AMY DJERF
Senior Buyer
Southlake,Texas
Summary
Results-oriented Senior Buyer with a proven track record of managing profitable growth and reimagining core product lines across a 1,400-store retail network. Expert in identifying emerging market trends and translating social insights into high-demand product assortments that drive sales and capture market share. Strategic leader of high-performing teams (8+ merchants), dedicated to accelerating speed-to-market and engineering creative, data-driven solutions for complex product lifecycles. Highly praised for a proactive approach to problem-solving, financial acumen, and the consistent delivery of high-impact business objectives in fast-paced, competitive environments.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Buyer, Celebrations
MICHAELS
Irving, TX
01.2016 - Current
- Orchestrated a speed-to-market offensive to gain a competitive advantage in the Celebrations category; managed a dedicated team and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver a $90M sales lift and $350M in total annual revenue
- Championed several unified seasonal assortments across merchant teams, balancing the success of legacy categories with the introduction of new assortments based on market trends and customer demand
- Collaborated cross-functionally with Trend, Design, and Product Development to launch market-leading collections that drove a 14% increase in seasonal sales
- Partnered with Sourcing to optimize the vendor matrix, ensuring high-quality production and on-time delivery while exceeding margin targets
VP, Merchandising of Aaron Brothers
MICHAELS
Irving, TX
09.2012 - 01.2016
- Directed the end-to-end merchandising, sourcing, and product development strategy for Aaron Brothers, a $115M specialty division of The Michaels Companies, leading a high-impact team across a 100+ store fleet
- Led the strategic rollout of new product classifications, including Home Décor and a scaled Kids & Tweens assortment, to enhance portfolio variety and customer engagement, delivering 17% sales growth
- Collaborated on the end-to-end execution of two prototype concepts, analyzing varied merchandising and service frameworks to optimize the customer journey
- Boosted inventory turns by 11% through aggressive assortment rationalization and strategic promotional levers to maximize sales
- Served as Treasurer, Michaels CARES Internal Employee Assistance Program designed to aid our associates in times of need
Category Director, Custom Framing
MICHAELS
Irving, TX
11.2008 - 09.2012
- Directed a high-growth roadmap for the flagship category that delivered 40% market share gains while the broader market trended downward by 20%, securing its position as the top-performing business unit with significant YOY growth.
- Collaborated on a cross-functional omnichannel marketing roadmap, optimizing campaign performance to achieve a 64% lift in response metrics.
- Pioneered the 'No Frame Shop Left Behind' initiative, partnering with store operations on targeted performance management to drive a $1.8M incremental sales lift.
- Spearheaded the business roadmap and cross-functional integration of a custom framing visualization platform, translating complex customer needs into a high-conversion digital tool that modernized the retail experience
- Selected as a 'High Potential' (HiPo) leader to help architect the company’s long-range strategic plan, directly influencing the company-wide roadmap and future organizational direction
Senior Merchant
OFFICE DEPOT
Boca Raton, FL
06.2001 - 10.2008
- Managed a $575M+ business enterprise, driving sales growth across 1,200 retail stores, contract divisions, and e-commerce channels
- Transformed Private Brand from a secondary offering into a primary growth driver, successfully capturing market share from national brands and significantly increasing category profitability
- Led end-to-end line reviews to curate high-performance assortments, ensuring a balance of profitability, inventory turn, and a premium customer experience
- Participated in a large-scale global tender for private brand categories, collaborating with international country managers to leverage enterprise-wide scale and optimize COGS
Education
Bachelor of Science - Textile and Consumer Sciences, Merchandising
The Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida05-2001
Skills
Business strategy
Decision-making
Analytical thinking
People management
Teamwork and collaboration
Creativity and innovation
Verbal and written communication
Supplier relationship management
Certification
Complete Skilled Negotiator course from the GAP Partnership
Timeline
Senior Buyer, Celebrations
MICHAELS
01.2016 - Current
VP, Merchandising of Aaron Brothers
MICHAELS
09.2012 - 01.2016
Category Director, Custom Framing
MICHAELS
11.2008 - 09.2012
Senior Merchant
OFFICE DEPOT
06.2001 - 10.2008
Bachelor of Science - Textile and Consumer Sciences, Merchandising
The Florida State University