Mary Ewing Email & Phone Number

Seaside, CA, US

• Developed and executed innovative strategic merchandising and brand assortment across three platforms and multiple channels, fostering vendor partnerships to optimize brand presence and market reach.
• Implemented comprehensive pricing strategies, including competitive pricing and integrating value-add and cost-saving measures, resulting in tangible improvements in company pricing and margin.
• Led a data-driven merchant team to optimize assortment, product lifecycle management, and inventory, implementing job crafting and training initiatives aligned with the long-term strategy.
• Trained and implemented a team to utilize iconography and AI-generated infographics, enhancing visual content and customer experience, significantly increasing user engagement and conversion rates.
• Established key processes to improve communication on product availability, lifecycle, and substitutions, fostering better coordination internally and with customers.
• Formed and nurtured the Digital Merchandising department, showcasing a commitment to staying ahead in the digital landscape through AI-driven tools.

• Managed team of goal-oriented merchants across assortment of both foreign and domestic products, drop ship and warehoused items for 3 product families.
• Partnered with cross-functional leaders to establish new product launch schedule to “digital first” Established process and metrics for cost negotiation processes, strategic vendor partnerships
• Manage merger of Environments with Discount School Supply brand through strategic assortment review, categorization and redefinition of proprietary brands.
• Built Digital and Print Marketing strategy to support both Infant & Toddler, Active Play, Dramatic Play and the Curriculum business.

Monterey, California

• Managed team of goal-oriented merchants across assortment of both foreign and domestic, drop ship and warehoused for 3 product families.
• Partnered with cross-functional leaders to establish new product launch schedule to “digital first” Established process and metrics for cost negotiation processes, strategic vendor partnerships
• Manage merger of Environments with Discount School Supply brand through strategic assortment review, categorization and redefinition of proprietary brands
• Built Digital and Print Marketing strategy to support both Infant & Toddler, Active Play, Dramatic Play and the Curriculum business.

Monterey, CA

• Managed team of merchants across assortment of both foreign and domestic products warehoused and drop ship. Executed and coached sku rationalization processes, cost negation and vendor management for Curriculum and.
• Project leader for Curriculum initiative extending into new customer base by building team of merchants, product developers and teachers to curate open market assortment as well as innovation in proprietary products
• Identify core business segments for growth through sales, market trend, and historical data to create high-level merchandising strategy to achieve company goals
• Lead weekly planning meetings for buying group. Schedule progress, timelines for buying team to meet deadlines.

• Responsible for merchandising and product selection for Arts & Crafts business segments for catalog and web business.
• Analyze sales data, competitors and trends to determine sub-categories for growth
• Select, set up and present new product selections to management
• Independently design and development new proprietary products to build brand
• Negotiate price, minimum order quantities and availability of goods in accordance with catalog deadlines and purchasing requirements
• Promote proprietary Arts & Crafts brand through marketing messages in catalog and website

• Managed financial plan, open-to-buy, class buy plans, store allocation of goods and inventory flow of moderate missy coats and outerwear business for 48 store locations, in 3 regions.
• Managed prioritization and task assignments to associate buyer and merchandising assistant
• Updated weekly financials for 3 regions based on business trends
• Created financial plans based on historical data by classification and region
• Conducted market research by investigating competitive offerings, trend publications and vendor recommendations to educate myself on market trends
• Partnered with key vendors and product development team to create proprietary offerings

• Supported Mainstream Moderate Sportswear Buyer by allocating and issuing purchase orders, generating historical reports, preparing buying tools and communicating buying vision. Responsible for product selection and.
• Issued and communicated purchase orders to vendors and tracked shipping
• Determined delivery dates by store based on historical data
• Merchandise schematics by location partnering with merchandise managers
• Created biweekly inventory stock balance on collections to maximize sell thru
• Collected data to support product selection such as bottom/tops ratio, sizing and color

• Executed buying vision for mid-west and southern regions through in-store merchandising visits and coached department managers on practices to maximize sales productivity.
• Conducted in-store visits executing daily remerchandising of sales floor
• Coached department managers to review and analyze sales data to determine best sellers
• Trained managers on best practices for merchandising to promote multiple selling
• Identified and communicated to buyers products for reorder and stock balance
• Provided guidance for inventory organization of back stock and floor restocking plan