Collaborating with founders and executive teams of digital native and emerging brands in beauty and apparel to provide product merchandising and buying services on-demand including: Architecting merchandise line plans based on sales history, target customer demands, purchasing data and market trends; Establishing product performance KPI measurement to react in real time to increase velocity, margins and revenue while decreasing inventories and markdowns; Developing and optimizing product assortment matrix across categories; Conducting market research and trends analysis to optimize pricing strategies; Identifying new business opportunities to drive future season line plan; Leading open to buy and hindsight reviews.Client results Include:- GIGGLE: Head of Merchandising, Buying & Planning reporting to CEO. Influencing brand vision and strategy. Seasonal strategy, OTB and merchandising line plans. Provide analytical / data-driven and creative insights to optimize seasonal assortment and private label decisions. 3rd party buying and leverage vendor mix to maximize results. Product and Shopify e-commerce store digital merchandising.- WINKY LUX: Partnered with founder and executive team of high growth cosmetics startup to refine merchandise strategy based on analysis of competitive trends, e-commerce, wholesale and DTC sales data. Advice on consolidating non-performing SKUs while expanding high productivity categories within color cosmetics and skin care product lines.- REBECCA TAYLOR: Managed Direct to Consumer Retail and E-Commerce assortment strategy and buying process for all categories including 3rd party brand products (candles, jewelry, beauty and cosmetics). Created and drove open to buy, replenishment and assortment planning strategies for all categories.

Head of Merchandising, Buying & Planning reporting to CEO. Influencing brand vision and strategy. Seasonal strategy, OTB and merchandising line plans. Provide analytical / data-driven and creative insights to optimize seasonal assortment and private label decisions. 3rd party buying and leverage vendor mix to maximize results. Product and Shopify e-commerce store digital merchandising.

Driving 9-figure annual revenue in ready to wear (full price and outlet) business globally across channels. Synthesized future fashion trends with line plans, historical sales analysis and strategic plans to ensure brand aesthetic / core values are represented. Serve as strong partner / bridge between design, product development / sales. Identify new opportunities / develop strategies to grow the business. Develop all financial budgets / line plans for global business. Supervise / lead junior merchandisers.- Drove 8% annual margin increase through collaboration with key product development and production partners on costing/pricing strategy, development and execution of the key categorical goals- Developed strategy to reduce overall SKU count while maintaining sales volume including increased focus on highest performing categories and eliminating unproductive items- Collaborated with product development and production to reduce sample budget by 17% through increased offshoring sample production- Aligned in-store presentation with company strategy by working closely with marketing and visual merchandising- Identified key customer needs to ensure that the collection covers market opportunities- Analyze global and regional market specific selling trends regularly to optimize assortment mix for future collections

Manage the assortment strategy and buying process for all categories for the global directly owned Rebecca Taylor full price & e-commerce. Key responsibilities include driving the business, product and assortment planning, cross functional collaboration & communication.

Consulting with leading digital strategy firm on business development and fashion strategy for prospects and clients including luxury fashion, retail and lifestyle brands. Providing fashion and retail strategies as part of overall pitches for digital projects.

P&L responsibility including financial analysis, Open to Buy management, Margin Negotiations, markdown management, forecasting, plans, balancing inventory against sales and product selection. Continual collaboration with Planning and Vendor partners to drive towards company sales, gross margin and turnover objectives. Managing and mentoring assistant buyers, merchant office assistants and executive trainees.CONTEMPORARY WOMEN’S APPAREL- Turned around departmental trend by bringing in additional product in key classifications before important market share events and running strategic markdown and POS messages- Helped launch and manage the P&L of a new brand ending the season- Partnered with vendors to institute key item programs within classifications- Analyzed by vendor and classifications to right size business by managing markdowns, negotiating returns to vendors and markdown allowance dollars to meet profitabilityINTIMATE APPAREL- Developed profitable strategies to exploit growth category performance by increasing stock in locations- Collaborated with key vendor partners to develop and introduce new successful items- Identified niche category opportunity; launched 3 new vendors and marketing to meet need- Defined pricing, markdown and marketing strategies to increase sales

Full responsibility including analyzing sales trends, inventory levels by store, and forecasting. Partnering with Buying team to ensure that appropriate product mix is available to react to business based on regional analysis. Creating location sales and inventory plans by department / brand. Managing Open-to-Buy to maximize inventory turn and sales. Managed and tracked replenishment models. Sought opportunities to grow business through corporate strategies, merchandise mix, regional analysis. Serving as a mentor for incoming Associates to help with on-boarding process.WOMEN'S SPORTSWEAR- Beat annual sales plan and margin by identifying regional opportunities - Presented planning / replenishment strategies leading to improved sales / inventory turns- Increased product line profitability by entering and exiting locations by performanceLUXURY BEDDING- Beat sales plan for 20 focus locations by managing inventory and assortment - Reversed trend of under-performing region by fine-tuning assortments and revising inventory levels

Assistant Planner for Moderate Fashion Bedding. Financial analysis of the business by location. Communicating with stores and vendors on key item sales and stock levels.FASHION BEDDING- Contributed to allocation strategies that achieved sales and profit objectives.- Partnered with Planner on initiatives to implement business growth strategies

Partnered with brand manager to buy assortments for Men’s / Women’s clothing and accessories for all Sisley US locations. Optimized sales / inventory by modifying merchandising strategies. - Contributed to brand promotional marketing and media advertising.- Created merchandise prototype displays which was implemented in all stores.