Kendra Hayes Email & Phone Number

Chevy Chase, Md

I'm doing what I love to do! Coaching and mentoring a team, fostering growth in an Assistant Store Manager and helping our clientele find their best selves in luxurious yet sustainable clothing.-Drove business to a peak of $4.2M in sales and continued to be the #2 volume store corporately.-Lead and developed a team of 12 amazing sales associates.-Served on the Corporate product education team, finding new ways to teach our teams about why our clothes are so special (fabric, fit and sustainability).-Communicated the product needs seasonally to the buyers for the mid-Atlantic, Boston and Florida stores.-Executed many successful events, including fashion presentations, book readings with local authors and spotlighting local artisans.

Variously represented Bridge Coats, Façonnable, Special Occasion and Daytime dresses. Built strategic business plan to achieve volume and profitability goals. Cultivated partnerships with Regional Vice President, Store Managers, and Visual Managers and leveraged those relationships to communicate divisional product strategy. Coached staff in selling skills and implementation of department-specific presentation standards. Improved product mix by store, communicating actionable feedback to buying team.• Grew Studio 121/Bridge Coats into $26M department in 2013 (6.3% increase in sales), achieving #2 ranking in region among 25 Regional Merchandisers. • Drove 9.6% increase in revenue in 2012, achieving #3 ranking regionally.• Provided leadership and mentoring that resulted in promotions of 40 leaders, including two Store Managers, one Regional Merchandiser, and four Buyers.• Executed two highest-grossing events in Studio 121 history: Eileen Fisher Tipster event and Lafayette 148 New York event that grossed $140K and $190K—increase of $40K and $10K over previous records, respectively.

East Coast

Created and managed open-to-buy for $30M department. Executed product buys and developed vision for product advertising, merchandising, and sales. Set seasonal merchandise strategies in line with trends and customer expectations. Established selling agenda for store teams. Negotiated exclusive offerings, terms, pricing, vendor-funded markdowns, and co-op agreements.• Identified and sourced new suppliers with potential for meeting customer needs and developed these vendors into profitable businesses; launched NYDJ in Nordstrom East Coast market, growing business into $10M vendor.• Coached and motivated Assistant Buyer to excel in business management, product selection, and assortment editing.• Drove and directed inventory management in season; ensured effective analysis and decision making regarding markdowns, claims, and reorders.

East Coast

Supported merchant team in executing supplier strategy and cultivating strong vendor relationships. Assisted with Buyer’s responsibility for approximately $40M in inventory volume across all East Coast locations, which included rapidly growing Southern region. Participated in business reviews and open-to-buy management. Assisted in creating financial plans and goals to maximize results. Strove to improve sales and inventory results and complement total assortment.• Mentored Managers and Regional Merchandisers.• Spearheaded development of selling agenda, initiative that included new vendor launches and product knowledge seminars; partnered with 30 Department Managers to roll plan out at store level.• Cultivated strong vendor relationships and supported merchant team in executing supplier strategy.

Tysons Corner Center

Led department in meeting and exceeding volume and productivity goals. Identified, recruited, and hired top talent. Modeled delivery of exceptional service and provided ongoing coaching to staff to ensure they provided outstanding customer experiences.• Developed multiple associates into “Pacesetters,” top 10% of company’s national sales force.• Planned and executed events that drove up volume and engendered customer loyalty.