Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Caylie O'Connell

Brooklyn,NY
Caylie O'Connell

Summary

Driven and dedicated team player with over eight years of wholesale and planning experience eager for a challenging new growth opportunity. Collaborative, organized and result-driven. Proven history turning hindsight data analysis into future growth in sales and profit.

Overview

10
years of professional experience

Work History

FRENCH CONNECTION

Director of Wholesale & Planning
09.2022 - Current

Job overview

  • Manage team of 17 over Planning, Visual Merchandising and Department Store, Specialty, Off Price Sales departments.
  • Foster partnerships with customers and community. Resolve problems with high-profile customers to establish long-term business growth.
  • Collaborate with upper management to set short and long-term sales and inventory goals. Implement continuous improvements and increase operational efficiencies so goals are achievable.
  • Drive monthly touch points across entire department to capitalize on hits, remedy misses and ensure team is tracking to meet or exceed sales goals.
  • Hold one-on-one meetings with sales team members to identify selling hurdles and offered insight into best remedy.
  • Mentor each team member to promote positive feedback and engagement.

FRENCH CONNECTION

Merchandise Planning Manager
07.2022 - 09.2022

Job overview

  • Identified risks and established opportunities to drive growth and increase profit via effective inventory management.
  • Generated sales reports and used data to adjust acquisition, assortment and allocation suggestions for each wholesale account.
  • Coordinated with retail partner planners to predict receipt needs each season and recommended distribution plans and location-based markdown and chase strategies.
  • Created sales projections and adjusted purchase plans to maximize sell-in opportunity while limiting inventory liability.
  • Collaborated with London wholesale, retail and design leads to create seasonal range plans that optimized design efficiency while creating singular point of view that met both markets' needs.

FRENCH CONNECTION

Sr Account Executive, Women's Department Stores
12.2017 - 07.2021

Job overview

  • Managed Bloomingdale's, Macy's and Dillard's accounts; a combined $10 million annual gross shipping volume. Previously Nordstrom, Saks Off 5th, Belk and Von Maur.
  • Worked to meet or exceed annual shipping projections while maintaining each account's profit margin goal and minimizing dilution.
  • Maximized e-com sales and inventory liquidation via drop ship management.
  • Analyzed hindsight data to identify trend drivers, misses and opportunities. Drove product solutions via findings on productivity by location, classification and SKU.
  • Developed tiered merchandise assortment plan for each account, including SKU count and class penetration recommendations for each season.
  • Organically improved account profitability by injecting high-markup special make-ups into assortments.

FRENCH CONNECTION

Account Executive, Off Price & Special Programs
02.2016 - 12.2017

Job overview

  • Worked to meet or exceed annual shipping projection and profit margin goal on past seasons' sell-off.
  • Worked directly with finance team to project short and long-range inventory liquidation and gross shipping budget.
  • Worked with CFO and Warehouse Manager to reconcile inventory levels vs. LY and plan reserves accordingly.
  • Collaborated with merchandising team on special make-ups, balancing product quality with profitability and monitoring critical path to ensure monthly deliveries shipped on time.
  • Tracked comparative bookings for all accounts to annual projection for both off price and special programs.
  • Set actionable goals and forged plans to maintain/grow sales volume and profit.

FRENCH CONNECTION

Wholesale Assistant, Department Stores
11.2014 - 02.2016

Job overview

  • Assisted on Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus accounts.
  • Was responsible for weekly selling analysis, including hits and misses, potential re-orders or inventory clogs for RTV.
  • Worked with merchandising team on critical path to ensure goods reached warehouse in ahead of shipping deadlines.
  • Facilitated seamless EDI process and monitored warehouse activity to ensure orders shipped on time.
  • Kept in constant contact with regional field team to ensure store relationships were well-maintained and visuals were on-brand and properly merchandised by monthly delivery and promo status.
  • Coordinated markdown and POS strategies to drive sales while remaining profitable and strategically in line with FC retail and other department stores.

SGN GROUP

Wholesale & Emerging Brands Specialist
06.2013 - 11.2014

Job overview

  • Representative for: STRENESSE, Twin-Set and Sarah Flint in evolving multi-line showroom
  • Maintained relationships with major department stores and top national specialty accounts to build momentum for emerging European brands in American Market
  • Compiled detailed analyses of each brand's competitive value in their respective markets: gold range and contemporary ready-to-wear, designer footwear.

Education

University of Delaware

Bachelor of Science from Fashion Merchandising, Journalism
05.2013

Skills

  • Business Strategy Development and Planning
  • Sales & Growth Strategies Implementation
  • Financial Reporting & Profit Analysis
  • Client Relationship-Building & Needs Assessments
  • Executive Leadership & Team-Building
  • Market Research & Competitive Analysis

Timeline

Director of Wholesale & Planning

FRENCH CONNECTION
09.2022 - Current

Merchandise Planning Manager

FRENCH CONNECTION
07.2022 - 09.2022

Sr Account Executive, Women's Department Stores

FRENCH CONNECTION
12.2017 - 07.2021

Account Executive, Off Price & Special Programs

FRENCH CONNECTION
02.2016 - 12.2017

Wholesale Assistant, Department Stores

FRENCH CONNECTION
11.2014 - 02.2016

Wholesale & Emerging Brands Specialist

SGN GROUP
06.2013 - 11.2014

University of Delaware

Bachelor of Science from Fashion Merchandising, Journalism
Caylie O'Connell