Senior Manager, Merchandise Planning

• Jun 2022 - Present

Senior Planning Manager II

• Feb 2018 - Jan 2021

• Acting Director of Planning, working alongside Omni leaders in Supply Chain, Merchandising, Marketing, and Finance to provide strategic direction and advocacy, responsible for compiling and analyzing department business metrics and presenting to executive teams for the multi-billion dollar Hardlines eCommerce division.• Head of Planning, leading Planners and Merchants in driving sales, profit, and inventory for an over $750M multi-department, multi-channel uber department.• Partnered with Finance and Merchandising leadership to develop annual budgets and forecasts, working with teams to identify and execute levers needed to exceed open-to-buy (OTB) and P&L targets.• Directed monthly OTB (equivalent to S&OP) meetings, guiding Planning and Buying teams to have accurate and attainable forecasts for all sales, profit, and inventory metrics.• Managed selection, performance, and development for the team, while driving engagement.• Collaborated in establishing and analyzing KPI’s and reported out regularly on performance, leading monthly and quarterly hindsight’s for the business.• Provided development opportunities, guidance, and drove engagement for direct reports and cross-functional teams by training, mentoring, assigning duties, and building a team-based, positive work environment. Show less

Planning Manager

• Feb 2017 - Feb 2018

• Lead Planning and cross functional teams to exceed sales, profit, and inventory targets for a multi-department, multi-channel uber department.• Owned projections for department and category-level forecasts, aligning with cross-functional teams. Managed monthly OTB meetings on department business drivers, opportunities, and key action plans.• Worked with cross-functional teams to create and develop financial forecasts and plans, while determining inventory purchase amounts.• Supported department P&L review while conducting ad hoc analysis as needed to ensure the team reached all sales and profit targets.• Provided timely direction and feedback to direct reports to foster fluid communication, skill development, and performance improvements as needed. Show less

Senior Demand Planner

• Jan 2015 - Feb 2017

• Maintained and executed financial plans for complex merchandise categories by building partnerships with cross-functional associates; prepared, revised, and monitored category, seasonal buy plans, and merchandise line review financial reports; developed item buys; conducted analyses to identify business drivers and levers; and developed and presented financial recommendations to the team.• Supported and managed department P&L’s by forecasting key financial metrics; calculated and adjusted annual, monthly, weekly, and daily financial projections against actual results; conducted financial analyses, and prepared reports to understand and explain business trends and performance.• Drove the execution of multiple business plans and projects by identifying customer and operational needs; developed and communicated business plans and priorities while being adaptable and supporting continuous learning.• Maintained inventory plans by ensuring forecasts were current and accurate; managed markdown budgets.• Leveraged resources and talent to achieve business goals; monitored associate performance and provided constructive feedback and coaching that was honest, accurate, and timely; provided learning opportunities, guidance, and support in the development of associates. • Collaborated with and participated in vendor meetings, negotiations, and joint business plans/partnerships. Supported merchant with supplier negotiations by providing relevant financial inputs and highlighting risks. Show less

Merchandise Planner

• May 2012 - Jan 2015

• Prepared, maintained and executed financial plans for merchandise categories, including OTB, annual budgets, daily sales and margin forecasts, seasonal buy plans, and line-reviews; developed and presented financial recommendations to the team. • Maintained inventory plans at the department and item levels, while managing markdowns to budget; partnered with buyers and vendors to take actions and ensure instock levels remained optimal for both the customers and operations teams.• Identified and applied sound, fact-based criteria when setting priorities and making decisions. Using business measures and analyses to identify improvement opportunities. Show less

Control Buyer, Retail Stores

• Aug 2009 - Apr 2012

• Plan sales, receipts and exit strategies, taking into account marketing channels: in store feature exposure, catalog exposure, email marketing campaigns, technique classes, contests and promotions.• Collaborate with Merchandising to compose annual, monthly and weekly sales metrics including regular & markdown sales volumes, MMU%, AUR, inventory targets (BOM’s), turn, etc.• Report on key financial metrics and interpret the results to understand trends and craft appropriate responses to the business.• Control inventory to exceed fulfillment, inventory turn and margin goals while minimizing overstocks.• Re-forecast sales demand and adjust orders in-season to react to sales and business trends.• Manage direct reports and train new Control Buyers.• Utilize cross-functional team meetings to communicate developments and opportunities based on a thorough understanding of financial performance. • Manage expiration of food skus in the DC as well as in stores. Show less

Assistant Control Buyer, E-Commerce

• Jan 2008 - Jul 2009

• Write, confirm and track production, shipping and receiving for PO’s on behalf of five online and catalog departments. Planning responsibilities for two.• Review & analyze departmental business to identify issues pertaining to budget or product exposure• Review backorder reports & allocate inventory to fill backorders per customer expectations• Compose and distribute weekly/monthly/yearly sales analysis to vendors• Manage direct-ship orders and contracts with vendors, merchants and call center. Show less

Inventory Control Manager

• Aug 2005 - Oct 2007

• Purchase and track all new equipment from Volvo and other vendors • Manage all inventory for California’s six Volvo CE branches • Create and maintain database and physical files for all units • Report all weekly activity and sales to Volvo • Verify and process invoices for all units and freight • Submit all sales to be financed for sale and lease • Negotiate and book inbound & outbound freight for machines and parts • Purchase and track all new equipment from Volvo and other vendors • Manage all inventory for California’s six Volvo CE branches • Create and maintain database and physical files for all units • Report all weekly activity and sales to Volvo • Verify and process invoices for all units and freight • Submit all sales to be financed for sale and lease • Negotiate and book inbound & outbound freight for machines and parts