Ashly Olson
Hilton Head Island,SC
Summary
Senior Purchasing Manager with extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar procurement operations. Proven strategic planner with a strong record in relationship management, inventory control, and contract negotiation. Expertise in fostering team collaboration and enhancing merchandising strategies to drive profitability and improve customer satisfaction.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchandise Manager
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Hilton Head Island, SC
11.2021 - Current
- Formulated and executed merchandise strategies resulting in sales increase exceeding $400,000 since start date while preserving margins of 40% or better.
- Coordinated quarterly inventory counts across 8 retail locations to maintain accuracy.
Established schedules to optimize efficiency in inventory management processes.
Managed data entry for physical inventories, ensuring records remained precise.
Assisted in identifying discrepancies and problem items during audit procedures. - Negotiated with vendors to obtain favorable terms, pricing, and delivery schedules.
- Analyzed financial data such as profit margins and cost analysis reports in order to make informed decisions about purchasing activities.
- Identified areas of improvement within the current inventory system in order to streamline processes.
- Reviewed vendor performance metrics such as on-time delivery rate and quality control measures to ensure compliance with company standards.
- Created structured protocols for ordering, stocking, merchandising, and displaying products, maintaining high visual standards in all retail locations on property.
- Designed floor layouts, product displays and shelving layouts to maximize sales and influence customer purchasing habits.
- Implemented merchandising software for effective product oversight and insightful reporting.
Acted as property super user for inventory control and POS software, driving optimal usage.
Conducted detailed analyses to support strategic decision-making in product management. - Guided the layout and organization of merchandise in-store, optimizing space for product visibility and customer flow.
- Identified and addressed performance issues within the merchandising team, implementing solutions to improve efficiency.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging innovation and best practices in merchandising operations.
- Managed merchandise assortments, ensuring a balanced and appealing mix of products that meet customer demands.
- Executed multiple projects simultaneously, coordinating, and prioritizing tasks.
- Used historical and current business data to determine key buying trends and items.
- Implemented inventory control procedures to reduce shrinkage and improve stock accuracy.
- Reviewed supply levels and aging inventory to forecast purchasing needs.
- Led initiative for new purchasing protocol proposal and implementation.
BUYER/Retail Store Sales Manager
The Club at Grandezza
Estero, FL
10.2019 - 11.2021
- Facilitate re-development of store environment aligned with Grandezza private club lifestyle.
- Formulate and regulate open to buy budget reaching $127,000 for wholesale transactions.
- Executed precise monthly inventories, maintaining shrinkage below 1% of on-hand inventory.
- Received and inventoried incoming merchandise promptly, ensuring optimal selling opportunities for items.
- Provide exceptional customer service by performing retail manager duties, as well as limited golf professional duties, to efficiently service membership and their guests.
- Formulated merchandising philosophy and annual buying strategy to optimize merchandise mix and inventory levels.
Achieved gross merchandise sales of $170,000, exceeding prior year’s performance.
Enhanced profit margins by 25% through strategic purchasing decisions. - Manage the day-to-day operations of the Pro Shop, including, but not limited to, operational functions, staffing, scheduling, and inventory needs.
- Trained, supervised, and developed Pro Shop staff in accordance with Club policies.
- Craft and implement engaging merchandise displays consistently, incorporating store layout and lighting specifications.
- Engaged 350 full golf members through tailored email and social media communications.
Disseminated shop information via multiple channels to maximize member awareness. - Ability to demonstrate sales drive and results orientation by taking action, related to maximizing store performance and profitability.
- Capable of functioning autonomously and collaboratively in team environments.
Merchandise Manager
PGA Golf Club
Port Saint Lucie, FL
10.2013 - 10.2018
- Managed $506,000 in wholesale buying dollars for PGA Golf Club and related facilities.
Scheduled and attended all buying appointments, ensuring timely order placements.
Wrote and submitted all purchase orders to streamline procurement processes.
Served as head buyer and led merchandise department operations. - Achieved gross merchandise sales of $1,118,118 year to date for previous fiscal year.
Surpassed prior year's sales by over $105,000.
Projected increase in sales at current fiscal year's end based on trending data. - Coordinate, execute, and oversee quarterly inventory counts across 3 retail locations, consistently reporting shrink figures below 1% at each facility each quarter
- Sustain average turnover rate of 2.5 while achieving 57% COGS
- Maintained and updated data inventory management console
- Oversee all Special Orders amounting to $175,000 annually.
- Contributed to organization of largest member events, achieving net sales exceeding $97,000.
- Supervise and mentor stockroom coordinator and merchandise coordinator as direct reports.
- Establish merchandise standards and instruct Golf Professionals on managing monthly inventory fill-ins, acquiring product knowledge, and overseeing special orders specific to each property.
- Create and oversee visually compelling displays across all 3 retail locations.
- Coordinate annual schedule of events focusing on individual merchandise promotions, upcoming member promotions, and trunk shows.
- Establish and manage enduring connections with 1,025 PGA golf club members and PGA professionals.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Retail Management
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX05-2012
Skills
- Inventory management
- Data analysis
- Visual merchandising
- Process improvement
- Sales forecasting
- Team leadership
- Customer service
- Project management
- Employee training
- Invoicing and billing
- Purchase order management
- Database management
- MS Excel
- Returns, shipping, processing
- Deadline management
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Verbal and written communication
- Negotiation skills
Accomplishments
- Association of Golf Merchandisers platinum award recipient multiple consecutive years
- Merchandiser of the year 2 consecutive years
- Mobil five star and AAA five diamond property.
Affiliations
- Collaboration with like minded professionals
- Continued education and training
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Merchandise Manager
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
11.2021 - Current
BUYER/Retail Store Sales Manager
The Club at Grandezza
10.2019 - 11.2021
Merchandise Manager
PGA Golf Club
10.2013 - 10.2018
Bachelor of Science - Retail Management
Texas Tech University
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