Experience

Sea New York

• United States
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Sales & Merchandising

  • Jun 2022 - Present

  New York, New York, United States



Breathwork with Melissa

• Breathwork Facilitator

  • Jun 2022 - Present

  Brooklyn, NY www.breathworkwithmelissa.com I am trained under Erin Telford & David Elliott and will receive my certification in July 2023. For more information, check out my website!



[BLANKNYC]

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Merchandising

  • Nov 2017 - Mar 2021

  New York, NY •Create and implement seasonal line plans for ten monthly deliveries outlining classification/style/SKU detail in order to achieve overall yearly business strategies; manage all aspects of special development requests from all retailers • Manage the merchandise & product development calendar and ensure key milestones are met by all cross functional teams • Organize & oversee all orders from accounts to place seasonal cuts with production within calendar deadlines • Provide competitive… Show more •Create and implement seasonal line plans for ten monthly deliveries outlining classification/style/SKU detail in order to achieve overall yearly business strategies; manage all aspects of special development requests from all retailers • Manage the merchandise & product development calendar and ensure key milestones are met by all cross functional teams • Organize & oversee all orders from accounts to place seasonal cuts with production within calendar deadlines • Provide competitive market analysis & trend opportunities to design team in order to maximize sales potential • Identify and recommend new business opportunities to drive future growth. Communicate regular selling updates to all cross functional members & lead monthly meetings recapping best and worst sellers • Participate in financial planning meetings with VP of Sales and own all aspects of pricing each delivery to ensure optimal performance against sales & margin • Attend all tradeshows, vendor appointments & meetings to identify sales opportunities through new products, trends and competitive strategies • Attend weekly fit sessions with tech, production & design to identify and constructively communicate any issues affecting delivery or quality & intent of each product is maintained • Style & attend all look book photoshoots to ensure key items & top booked styles per delivery are featured • Manage logistics of our third-party operated website –stock levels, promotional activity, layout of site and manage issues with our brand rep Show less



TOPSHOP TOPMAN

• United Kingdom
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• US Product & Trend Manager

  • Jun 2016 - Nov 2017

  New York, New York • Implement & own US Buying Calendar taking into consideration key trading events within the US market as well as identifying growth areas while working with the UK team on developing the right product mix by region • Attend regular store walk thrus to ensure brand identity is captured, standards are maintained & product opportunities are met • Source new suppliers in the US & South America to develop product specific and appropriate for the US market • Analyze US competition and… Show more • Implement & own US Buying Calendar taking into consideration key trading events within the US market as well as identifying growth areas while working with the UK team on developing the right product mix by region • Attend regular store walk thrus to ensure brand identity is captured, standards are maintained & product opportunities are met • Source new suppliers in the US & South America to develop product specific and appropriate for the US market • Analyze US competition and update UK team regularly on pricing risk & opportunities, product strengths & opportunities and promotional activity • Analyze aspirational competition highlighting product ideas & samples, new boutiques, pop-ups & launches as well as local trends & social events • Source relevant brands and concessions that support Topshop product strategy to drive traffic to local stores • Manage relationships with National clothing concessions & brands negotiating terms, commission, staffing agreements and ensure high standards of product offer • Travel monthly to store locations outside of NYC as well as to the UK four times a year for product reviews Show less



Barneys New York

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buyer Women's Developing Designer RTW, Swim & Lingerie

  • Apr 2013 - Jun 2016

  New York, NY • Oversee Women's Vince, Helmut Lang, ATM, Outerwear, Swim, Sleep & Lingerie departments determining assortment needs for each market and make recommendations based on specific business trends • Collaborate with planning to identify growth opportunity within successful businesses and propose receipt budgets and sales potential for each season • Propose line plans to vendors on exclusive style/capsule opportunities based on each business need to maximize sales and best selling… Show more • Oversee Women's Vince, Helmut Lang, ATM, Outerwear, Swim, Sleep & Lingerie departments determining assortment needs for each market and make recommendations based on specific business trends • Collaborate with planning to identify growth opportunity within successful businesses and propose receipt budgets and sales potential for each season • Propose line plans to vendors on exclusive style/capsule opportunities based on each business need to maximize sales and best selling classifications • Analyze classification & size selling across all vendors and identify opportunity to grow the business and scale back on low sell thru findings • Track all PO’s on delivery log & project receipt flows, sales and markdowns for monthly OTB meetings in order to track inventory levels for the beginning and end of each season • Negotiate swaps, discounts on late goods, RTV’s & markdown allowance for EOS in order to achieve fiscal season plan metrics (sales, markdown rate, gross margin & IMU) • Work closely with fashion office to choose seasonal mailer looks and propose digital brand look books to drive sales, while negotiating vendor contribution based on total cost purchases • Work closely with the E Commerce, Visuals, Planning, Marketing, Distribution Center, Public Relations and Store Ops • Oversee and mentor a team compromised of two assistant buyers • Schedule seasonal product knowledge clinics with all brands managed to educate the sales associates Show less



