Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Celeste Italiano

Stamford,CT

Summary

Highly motivated planning professional with 7+ years’ experience planning multiple categories, involving both seasonal product and cash& carry, along with core product across multiple brands. Unique strategic approach is informed by attention to detail of the customer experience. High level of enthusiasm working with many cross functional teams to ensure the financial success of the products by analyzing large subsets of data to maximize sales and margin along with optimizing inventory. Highly analytical and versatile team player with the ability to present and communicate ideas effectively. 5 years’ experience specializing in bedroom/ home furniture and decor. Proven to manage component to multiple warehouses to maintain in stock and minimize backorders.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience

Work History

Manager, Merchandise Planning

Gorilla Commerce
10.2023 - Current
  • Develop and implement merchandise strategies to drive sales and align with company goals for 35 parents or 500+ SKUs
  • Manage inventory levels to optimize stock, reduce excess, and prevent stockouts.
  • Create and adjust sales forecasts based on data and market trends.
  • Collaborate with buying, marketing, and e-commerce teams for cohesive strategies.
  • Oversee the monthly OTB forecasting process, setting departmental goals to identify sales trends and opportunities for future quarters. Validate stock-to-sales ratios and optimize receipt flow to improve inventory turnover.
  • Generate and present performance reports to Founder/CEO & CFO

Demand Planner

Henkel Consumer Products
01.2023 - 09.2023
  • Analyzed key metrics against objectives to support forecast accuracy.
  • Generated various forecast views to facilitate cross-functional communication.
  • Collaborated with replenishment planners, retail support and business partners to achieve key performance indicators.
  • Reviewed promo quantities and forecast accuracy.
  • Reviewed modeling exceptions related to price and associated data issues.
  • Identified and reconciled forecast exceptions and adjusted forecasts according to new data.
  • Defined targets in alignment with company KPIs and developed continuous improvement strategies.
  • Summarized raw data and analyses and made recommendations based on findings.

Product Planner

Callisto Media
08.2021 - 11.2022
  • Managed all-range planning, revenue forecasting, plus created the Bottoms Up Product Forecasts for the Amazon domestic business for 3000+ Active SKUs of printed content in Hardcover, Softcover and Flashcard formats across 10+ subject matter portfolios
  • Improved Demand Forecast Accuracy by an average of 10% points monthly for the past 6 months
  • Continuous Improvement of the Bottoms Up Forecasting tool to help further refine forecasts through updating Seasonal Curves, Addition of Product Attributes (Publication Cohort, AMZ Replenishment Status, Key Search Phrase, Subject Matter, etc.), Expansion of the Planning Horizon from 12-month to 24-month, Title Clustering & Statistical Lifecycle Data within Portfolio Lifecycles, Incorporation of Title-Level & Portfolio/Cohort level historical POS type (AMS vs Organic) to forecast total POS
  • Creation & Implementation of a Quarterly Post-Mortem & Future Business Outlook Meeting (with analysis) for Senior Product, Sales & Operations Leadership stakeholders

Merchandise Planner

Design Within Reach
09.2018 - 08.2021
  • Managed pre-season merchandise targets and plans that aligned with the company's objectives, buying strategy, and business trends
  • Collaborated with planners to develop solid merchandise plans that supports the corporate and merchant vision and financial goals
  • Managed open-to-buy process and in-season sales trends
  • Work with planners to recommend promotional pricing, manage inventory, and margin-maximizing liquidation strategies
  • Presented strategies at Weekly/Monthly business review to ensure the executive team+ senior management teams were aware of current trends/ inventory positions
  • Ensured the merchandise strategies are financially and operationally sound
  • Drove key inventory initiatives to maximize volume and profitability by collaborating with multiple cross-functional teams, including digital, marketing, and operations.

Assistant Merchandise Planner

Design Within Reach
12.2016 - 09.2018

Merchandise Planning Coordinator

Design Within Reach
12.2016 - 12.2016

Marketing Liaison

Bloomingdales
08.2015 - 09.2016
  • Manage sample life cycle from communicating with vendors, tracking and receiving all samples and maintaining accurate inventory
  • Produce product information tags for sample turn-ins, including features, benefits and product copy
  • Attend turn-in meetings
  • Create lead sheets (list of products categorized by look) that will be uploaded to the website.

Education

Bachelors - Fashion Merchandising

LIM COLLEGE
New York, NY
05.2014

Skills

  • Project Management
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Data and Trend Forecasting
  • Problem-Solving
  • Detail-Oriented
  • Pricing Analysis
  • Team Leadership
  • Industry Trends

Timeline

Manager, Merchandise Planning

Gorilla Commerce
10.2023 - Current

Demand Planner

Henkel Consumer Products
01.2023 - 09.2023

Product Planner

Callisto Media
08.2021 - 11.2022

Merchandise Planner

Design Within Reach
09.2018 - 08.2021

Assistant Merchandise Planner

Design Within Reach
12.2016 - 09.2018

Merchandise Planning Coordinator

Design Within Reach
12.2016 - 12.2016

Marketing Liaison

Bloomingdales
08.2015 - 09.2016

Bachelors - Fashion Merchandising

LIM COLLEGE

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Celeste Italiano