Dara Kessler Email & Phone Number

New Jersey, United States

South Orange, New Jersey, United States

· Primary sales contact working with individual clients to create customized events· Collaborated with CEO/owner and party staff to develop and execute creative party themes· Managed all business-related communications with regard to new business development· Contacted and hired staff based on availability and need· Responsible for sourcing, costing, and purchasing of supplies for events· Communicated all details pertaining to upcoming event with party managers and staff· Conducted training sessions and workshops for event staff· Post-event communication with client and staff to obtain feedback

· Primary contact for VP of Sales and Merchandising for Wal-mart, Kmart, and branded junior and missy divisions· Helped to grow Wal-mart U.S. and Canada business from $40 million to $85 million· Assisted in merchandising Wal-mart junior, missy, and plus lines for seasonal overview and potential buys· Primary liaison between sales, design, production, and shipping departments to ensure orders ran smoothly through the production process· Communicated with Wal-mart buying, replenishment, and brand teams on a daily basis· Traveled monthly to Wal-mart headquarters in Bentonville, AR for seasonal meetings, supplier summits, and compliance seminars· Helped to create cost sheets with style & fabric details for VP of Sourcing and provided cost breakdowns to departmental sourcing teams within Wal-mart for final seasonal buy· Reviewed details of selected styles for current & future seasons with external brand teams· Managed and approved quote packages in Retail Link for product development’s review, as well as buying teams’ item and purchase order creation· Assisted in approval process of trims, washes, and style details for private label brands· Ran weekly queries on Retail Link and communicated weekly and year-to-date selling to external brand teams and internal departments· Generated and followed through with Wal-mart.com orders· Visited stores and shopped competition regularly· Developed and maintained business relationships with specialty & chain store accounts including Duckwall-Alco Stores, DOTS, Deb Shops, Gordmans, etc.· Assisted in item selection and shipping of branded and private label junior and missy product· Communicated with accounts regarding current business, sales and latest trends

· Compiled weekly inventory reports for junior sales team· Maintained showroom for market week· Serviced small specialty junior accounts & helped in item selection and shipping· Assisted in private label (Wal-mart & Kmart) projects; i.e. input sheets, CTL samples

· Calculated and ordered duplicate and stock fabric yardage· Received and tracked sample garments for contractor usage and NY showroom· Received fabric for testing and production· Communicated with NY studio, domestic mills, and overseas factories daily· Input styles, units, and PO information in AS400

Associate In Applied Science, Fashion Merchandising And Buying

Bachelor Of Science, Fashion Merchandising