Performance-driven Marketing/Product Brand Manager eager to contribute

extensive talents toward supporting a dynamic company in maximizing market penetration, business development, and revenue results.

 

 

Conceptualize, orchestrate, and execute highly creative marketing strategies to strengthen brand name recognition and awareness. Actively analyze industry, competitive companies, emerging products, and market trends to plan strategies, effectively promote products, and devise appropriate marketing plans.  Adept at procurement, eCommerce, shipping logistics, market research and analysis, forecasting, visual merchandising, budget administration, and driving cohesive and collaborative efforts among cross-functional and cross-cultural teams.  Highly skilled in team building and leadership; train, develop, motivate and direct personnel, consistently focusing on client satisfaction.

 

Selected Achievements:

 

         Grew monthly profitability by 10% for The Ford Group by introducing new product categories to be sold to large corporate accounts.

         Led $15M private label portfolio to rank at #25 out of 1,800 brands company wide at Zappos.com

         Increased sales revenue for Zappos.com by 30-40% annually.

         Presented with TRIFECTA Award in 2008 for surpassing prior year s sales and inventory goals.

         Innovatively designed two new private label brands at Zappos.com from start to finish consisting of juniors footwear, ladies contemporary apparel, handbags, swimwear and sleepwear.

         Consistently achieved and sustained high gross margins at Zappos.com of between 65-70% markup.

         Increased department sales at Stein Mart by 20% through considerable talents in staff training and leadership, a constant eye on delivering top-notch customer service, and adeptness in visual merchandising.    

 

 

The Ford Group Inc.,  Houston, Texas,  2010 to Present

Corporate Buyer, Merchandising (Hard & Soft Lines)

         Spearhead merchandising functions for $10M annual wholesale company which buys for large corporate accounts such as Costco and Sam s Club.

         Demonstrate exemplary organizational skills in creating regular sales plans, monitoring quality of all product lines, maintaining strong vendor relationships, and negotiating pricing to maximize profitability.

         Proactively attend trade shows and host quarterly buyers meetings in Las Vegas and Hawaii.

         Implement and coordinate bold, new palletization programs for handbags, hats and scarfs to be merchandised on large retailers sales floors.

 

ShopItUPchic.com, Austin, Texas, 2000 to 2010

Co-Owner / Marketing Manager

         Co-launched and operated online apparel boutique offering purchase and rental options; authored and executed company s business plan, contributed to design of retail and rental website layout, and oversaw personnel hiring, training and supervision.

 

Continued

 

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Professional Experience continued

 

         Steered full spectrum of marketing operations inclusive of Constant Contact® email campaigns, Facebook ads, blogs on Word Press, daily messages on Twitter, and Google Analytics.

         Elevated brand awareness through posters, trade show involvement, charity events, and college seminars.

         Planned and decisively bought all product buys, managed pricing and markdowns, wrote product descriptions, photographed merchandise, and updated new items to website.

 

Zappos.com, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2006 to 2008

Associate Buyer C Product Development         

         Managed development of new in-house products and proficiently analyzed sales history, projected future buys, and diligently tracked product performance.

         Authored comprehensive sales plans, managed seasonal buys, and shopped broad domestic and international markets for brand assortments.

         Leveraged significant analytical abilities to conduct market research and trend forecasting, define pricing, select packaging, and advance brand awareness initiatives.

         Project-managed brand concept development efforts from initial stages through to final completion.

         Trained and mentored merchandising assistants and assistant buyers, while exercising sharp communication skills to negotiate pricing with vendors.

         Successfully revitalized failing private label brand by realigning focus and integrating new profitable categories.

         Proactively attended trade shows and conducted factory visits in China, Italy, Vietnam and Brazil.

 

Stein Mart, Brookfield, WI, 2005 to 2006

Ladies Wear Merchandising Manager  

• Hired, trained, coached, motivated, scheduled and managed 12 sales associates.
• Arranged visually-appealing merchandise displays to entice customers and grow sales.

 

Prior background includes role as Merchandise Assistant, Bon-Ton Corporate, Milwaukee, WI; Store Manager Intern, Prada, Chicago, IL; Public Relations/Marketing Intern, Saks Fifth Ave, Chicago, IL, and various roles as Office Manager, Visual Merchandiser, Event/Charity Coordinator and Sales Associate.

 

 

Bachelor s Degree, Business Administration, Columbia College Chicago,  2005

Concentration in Merchandising Management

         Dean s Honor List Award

         Phi Eta Sigma Honor Scholar

         Delta Phi Epsilon Academic Excellence Scholar

         National Honor Society Scholar

         National Dean s List Scholar

 

 

• Women Thrive Worldwide C Charity Host
• Latino Alliance C Public Relations Chair
• Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority C Scholarship Chair & Public Relations Board Member
• Columbia College Minority Mentor Program C Mentor