Taylor Conklin Email and Phone Number

• Identify trends within department and recommend actions to exceed sales and margin plan• Assist Buyer to develop merchandise assortments that best match customers' needs in marketplace• Develop, execute, and assist Buyer with category experience resets and line reviews to improve assortments, merchandising standards and digital execution• Strong Communication skills• Negotiations with vendors on availability, product specs, distribution, delivery deadlines and price are fundamental aspects of the job geared towards maximizing the company's profits and surpassing margin goals• Partner with Planning team• Communicate with Product Development, Marketing Department, Stores and vendors to provide information and problem solve• Travel to store locations to review product mix, merchandising, obtain feedback, and share information to the buying team• Develop business analysis• Analyze market (domestic) and provide observations of market to Buyer• Identify and recommend new products or business opportunities• Investigate and respond to field issues• Perform and manage administrative functions as needed

•Accurately maintain systems, assortment sheets and planograms for specific categories•Complete merchandise set up process - inputting all data, metrics and any attribute information into systems and assortment sheets•Generate and distribute all weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly sales reports•Create and maintain specialized reporting as necessary•Manage the sample process to support planogram category and marketing related requests•Communicate and collaborate with operations business partners on any merchandise related tasks•Assist in category presentation prep work (i.e. create style boards, line packets, marketing material and other information as necessary)•Adhere to product lifecycle calendar deadlines•Participate in competitive research and help identify trends and product opportunities for future assortments•Develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of cross-functional teams (Visual, Marketing, Data Management, Planning)•Manage and maintain communications with vendors

• Generate daily/weekly sales & merchandise reporting from data warehouse•Review and direct distribution process for incoming and replenishment merchandise.•Optimize inventory placement by reviewing daily/weekly reports.•Develop and maintain effective working relationships with members of cross-functional team (e.g. Allocation Managers, Planners, Merchants) to strategize and execute correct flow of merchandise into our retail stores.•Participate in meetings concerning flow of merchandise issues; including disposition of poor selling items, short or late shipments and items that are selling better than expected.•Maintain automatic replenishment models; identify any discrepancies on a monthly basis; ensure proper merchandise assortment by store.•Analysis projects.

· Responsible for purchase order entry and updates. Receive order information from Merchant and enter into Ross PO system in an accurate and timely fashion. Keep track of and communicate status of upcoming POs.· Meet departmental standards for quality, quantity and turn time expectations.· Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) maintenance. Add/delete SKU's as needed for reorder system. · Input designated SKUs for markdown into appropriate merchandising system, as directed by Merchants.· Produce an on-going set of weekly reports (e.g. On Order Report, Item Sales Report, Sales Recaps) as well as ad hoc business reports as directed by Merchants.· Work closely with Merchants to gain and maintain understanding of specified business area via frequent touchbases, including key vendors, UDAs, trends, preferred report formats, etc.· Use Excel to complete appropriate assignments in an accurate and timely fashion.· Demonstrate professional behavior consistent with Ross Stores, Inc. code of conduct at all times and in all forms of communication.· Prioritize multiple responsibilities to ensure all deadlines are met, and resolve any issues in a timely manner by partnering with appropriate business partner(s).