Merchandise Planning Manager

• Apr 2022 - Present

Senior Demand Planner

• Jul 2021 - Mar 2022

Forecasting/planning/purchasing for world leader in gymnastics apparel manufacturing and outfitter for 2020 Team USA Olympic gymnasts• Forecast, procure, and manage inventory for thousands of athletic apparel/accessories skus• Partner with Sales, Product Line Managers, Logistics, and Finance to recommend and plan production and finished goods purchasing• Actively participate in open-to-buy process• Create and analyze reports of sales trends, open orders, KPI’s and performance against budget Show less

Sales/Inventory Analyst

• Aug 2020 - Jul 2021

Supported inside/outside sales teams at leading swimwear manufacturer of brands including Ralph Lauren, Miraclesuit, and Reebok, to maximize sales volume, fill rates, and on-time delivery • Processed EDI orders through Blue Cherry ERP and Threadvine/B2B E-Commerce portal • Ensured order integrity through review of pricing, inventory, ship windows, and appropriate prioritization • Problem-solved inventory shortages, delay of goods, pricing, and terms discrepancies • Participated in division/brand sales planning • Prepared and analyzed reports of allocation, order status, and selling • Communicated daily with domestic and international warehouse teams; created work orders for transfer of goods and value-added work • Assisted in development of SOP and improved processes for new 3PL in Amsterdam • Strengthened key partnerships and knowledge of compliance requirements with major accounts, such as Ralph Lauren Corp., Macy’s, Walmart, Zulily, as well as international accounts (European distributors, Canada, and Mexico) Show less

Planner/Allocator

• 2011 - 2020

Developed and implemented planning and inventory strategies for the Peeps and Company® retail group (brick-and-mortar stores, E-commerce) to optimize sales, profit, and inventory position • Forecasted and planned candy and merchandise assortments; generated/monitored all internal and external purchase orders; developed vendor relationships • Replenished stores at optimum service levels; monitored/reported sales, traffic, and inventory KPIs • Achieved sell-through rates averaging 95% with accurate forecasting/ordering and customer-centric retail and branding promotions • Directed logistics and warehouse teams daily regarding receiving, stock movement, e-commerce fulfillment, and cycle counting • Problem-solved inventory shortage and excess, delivery delays, invoice issues, budget constraints, and shrink on daily basis • Performed comprehensive price audit of candy offerings and recommended pricing/promotional strategies for category sales growth of 15% • Managed database of 7,000 SKUs and recognized as system “super-user” • Received numerous performance awards for contributions to the business Show less

Institutional Researcher

• 1991 - 2011

Analyzed and reported market and institutional data to drive planning and administrative decisions • Compiled and presented student data, trends, research findings to faculty, staff, management, and Board • Prepared enrollment projections and action plans for Strategic Planning & Marketing Committees • Oversaw college’s internal and external research initiatives; designed and conducted surveys for data insights to enhance student experience and curriculum design • Researched demographic, economic, and industry trends; conducted and reported economic impact study Show less