Jennifer Chen Email & Phone Number

San Francisco, California, Us

Advised retailers and suppliers on assortment strategy, site and store merchandising, and product development, with an emphasis on data analysis.Key accomplishments:• Drove a 500%+ increase in revenue over a six-year period.• When faced with substantial material cost increases, maintained gross margin through price optimization and cost engineering new product development.• Established open-to-buy process, improving in stock rates, and limiting inventory liability.• Created and implemented planogram process as store count tripled.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Oversaw over half of the total business: Managed the men’s accessories, kids & baby, home & garden, gadgets & electronics, and sports & games departments.Key accomplishments:• Realigned under-performing categories through SKU rationalization, cutting style count in half while posting positive YOY sales comps. Pinpointed key sub-categories for growth and identified price point growth opportunities.• Developed a test program for incorporating customer insights into the product development process through focus group research and customer surveys.• Led customization/personalization integration with our two fulfillment centers to ensure holiday readiness.• Partnered with product development and sourcing to develop new, exclusive product and source innovative market product.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

Managed the online jewelry assortment of the nation’s largest jewelry retailer.Key accomplishments:• Drove double digit comps each year on a $20M business.• Led annual overseas sourcing and product development trips. Drove all cost negotiations, product development and sourcing with domestic and overseas vendors.• Reduced SKU count from 2000 to 800 SKUs and cut inventory by 50% while generating YoY increases in both sales and GM%.• Improved return rates by implementing new product photography requirements.• Developed a high margin closeout channel which generated an additional $250k+ in annual revenue.• Identified and negotiated vendor funded marketing opportunities, contributing an additional $100k+ in gross profit annually.• Created warehouse tracking procedures to ensure on time slotting of inventory; worked closely with QC to deliver the lowest inventory defect rate among all jewelry divisions of Wal-Mart, Inc. • Worked directly with Wal-Mart store buyers to align with their assortments and company initiatives; implemented sales feedback loop to store buyers highlighting successful online only product, resulting in multiple additions of online product to stores nationwide.• Partnered with planning to manage open-to-buy and in stock position.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Managed multiple departments with two direct reports: Jewelry, the top sales generating department of an $80 million business, in addition to women’s accessories, apparel, bath + body and home.• Launched RedEnvelope’s first-ever dedicated jewelry catalog.• Managed domestic sourcing and vendor relationships; negotiated pricing, payment terms, and minimums. Worked in tandem with sourcing on developing key overseas vendor relationships.• Conceptualized exclusive product, reviewed designs and specs created by our product development team, partnered with product development on sample review, and worked cross-functionally with QA to identify areas for improvement and set acceptable tolerances.• Developed and presented creative briefs to provide copy and photo direction to the creative team.• Day-to-day management of the business included analyzing seasonal returns reports, creating and presenting seasonal SWOT reports, partnering with planning to monitor stock positions and formulating exit strategies.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Assisted with the management of the apparel, men’s and women’s accessories, jewelry, home and bath + body departments.

San Diego, Ca, Us

Supported eight merchants and the Vice President of Merchandising.• Managed catalog paginations and visual supplements.• Coordinated product life cycle, including managing photography and copy schedules.