CHRISTINA VAROZ WARD
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE,WA
Summary
Experienced merchandiser with an entrepreneurial spirit, highly motivated with experience in analytics and building relationships. Seeking to find a career that will be challenging, satisfy curiosity and always thinking of the customer first.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Assortment Planner-Hosiery & Legwear
Nordstrom
07.2023 - Current
- Reconcile merchandise financial, supplier and assortment plans ensuring it captures key product and customer strategies and are achievable
- Direct the analysis and use of information to improve the depth and precision of the buy
- Manage and direct inventory management in season; ensuring effective decision making around analysis, markdowns, claims, re-orders, etc
- Partner with buyers and other cross functional partners on business reviews, open-to-buy management and plan revisions to achieve financial goals and strategic objectives
Interim Associate Buyer
Nordstrom
09.2024 - 12.2024
- Monitored inventory levels to ensure optimal stock availability.
- Assisted in developing purchasing strategies to streamline procurement processes.
- Studied and monitored market trends to identify potential suppliers.
- Improved vendor relationships by maintaining regular communication and resolving disputes.
- Mentored assistant team, providing guidance on best practices and professional development opportunities.
- Analyzed market trends to identify potential opportunities for new product acquisitions.
Senior Strategy Associate CCS (Customer Category Strategy)
Nordstrom & Rack
05.2022 - 07.2023
- Generate insights and recommendations about the breadth and depth of apparel, footwear, and accessories we offer to best serve Nordstrom & Rack customers
- Deliver project management support to merchants partnering with cross-functional teams to bring new assortment strategies and retail concepts to life
- Provide leadership and creative problem-solving skills for tackling complex, often ambiguous challenges that will have a lasting impact on Nordstrom’s ability to offer the right product, in the right place, at the right time for every customer
- Partner with Merchandising executives to recommend timelines and deliverables for initiatives that are determining the next best action for our organization to take results
- Synthesize analyses and recommendations into materials that can be shared with company executives, partner stakeholders, and the teams executing on the strategies your work has informed
Replenishment Buyer (RPA)
Nordstrom & Rack
01.2020 - 05.2022
- Supports merchant team strategy and executes by deploying the accurate inventory by store location
- Creates financial plans and goals to maximize total results
- Drives item performance through the planning and ordering with Oracle Replenishment systems
- Performs effective analysis and decision making to improve replenishment sales and inventory results
Interim Ecommerce Buy Planner Beauty
Nordstrom Rack
07.2019 - 01.2020
- Plan and drive $65 Million Demand for online by class and supplier
- Drive analysis for Demand, fill rate, returns and back orders through strategic analysis
- Improve depth in-stocks and build customer choices by using Style and Color analysis platforms
- Build relationships with suppliers to greater understand online business impacts through weekly touch bases
Assistant Buy Planner Home/ Tech & Beauty/ Fragrance
Nordstrom Rack
11.2016 - 07.2019
- Execute seasonal merchandise strategies, through optimal distributing with JDA and art influence
- Partnered with Assistant Buyers & Allocation Teams to successfully distribute merchandise based on sales and store inventory needs
- Led in season business by overseeing inventory releases, merchandise flow and overall store performance
- Assistant to multiple Depts and Divisions; $160M responsibility
- Increased Kitchen RP assortment to10-17 customer choices, resulting in $1M gain over LY
Assistant Buyer Boys Sportswear
Nordstrom
06.2013 - 11.2016
- Built compelling core and extended assortment to maximize potential across store clusters, new stores, and online
- Providing business insights and contributing to total sales volume, gross margin and relative targets
- Developed an understanding of the needs, wants and expectations of the customer and understand the differences in how they shop their channel
- Curated and grew surf skate assortment from8 locations to75 locations, picking up $1M in sales
NW Regional Manager Kids’ Shoes
Nordstrom
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Influenced product and customer choices in14 stores by relaying customer feedback and shopping habits
- Teaching division specific selling, growth development of Managers and Team members
- Promoted10 out of14 Managers and6 salespeople to assistant manager
- Executed Division and seasonal specific merchandising standards by creating store displays
Department Manager -Shoes
Nordstrom
01.2006 - 01.2011
- Buyer and vendor communication, competitive shopping, hiring and interviewing best talent
- Planned and executed monthly events
- Merchandiser and communicator to buying office
- Volume responsibility; $2M, $4.5M, $8.5M
Education
Apparel & Merchandising
Colorado State University
Skills
- Problem Solver
- Project Management
- Vendor negotiation
- Team Player
- Team collaboration
- Event Planning
- Data analysis
- Recruiting and interviewing
- Strategic thinking
- Excel
- Relationship building
- PowerPoint
- JDA Allocation
- Quantrix User
- Mural & Jira User
Accomplishments
H1 2024 Trailblazer Award APT Project & SME Team
DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION & BELONGING
WiN Women in Nordstrom DEIB Co-Chair 2023
COURSES
- Communicating Persuasively & Building Trust, Ivey Business School
- Leading with Courage, Ivey Business School
Women in Nordstrom Co-Chair
- Serves as the primary point of contact for the ERG in partnership with the Network Lead
- Leads with inclusion and is an advocate for the employee body being served
- Curates and leads inclusive events that promotes community
Timeline
Interim Associate Buyer
Nordstrom
09.2024 - 12.2024
Associate Assortment Planner-Hosiery & Legwear
Nordstrom
07.2023 - Current
Senior Strategy Associate CCS (Customer Category Strategy)
Nordstrom & Rack
05.2022 - 07.2023
Replenishment Buyer (RPA)
Nordstrom & Rack
01.2020 - 05.2022
Interim Ecommerce Buy Planner Beauty
Nordstrom Rack
07.2019 - 01.2020
Assistant Buy Planner Home/ Tech & Beauty/ Fragrance
Nordstrom Rack
11.2016 - 07.2019
Assistant Buyer Boys Sportswear
Nordstrom
06.2013 - 11.2016
NW Regional Manager Kids’ Shoes
Nordstrom
01.2011 - 01.2013
Department Manager -Shoes
Nordstrom
01.2006 - 01.2011
Apparel & Merchandising
Colorado State University
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