Ashley Knuth

Own 65% of the total department store business (~$28M annual volume) across full-price and off-price channels, delivering double-digit year-over-year sell-in growth in comparable doors.

• Lead and inspire: Direct a nationwide team of 10 market specialists and one account executive for concept store and off-price channels to drive revenue, elevate brand presentation, and deliver on strategic growth targets.
• Seasonal Strategy: Orchestrate domestic and international market appointments, and biannual end-of-season negotiations to secure favorable terms, optimize inventory, and position for successful seasonal transitions.
• Account Growth: Expand market share with Bloomingdale’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew, and SSENSE, while sustaining strong relationships with the past luxury portfolio, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Moda Operandi, Nordstrom Rack, and Saks Off Fifth.
• Revenue Innovation: Launched the Nordstrom drop-ship program and spearheaded in-season trunk shows, each delivering $1M in incremental sales.
• Cross-Functional Impact: Partner with Trade Marketing, Finance, Brand Management, and Customer Service to align commercial objectives, close budget gaps, and capitalize on market opportunities.
• Data-Driven Leadership: Present weekly forecasts and in-depth sales analysis to senior leadership, and work with the VP of Sales on annual budget planning and market strategy.

Account Manager – Macy’s and East Coast Franchise Stores. Managed full P&L for Macy’s ($10M total volume) and nine East Coast franchise locations, driving budget creation and attainment quarterly.

• Led all business operations for Macy’s, including developing a successful diffusion line with Product Development that represented 50% of total Macy’s business with G-Star RAW.
• I served as the Retail Account Manager for G-Star monobrand stores in Colombia, and managed specialty accounts, including Amazon, Lord & Taylor, Saks, and East Coast specialty stores.
• Traveled quarterly to franchise locations to deliver product knowledge seminars and train store staff on current collections, enhancing in-store expertise and sales effectiveness.
• Collaborated closely with sales teams to merchandise product assortments strategically for major accounts and liaised with HQ to identify and address assortment gaps.
• Monitored weekly sales performance and ensured timely delivery execution, proactively managing swaps and replacements to minimize inventory fallout and protect revenue.

Owned end-to-end account management for Nordstrom (missy, petite, women’s), Von Maur, and Dillard’s Special Size business; supported Dillard’s Missy segment with total portfolio exceeding $20M.

• Analyzed sales data to identify growth opportunities and recommended new products, consistently meeting or exceeding seasonal sales targets.
• Launched and managed a Direct-to-Customer drop-ship program for Nordstrom, boosting business by 25% within 6 months.
• Coached and supervised 2 assistants, fostering team development and efficiency.
• Directed all vendor photo shoots, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality imagery to support ecommerce platforms across accounts.
• Managed additional key accounts including Zappos.com, Gilt.com, RueLaLa.com, JCPenney, Steinmart, Century 21, and Boscovs.

Supported the launch of the M60 Miss Sixty Dresses division to key accounts including Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Belk, Dillard’s, and Von Maur.

• Delivered all market week presentations and guided accounts on seasonal style selections, ensuring timely follow-up on deliverables.
• Monitored inventory and sell-through using A2000 system, successfully liquidating excess stock via flash sales and off-price channels at season end.
• Created cutting tickets and collaborated with production teams to price the line, achieving management’s targeted margins.

Played an integral role in launching the Jill Jill Stuart dress collection to Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Belk.

• Prepared and distributed weekly sales reports for multiple divisions, conducted trend research, and maintained updated line sheets and showroom tickets.
• Served as Project Assistant on Chico’s Private Label account, coordinating with design and production teams.
• Managed fabric vendor relations by scheduling appointments, securing samples and fabric data, and facilitating communication between design and production to ensure timely delivery of materials.