Managed inventory, planning and production for retail shops, ecommerce and wholesale for a headwear company.• Established inventory planning department, developing standards for inventory levels, turn, and margin resulting in reduced inventory levels, increased sales and profitability.• Directed inventory team for retail, ecommerce and wholesale, maintaining strong inventory planning and forecasting, increasing turn and minimizing markdowns.• Initiated and maintained inventory replenishment for retail stores, effectively communicated with store and regional management to ensure appropriate stock levels maintaining 95% in stock levels for key items.• Supervised production group to deliver timely arrival of orders and maintain strong vendor relationships.• Created annual sales and inventory plans for retail and ecommerce, reforecasting through the year. • Developed and maintained budgets for planning and production departments.• Served as part of the operations team to develop company strategy, improve efficiencies and manage expenses to bring the company to profitability.

Oversaw inventory planning team for national furniture retailer.• Directed inventory planning team, managing inventory levels, open to buy and buy plans, providing leadership to create strong team environment.• Developed and communicated annual financial plans supporting the merchandising, marketing and financial objectives of the company.• Managed inventory levels for 70 stores, ecommerce and catalog sales, reducing inventory levels while maintaining sales and gross margin objectives.• Collaborated with merchandising and marketing teams to develop and communicate department strategies for financial and product opportunities.• Lead planning team in implementation of inventory control software, successfully transferred planning team from manual buy plan to new process.

Buyer for party goods for full line, outlet and franchise stores.• Managed diverse categories, including paper goods, toys, catering supplies, stationery, décor, and candy for 275 stores.• Cultivated strong relationships with both existing and new vendors, negotiating optimal terms increasing gross margin.• Developed differentiated product lines with vendors to distinguish product from competition.• Established annual planning calendar to coordinate program launches and changes to improve merchandise flow to stores.• Coordinated merchandise assortments through two acquisitions, maintaining volume and gross margin.• Oversaw assistant buyers, providing training and counseling to encourage growth.

Operated and managed an electronics retail location.• Orchestrated all strategic planning, cash management, financial audits, business analysis, inventory control, in-store promotions, advertising and sales functions.• Enhanced store profitability through achievement of volume budgets, net operating profit, and management of store expenses. • Improved the quality of management staff and associates through hiring, training and developmental feedback. • Managed store visual merchandising standards utilizing established corporate strategies and the unique characteristics of the location to create an exciting and interactive customer experience.

Bought and managed worldwide assortments for the world's largest travel retailer for the United States, Asia, and Oceania.• Planned assortments for diverse regions worldwide, accounting for local market preferences. Coordinated assortments with six regional buyers to accommodate diverse customer profiles and markets. • Built and maintained strong vendor relationships with resources in Europe, Asia and domestically. Successfully negotiated for exclusives, advertising funds, listing fees, cost reductions, and demonstration allowances. • Managed, trained and motivated a staff of assistants and clericals, resulting in three promotions. Responsible for interviews, hiring decisions, reviews, and providing regular feedback. • Developed extensive product lines, creating private label brands for individual regions and exclusive co-branding with key vendors, resulting in increased sales and gross margin dollars.