.Traveled to stores in multiple territories (including competitor stores) to understand merchandise• and presentation requirements, customer requirements and consumer/product trends.As a Manager of Visual Presentation, mentored, trained, supervised and appropriated workflow• assignments to a staff of five.

A leading international retail design firm offering strategic retail design and branding.Creative Director. Direct Reports: 10Provided strategic direction and management for creative staff; provided holistic vision and• opportunity for development of creative talent by matching appropriate staff skills with projectsand reporting often and effectively with key stakeholders.Presented final design solutions to client and staff.• Developed client budgets and specific project timelines, inclusive of potential risks and alternative• solutions.; Worked closely with clients to identify their needs, understand their vision and execute a design• plan that was reflective of their brand and market needs.Worked in partnership with Director of Business Development and other discipline leaders in• creative pitch development, execution and delivery to global premier clients.Responsible for identifying new revenue generating opportunities and penetrating new markets.• Clients: Mattel, Barbie Division; E-Trade; Toys ‘R’ Us; Big Lots; MerrellFootwear, Growth division of Wolverine Worldwide; Jos. A. Bank; Rand McNally

A leading retail consulting firm with clients ranging from specialty and big box retail to restaurants.; Creative Director. Direct Reports: 2Maximized retail profits through visual merchandising and brand positioning and repositioning;• oversaw capacity planning and product sourcing; developed product launch concepts and thecreation of retail environments.Clients: Limited Brands; Sara Lee Direct; Eddie Bauer; AvonProfessional Experience: marketing : visual presentation: product development : global trend analysisPage 2 of 3Cynthia D. McCrackenretail consultant

Retail consultant for a 14 store Department store (Breuninger) Located in Stuttgart Germany- Responsibilities included: Visual Merchandising-Product design-Product layouts and window designs.Developed an integrated business calendars to keep marketing and merchant group on the same page.Annualized Volume-$888 million DM

Creative Director and sales for the business