BRIDGET NAUGHTON

Highlights: Lead the recovery of the Men’s Heavy Knits category with outsized growth YOY, finishing 2024 with sales +5% to last year and +18% to
forecast, compared to total UO brand sales -13% to LY and -5% to forecast.

• Develop and execute compelling merchandise assortment strategy each season based on market and selling trends that will achieve financial targets
• Present seasonal style-outs and buy strategy meetings to executive leadership team
• Utilize reports to monitor and analyze inventory levels, sell-through rates, and other key performance indicators
• Shop domestic and international market to check current trends and identify chase opportunities
• Partner with planning and allocation teams to develop and implement inventory optimization strategies to maximize sales and minimize excess stock
• Own financial elements of the business including OTB, IMU, inventory flow, markdowns, and promotions
• Work proactively with the Production team to ensure that manufacturing limitations are considered while pushing expectations of quality, lead time and price/value
• Collaborate with store and web merchandising team to ensure seamless integration of buying strategies across digital and in-store shopping experiences
• Train, manage, and delegate daily responsibilities to Assistant Buyer and Buying Assistant.

Highlights: Grew denim business to be top performing Women's Apparel category for FY22, driving 30% of total sales.

• Develop and execute comprehensive seasonal own-brand merchandise assortment strategy and present to Senior Buyer and GMM
• Ensure key fashion trends are well represented in assortment and test new emerging ideas for selling viability
• Analyze weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales, attribute performance, stock, and on-order to optimize sales, identify opportunities, and minimize markdowns
• Manage OTB, markdowns, and inventory flow
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with cross-functional teams, market and third-party vendors
• Conduct in-season and post-season analysis to better evaluate business
• Communicate best/worst sellers, business opportunities and successes to buying leadership and design partners
• Work with merchandising teams to develop strong presentations in-store and online that communicate key trends and ideas for the season
• Organize monthly meetings with web merchandising and studio teams to highlight online product wins and opportunities
• Manage and delegate daily responsibilities to Assistant Buyer and Buying Assistant

• Work with buyers and DMM to develop seasonal assortment and give feedback regularly on product during all style out and product related meetings
• Support daily operations within designated classes, prioritizing and reacting with sense of urgency to the requests of buying leadership and other cross-functional partners
• Demonstrate understanding of UO target customer and select appropriate styles that will appeal to that customer
• Provide ad hoc statistical reports to Buyers and DMM's upon request
• Maintain accurate buysheets, seasonal assortment documents, and other excel reports as needed
• Manage own brand, market, and third-party branded samples and ensure all samples are organized
• Entering, updating, managing, and tracking all purchase orders to ensure timely delivery and communicating any delays, issues, or RTV's, etc

• Oversee accounts within the advanced contemporary and luxury apparel and accessory space.
• Conduct all market appointments and manage all account follow-up post market
• Maintain and expand strong client relationships with luxury, department, specialty, and international accounts
• Identify opportunities for growth and offer reorders and swaps to minimize any RTV's.
• Provide feedback and sales analysis of current business through weekly and seasonal data reports
• Prospect new clients and develop sales strategy based on client needs

• Grew women's specialty account business by cultivating relationships with existing wholesale accounts, new account prospecting, setting appointments, presenting collections during market, and conducting all account follow-up post market
• Analyze sales and inventory reports to manage inventory levels and coordinate with internal teams to ensure accurate order fulfillment, and identify sales opportunities
• Oversee merchandising for department store accounts, routinely visit stores to ensure accurate displays, monitor inventory, and maintain overall brand identity in doors