Erin Fetherston

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Account Executive

  • Apr 2012 - Apr 2013

  New York, NY • Manage & grow distribution of major department stores, Anthropologie & Bhldn totaling 65% of the total company sales • Analyze selling reports weekly & manage stock inventory to determine RTVs or swaps to maximize profitability • Project & quantify cut quantities and define size breaks for production to maximize re-order business • Analyze profitability reports monthly and capitalize on any opportunities to achieve gross margin plan at end of season • Lead merchandising meetings… Show more • Manage & grow distribution of major department stores, Anthropologie & Bhldn totaling 65% of the total company sales • Analyze selling reports weekly & manage stock inventory to determine RTVs or swaps to maximize profitability • Project & quantify cut quantities and define size breaks for production to maximize re-order business • Analyze profitability reports monthly and capitalize on any opportunities to achieve gross margin plan at end of season • Lead merchandising meetings with design & create line plans to guide them in designing a balanced assortment • Oversee all off-price accounts and negotiate discounts, units & delivery for off season goods • Create and maintain OTB for erinfetherston.com while partnering with E-commerce manager to merchandise and develop product display for the website Show less



Urban Outfitters

• United States
• Apparel & Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Buyer Dresses & Rompers

  • Mar 2011 - Apr 2012

  Philadelphia, PA • Partner with in-house design team on both a collection based calendar and chase product in reaction to strong sales • Directly develop product with multiple outside vendors; Identify trends that pertain to UO aesthetic, receive and comment on all samples and adhere to tight development and delivery calendar • Develop effective, collaborative and beneficial relationships with key vendors and internal cross functional colleagues while negotiating all prices, shipping terms &… Show more • Partner with in-house design team on both a collection based calendar and chase product in reaction to strong sales • Directly develop product with multiple outside vendors; Identify trends that pertain to UO aesthetic, receive and comment on all samples and adhere to tight development and delivery calendar • Develop effective, collaborative and beneficial relationships with key vendors and internal cross functional colleagues while negotiating all prices, shipping terms & discounts • Partner with marketing team to identify key dress styles to be featured in monthly email to drive sales, test new ideas and enhance the brand image • Work directly with web stylists to ensure product is represented accurately and commercially Show less



Barneys New York

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Sr. Assistant Buyer- Denim & Denim Collections; Assistant Buyer-Contemporary Dept & Collections

  • Jun 2008 - Feb 2011

  New York, NY • Updated and maintained delivery log & OTB on a weekly basis as well as maintain & project MD’s • Analyzed weekly sales reports; called out bestsellers to enable re-orders to be placed • Processed & initiated all returns to vendors, consignment orders and transfers to maximize business • Negotiated swaps and discounts in season with vendors to maximize profitability



Club Monaco

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Allocator/Distribution Analyst

  • Jan 2008 - Jun 2008

  New York, NY • Analyzed sales by style/color/size, store performance and warehouse/store inventory levels to replenish merchandise optimally as well as proactively react to business • Drove recommendations/strategies for initial purchases and assortments that affected future collections and re-allocations in order to achieve sales plan • Supervised and approved initial inventory releases of the Women’s’ division; ensuring consistent and profitable in season replenishment strategies; communicated… Show more • Analyzed sales by style/color/size, store performance and warehouse/store inventory levels to replenish merchandise optimally as well as proactively react to business • Drove recommendations/strategies for initial purchases and assortments that affected future collections and re-allocations in order to achieve sales plan • Supervised and approved initial inventory releases of the Women’s’ division; ensuring consistent and profitable in season replenishment strategies; communicated monthly to CEO • Owned departmental purchase order receipt tracking for incoming goods; identified late merchandise and worked alongside visual to expedite merchandise Show less



Scoop NYC

• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Buying Assistant

  • Feb 2007 - Jan 2008

  New York, NY • Processed orders for R-T-W buyer; distributed merchandise once received; followed up with vendor for order status • Updated & maintained on-order spreadsheet on a daily basis with new orders and orders received • Generated multiple reports for all buyers; sent sell thru report to vendors • Analyzed bestseller report and suggested transfers/re-orders to buyer • Responsible for purchase order entry, modification, and cancellation & communication with DC on all receiving



Urban Outfitters

• United States
• Apparel & Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buying Intern-Houseware

  • May 2004 - Jun 2004