Carla J. Rathmann
Muscoda,WI
Summary
Career retail merchant with experience with major department store and omnichannel experience, spanning a broad spectrum of apparel, houseware and casegood product categories. Skilled in business strategy, financial planning, assortment planning, buying, budgeting, financials, open to buy, supply chain management and currently pursuing an MBA. Seeking a remote buyer or planning role.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr Planner, Women's Knit & Woven Tops, Sweaters
Lands' End
01.2018 - Current
- Building and growing the DTC Women's Tops area worth $180m Annually from the bottoms up and balancing to tops down.
- Planning and Forecasting using Oracle APIP and other data sources to the lowest level to proactively action opportunities and challenges within the area. Creates financial plans and manages the Open to Buy.
- Partners with Merchants to execute the units buys and manage in season sales.
- Part of the APIP Sustainment team as SME's that drive changes to systems and processes.
- Involved with roll out of the O9 solutions for Demand Forecasting and Replenishment as the Planner representative on the team.
- Direct Manager of an Inventory Planner and Inventory Analyst
- Creates financial plans and manages the Open to Buy.
- Partners with Merchants to execute the units buys and manage in season sales.
- Moved from brick and mortar to omnichannel responsibility for a publicly-traded apparel brand and retailer.
Senior Retail Planner – Kids
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
06.2018 - 11.2019
- Progressively increasing responsibility for multiple product categories for a major department store chain. Also served as Innovation and Creativity Chair on the Corporate Culture Steering Committee. Appointed Optimization Project Manager, partnering with an outside consultant agency to propose, develop, and training the organization with new Merchandising solutions. Documented process changes and created a Merchandising playbook.
- Jan 2001 - June 2018
Planner
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
01.2016 - 06.2018
- Transferred to Retail Planner for Girls 2-16 after performing the planning role for Clinique, Lancôme, Cosmeceuticals, and Beauty Station.
- Develop and execute financial plans for both core and fashion merchandise.
- Manage the open to buy, vendor partnerships, key item plans and unit forecasts.
- Coach and mentor Assistant Planner and Associate Merchant. Also involved with the training of Executive Trainees and mentoring position ready prep programs.
Merchant and Marketing Systems Support Manager
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Responsible for development, support, and training of multiple merchant systems including Promotional Planning and Management- outside software that drives the advertising process.
- Managed Ladders, an internally-developed program that plans, reports and projects unit based programs at the weekly level.
- Other programs & systems supported and managed were Assortment Planning, Sample Management, and our Purchase Order Log.
- Partnered with HR to fast track onboard new hires and develop/train merchant classes to 300 plus employees.
Buyer
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
01.2001 - 01.2011
- Buyer, Tabletop and Decorative Housewares
- Refocused assortment and created a financial strategy to reduce liability of aged and discontinued merchandise. Created an advertising cadence to properly present merchandise and support financial plans. Rebuilt and reenergized vendor relationships. Directly responsible for 4 employees and collaborated with 4 planning partners.
- Buyer, Casegoods Furniture
- Successfully adapted traditional merchandising concepts to the furniture area that had been under the same buyer for 38 years. Upgraded all reporting, assortment plans, and advertising materials. Drove Sales and margin of emerging business opportunities to exceed goals set.
- Associate Buyer, Hosiery/Legwear/Casual Footwear
- Established and maintained vendor relationships. Created an advertising strategy to drive seasonal sales and margin. Managed all functions of buying and planning of the area.
- Assistant Buyer, Fashion Bedding and Sleepwear
- Provided assistance to the buyer of both areas. Successfully managed pricing decisions and entry, advertising copy and merchandise, established vendor relations, and bought segments of merchandise.
Assistant Buyer
Colders Furniture
01.1992 - 01.2001
Education
Master of Business Administration - Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha, WI01.2025
BFA - Music Education
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI06.1992
Skills
Business strategy, financial planning, assortment planning, buying, budgeting, financials, open to buy, supply chain management and currently pursuing an MBA
Affiliations
- Lions International
Timeline
Senior Retail Planner – Kids
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
06.2018 - 11.2019
Sr Planner, Women's Knit & Woven Tops, Sweaters
Lands' End
01.2018 - Current
Planner
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
01.2016 - 06.2018
Merchant and Marketing Systems Support Manager
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2016
Buyer
The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.
01.2001 - 01.2011
Assistant Buyer
Colders Furniture
01.1992 - 01.2001
Master of Business Administration - Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
BFA - Music Education
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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