Alicia Smith
Orange,TX
Summary
Results-driven Purchasing and Merchandising Professional with 15+ years of experience in corporate retail and supply chain operations. Proven track record in vendor negotiation, strategic sourcing, inventory optimization, and cross-functional collaboration. Adept at identifying cost-saving opportunities, enhancing vendor relationships, and driving profitability. Currently pursuing a bachelor’s in business administration, demonstrating commitment to continued professional growth.
Experienced with product planning and vendor management. Utilizes strategic thinking to optimize sales and inventory levels. Track record of effective communication and collaboration within cross-functional teams.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Merchant
Lowe’s Pro Supply
05.2023 - Current
- Manage categories with a combined worth of 20 million.
- Increased sales year over year.
- Lead product selection, pricing, and promotion strategies for assigned category groups.
- Analyze market and internal trends to inform assortment decisions and product lifecycle management.
- Negotiate terms with suppliers, aligning business goals with cost savings and service level agreements.
- Collaborate across purchasing, marketing, and logistics to execute product line strategies.
- Optimized pricing strategies to maximize profitability while remaining competitive in the market.
- Improved inventory turnover by implementing data-driven assortment planning and allocation strategies.
Buyer
Lowe’s Pro Supply
01.2022 - 06.2023
- Managed full-cycle purchasing, including sourcing, negotiation, order management, and vendor performance tracking.
- Collaborated with merchants on inventory issues and/or late shipments.
- Analyzed inventory KPIs such as turns, fill rate, and out-of-stock trends to drive replenishment strategy.
- Brought out-of-stock rates on my categories up to 97% and 98% in stock.
- Partnered with suppliers to resolve delivery and quality issues, improving supply continuity.
- Ensured data accuracy in product setup and purchasing documentation.
- Managed one of the largest overseas vendors with a value of 5 million, including tracking port arrivals and delays during COVID.
Buyer I
SCI Corporate Office
11.2019 - 01.2022
- Managed the cremation side of the business, including urns, jewelry, and space flights. Multi-million dollar business.
- Developed and executed merchandising strategies tied to corporate sales goals.
- Maintained vendor scorecards and conducted performance evaluations to enhance supplier reliability.
- Conducted data-driven assessments of costs, pricing, and stock-to-sales ratios.
- Supported department planning through replenishment analysis and lifecycle management.
- Assisted locations with Coupa ordering and created new standard operating procedures.
- Yielded calls from the field during transition, averaging 50-100 a day.
Assistant Buyer – Apparel
Academy Sports + Outdoors Corporate
11.2016 - 08.2019
- Managed multi-million dollar seasonal business.
- Supported Category Manager in product selection, vendor negotiation, and promotional planning.
- Forecasted demand, determined initial order quantities, and placed bulk and replenishment orders.
- Collaborated with internal teams on in-stock management, assortment reviews, and visual merchandising strategies.
Merchandising Specialist
Impact Areas
09.2011 - 11.2016
- Designed and executed cross-functional store presentations to align with marketing campaigns.
- Leveraged historical sales data and market insights to inform floor planning and category prioritization.
- Organized cross-functional staff members to discuss upcoming promotions, key strategies, and tasks.
Sr. Merchandising Coordinator
Apparel
01.2009 - 09.2011
- Managed inventory and production of over 3,000 unique visual merchandising assets across locations.
- Partnered with space planning and marketing teams to support national rollouts and seasonal resets.
- Inspected merchandise for quality and arranged proper display location on floor.
- Collaborated with vendors to secure optimal pricing, delivery schedules, and promotional support.
- Maintained open lines of communication between vendors, buyers, store managers, ensuring proper inventory levels at all times while minimizing backorders or excess stock issues.
Assistant Media Buyer
Academy Sports + Outdoors
01.2007 - 10.2008
- Coordinated media buys and direct mail campaigns across 70+ markets.
- Analyzed campaign effectiveness and ROI, presenting data-driven recommendations to leadership.
- Assisted in the creation of client presentations highlighting key insights from campaign data analysis.
- Evaluated new media channels for potential inclusion in client campaigns based on target audience alignment and budget considerations.
- Continuously updated knowledge of industry trends and best practices through ongoing professional development activities such as webinars, conferences, and workshops.
- Streamlined media buying process, resulting in increased efficiency and cost savings for the department.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration – Management
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT09.2025
Skills
- Oracle RMS / RPM
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access)
- SQL MicroStrategy (ABI)
- Adobe Creative Suite Outlook Lotus Notes
- Merchandising strategies
- Pricing strategy
- Marketing coordination
- E-commerce management
- Category management
- Negotiation expertise
Core Competencies
- Vendor & Supplier Negotiation
- Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
- Inventory & Demand Planning
- Cost Reduction & Margin Optimization
- Cross-functional Team Collaboration
- Contract Management & Compliance
- Category & Assortment Planning
- Data Analysis & Forecasting
- ERP Systems (Oracle RMS/RPM, SQL)
Timeline
Associate Merchant
Lowe’s Pro Supply
05.2023 - Current
Buyer
Lowe’s Pro Supply
01.2022 - 06.2023
Buyer I
SCI Corporate Office
11.2019 - 01.2022
Assistant Buyer – Apparel
Academy Sports + Outdoors Corporate
11.2016 - 08.2019
Merchandising Specialist
Impact Areas
09.2011 - 11.2016
Sr. Merchandising Coordinator
Apparel
01.2009 - 09.2011
Assistant Media Buyer
Academy Sports + Outdoors
01.2007 - 10.2008
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration – Management
Western Governors University
Similar Profiles
Terry MullanTerry Mullan
Project Support Representative at Lowes Pro SupplyProject Support Representative at Lowes Pro Supply
Jessa DeCarloJessa DeCarlo
Project Support Customer Service Representative at Maintenance Supply HQ/Lowe's Pro SupplyProject Support Customer Service Representative at Maintenance Supply HQ/Lowe's Pro Supply
TONNY WLEHTONNY WLEH
Sanitation Worker at Pro Cleaning SupplySanitation Worker at Pro Cleaning Supply
Landrey FleetwoodLandrey Fleetwood
Paramedic at Republic EMSParamedic at Republic EMS
Amber McGillAmber McGill
Paraprofessional at Orangefield ISDParaprofessional at Orangefield ISD