Maintain consistent presentation standards from department to department to support the Pamida brand.• Coordinate the preparation steps with merchandising and marketing for planogram updates and marketing timeline.• Write detailed communication to all stores regarding updates to planogram sets for 50 departments.• Communicated new or changes to existing signing for promotional, institutional and departmental signing.• Assist with weekly marketing guides for focal features that support internal and external marketing.• Assist with maintaining the Best Practices Presentation Standards Manual to support product, external message, internal message and in-store aesthetics.• Lead new product launches and directed seasonal merchandise placement helping deliver sales increases up to 10% over plan for specific items and categories. • Coordinate sourcing of fixtures and unique sign elements and day to day signing needs for 200 retail locations representing a capital budget of $1.1M.

Responsible for the advertising process of approximately 1100 circular pages from ad planning through the final release of the weekly circular to printer contributing to main store sales of $492M.• Coordinated the proofing process with the merchant division and outside ad agency to ensure all steps, consideration and issues involved with the process are covered.• Responsible for accuracy and timeliness of proofing, managing 7 or more deadlines/stages of ads• Developed knowledge of merchandise divisions to include product offerings, seasonality, pricing strategy and specific departmental issues, including imports, marketing timing and P&A.• Coordinated external marketing events such as sweepstakes, product giveaways and coupon events with stores

Based on marketplace knowledge built and managed product assortments for 8 catalogs with a circulation of 2+ million and annual sales of $50 million. Supervised 3 product designers and 1 assistant buyer.• Built lasting vendor relationships with international and domestic vendors to ensure best cost and delivery times• Processed international and domestic orders by maintaining communications with vendors • Attended trade shows overseas and domestically to gather product information, compare prices of existing products and watch for trends and new ideas• Performed all merchandise purchasing, planning and promotional strategy to maximize sales volume, gross margins, and inventory turnover for assigned departments• Collaborated with multiple departments to coordinate catalog marketing and web placement, approve photography and proof for accuracy• Used analytical tools and reports to determine product and catalog mix, inventory levels and determined best method to liquidate excess inventory• Developed initial business plans for craft and beading catalogs and launched successful new products and catalogs

Coordinated flow and approval of artwork between product design team, merchandise team and overseas vendors.• Entered data for new items into AS400 system including product classification and item specifications. • Tracked timely delivery and approval of samples between overseas vendors, merchandise team, catalog production and photography.• Corresponded daily with international vendors to resolve issues relating to artwork, samples and delivery• Conducted merchandising based training AS400 classes for new employees

Completed administrative duties including screening telephone calls, arranging meetings, maintaining calendars, composing and processing internal and external correspondence, completing expense reports, and maintaining files. • Completed numerous special projects as assigned.