Benita Cole
Beaverton,OR
Summary
Strategic Merchant with a decade of industry experience, including five years at Nike and a current focus on global kids’ apparel. Skilled in assortment planning, data analysis, and cross-functional teamwork, I leverage market insights to guide strategy and optimize product portfolios—driving Nike’s brand forward through analytics, compelling storytelling, and a strong commitment to diversity.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Merchant, Global Kids Apparel (Football & Basketball)
Nike
04.2024 - Current
- Led seasonal strategy and assortment planning for Kids Football and Basketball, delivering 15% year-over-year growth in product assortment through simplification and novelty strategies.
- Developed and executed consumer-right assortment strategies using historical data, analytics, and real-time market feedback to optimize in-season and future season performance.
- Drove go-to-market strategy for high-profile collaborations, including LEGO x Nike and Signature + PE launches, leveraging consumer insights and brand storytelling.
- Collaborated with cross-functional partners to deliver end-to-end product offerings, balancing multi-season management of innovative franchises.
- Influenced product adoption and assortment decisions through marketplace insights, competitive analysis, and athlete feedback.
Merchant II, Global Kids Apparel
Nike
03.2021 - 05.2024
- Independently managed $133M (FY24) Kids Tees business and grew revenue by 3%.
- Launched dashboard tools to enhance visibility and decision-making across the merchandising team.
- Managed all data resources for line planning and color, ensuring alignment with global and geo feedback.
- Fostered an inclusive, agile, and solution-oriented team environment, onboarding and coaching all levels of merchants.
Assistant Buyer, Tabletop
Kroger
01.2019 - 03.2021
- Managed $16M paper dinnerware category and supported $97M assortment planning.
- Led vendor communications, inventory management, and advertising initiatives.
Independent Sales Rep
Keena Co
01.2017 - 06.2018
- Managed 20+ vendor accounts and 200+ customer accounts.
- Drove sales strategy, product recommendations, and customer relationship management.
Buyer & Store Manager
Ruby Blue
08.2015 - 06.2017
- Negotiated product costs, managed 80+ vendor accounts, and generated sales trend reports.
Assistant Manager
American Apparel
04.2014 - 08.2015
- Set daily sales targets, analyzed retail sales, and led sales team performance.
Education
Fashion Merchandising
Kent State University
Kent, OHSkills
- Assortment planning
- Merchandising strategies
- Product lifecycle management
- Data analytics
- Cross-functional collaboration
Accomplishments
Led high-impact launches across Kids Sport and Global Football, including Aja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, LEGO x Nike, Nike United, and Haaland. Drove consumer-right strategies and cross-functional alignment, leveraging athlete storytelling, market insights, and brand partnerships to deliver compelling assortments that elevated engagement and performance across key categories.
Timeline
Senior Merchant, Global Kids Apparel (Football & Basketball)
Nike
04.2024 - Current
Merchant II, Global Kids Apparel
Nike
03.2021 - 05.2024
Assistant Buyer, Tabletop
Kroger
01.2019 - 03.2021
Independent Sales Rep
Keena Co
01.2017 - 06.2018
Buyer & Store Manager
Ruby Blue
08.2015 - 06.2017
Assistant Manager
American Apparel
04.2014 - 08.2015
Fashion Merchandising
Kent State University
Awards & Recognition
Merch U: Retail Math SME, MAXIM: 2023, Create the Future of Sport Q3: 2022, Kids Choice Award, Milestone Award 2022