I am a passionate retail leader with over 12 years buying experience for both E-comm and brick and mortar stores. I have unique and diverse blend of experience buying for multiple categories such as character and sports licensing, toys, print on demand apparel, crafts, home, and office. I have a proven track record for driving results through trend spotting, creative vendor funded promotions, inventory management, and cost negotiations. I am excited about environments where I am empowered to drive meaningful change, help develop talent, and build strong relationships both internally and externally.
· Maintain a deep understanding of the retail market and industry trends to identify potential business opportunities and stay ahead of the competition
· Develop and implement a comprehensive training program for junior buyers to enhance their product knowledge, negotiation skills, and market analysis capabilities
· Develop and implement a pricing strategy that maximizes profitability and maintains a competitive edge in the market
· Identify new market trends and opportunities to enhance product offerings and drive customer engagement
· Provide strategic guidance to the senior management team on retail market trends, competitor analysis, and potential business opportunities that align with the company's objectives and goals
· Lead cross-functional teams to develop and execute strategic initiatives that drive growth and profitability in the retail market
· Coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery of merchandise and resolve any issues related to product quality, availability, or pricing.
· Collaborated with the merchandise planning team to analyze sales data and identify trends and patterns to make data-driven recommendations for product assortment and pricing at Big Lots
· Stay informed about industry trends and competitor activities to identify potential opportunities and threats for Big Lots
· Collaborate with the merchandising team to design and implement visual merchandising strategies that enhance the overall shopping experience at Big Lots
· Developed and implemented training programs for new sales associates to improve product knowledge and customer service skills
· Implemented customer loyalty program to increase repeat business
· Identified and implemented process improvements to increase department efficiency and reduce costs
· Developed and implemented strategies to increase customer engagement and drive sales in the Point of View department
· Collaborated with the marketing team to develop and execute strategies to increase brand awareness and drive customer traffic to the department
· Managed inventory levels and ensured proper stock replenishment to meet customer demands
· Developed and executed a talent acquisition strategy for the Point of View department to ensure a diverse and qualified workforce