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.• Successfully executed the merger of merchandising and product data systems in multiple M&A activities, demonstrating adaptability and strategic execution.• Played a pivotal role in integrating the company's products with the Amazon platform, orchestrating a seamless process for product, asset, and copy optimization to expand the organization's reach.• Implemented strategies to drive Amazon sales growth, optimizing revenue and cultivating key relationships with leaders. Actively engaged in new product development and onboarding initiatives to collaborate and build partnerships.

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 Infant & Toddler categories. • 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• Resource key product segments for improved quality, pricing and minimum order quantities• Provide direction and approve ideal product photography for Arts & Crafts items• Lead buyer for key vendors by organizing new product meetings and yearly cost negotiations• Create and maintain product categories to clearly represent business segments for company reporting• Partner with internal manufacturing to create proprietary paint products and quality measures• Selected to attend and present at tradeshows, product knowledge sessions and national sales meetings • Execute special projects and present to CEO, COO and Vice President of Merchandising• Archive and document item specifications on proprietary product from foreign suppliers • Coordinate with Quality Assurance and manufacturing on product testing and labeling• Partner with graphics and suppliers to design proprietary product packaging to support brand initiatives and shipping requirements• Utilize historical data to capitalize on seasonal business and specialty catalogs• Decorate and create photography samples to communicate use and age appropriateness of Arts & Crafts products

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• Allocated and adjusted regional inventory levels based on sales trends and seasonality in geographical areas• Created masks for like stores based on historical data by size, color and weather patterns• Monitored weekly sell thru to identify reorder opportunities, stock balances and exit strategy of goods by region and location• Negotiated terms and pricing for sale promotions, marketing materials and late purchase orders• Managed cancelation or shifting of outstanding purchase orders based on company initiatives• Created and communicated merchandising vision seasonally to Merchandising Managers and key Department Managers • Organized product knowledge sessions with vendor participation seasonally in key stores• Communicated item maintenance issues, stock balances, shipping summaries to various departments• Identified high buy times by month and week to properly allocate inventory and promotions• Hand selected special new store buys and participated in opening schematics

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 management of sweater and Liz Claiborne sportswear categories for mid-west region.• 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• Created product knowledge packets and assisted buyer in creating buying vision • Tracked competitor markdowns for Liz Claiborne to attain vendor compensation• Partnered with buyer to identify trends by location and create promotions• Presented products for clearance to buyer and communicated store level execution• Created biweekly inventory stock balance on collections to maximize sell thru• Merchandise schematics by location partnering with department and merchandising managers• Addressed store level requests, special orders and promotions from store management• Created shipping log and managed process for merchandising assistant

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• Created process for managers to execute markdowns, organize inventory and goal setting