Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

CLARISSA GAFRARAR

Canal Winchester

Summary

Obtain a challenging position in a customer-oriented organization that will utilize my skills in Marketing and Merchandising to achieve business success.

Over20 years of diversified experience within retail business. Excellent communication and organizational skills. Extensive training in customer relations. Teamwork, reliability, and attention to detail are my traits. High point of sales and growth within a quality company are constant goals.


Overview

31
31
years of professional experience

Work History

Associate Buyer – Christmas and Spring Holidays

Big Lots Inc
04.2008 - Current
  • Source, evaluate, negotiate, and price merchandise for Christmas and Spring Holidays assortments to maximize sales and profitability

Associate Buyer – Seasonal eCommerce – Lawn & Garden, Christmas, Halloween, Harvest, Summer, Spring Holidays

Big Lots Inc
  • Managed buying timelines to grow online assortment for all Seasonal categories
  • Worked with vendors for exclusive online only product to differentiate from store assortment
  • Negotiated lower costs for better retails and margin to be more profitable and show value
  • Managed and controlled open to buy
  • Worked closely with cross functional site partners to optimize category and product detail pages to drive sales and liquidate inventory
  • Managed SDF (Supplier Direct Fulfillment) online assortment for all categories

Merchandise Coordinator – Seasonal – Trim, Spring Holidays, Summer, Floral, Halloween, Harvest, Wicker Buying Office

Big Lots Inc
  • Assist buyer with day-in and day-out needs
  • Communicate with import and domestic vendors on a daily basis to ensure product and orders meet our needs, resolve any issues
  • Work with marketing, eCommerce, visual, packaging, advertising, planning and allocation as a team for better sales growth
  • Identify any foreseen issues with buyer and team serving up resolution
  • Write and process purchase orders
  • Handle all purchase order revision requests from vendors and decide what will be ok or not
  • Update buyer PLM database and make sure all items are managed, listed correctly, and keeping to the plan
  • Negotiate better pricing with vendor
  • Track, recap and analyze sales
  • Assist with product development, offer opinions and ideas for new opportunities and sales growth
  • Review all samples and make sure items are as buyer wants and quoted maintaining good quality
  • Organize samples to make sure all accounted for and ready for mock store-set ups, advertising and eCommerce purposes
  • Review packaging, web and advertising proofs making sure copy and product is correct
  • Advertising Coordinator for Seasonal Division making sure each department and planner had Ad Forecasts completed for weekly turn-ins

Promotion Assistant

Cumulus Media/Radio
06.1998 - 03.2019
  • Interact with a broad range of people/listeners, business owners and bands while promoting the radio station
  • Represent the station at various music remotes and events including setting up the sound system, banners, balloons and trade shows
  • Train new-hires at on the spot events so they have enough experience to do the remotes on their own

Assistant Buyer/Import Coordinator – Seasonal

Value City Department Stores
10.2006 - 04.2008
  • Assisted Seasonal Buyer and continued Import Coordinator duties
  • Wrote and process orders, recap and track business, process advertising
  • Inspected samples checking all details to make sure everything matches as ordered and is correct
  • Monitored and tracked shipments on a day-in and day-out basis to make sure shipments arrive as planned with no delays
  • Monitored and respond to shipment bookings daily, reviewing ship dates, in warehouse dates, quantities, freight rates, cubes to insure orders come in as planned

Assistant Buyer- Gifts, Garden & ChristmasTrim-a-Home Buying Office

The Bon Ton Stores, Inc.
12.1998 - 09.2006
  • Tracked and recapped business performance (key items, best sellers, vendors), process and negotiate vendor allowances
  • Prepared Open-To-Buy, project monthly/daily sales and markdowns, analyze and react to business, decision making, advertising and sales promotion, proofing Ads, creating signs for store use
  • Delegated work to team of Administrative Assistants

Administrative Assistant, Sleepwear Buying Office

The Bon Ton Stores, Inc.
01.1998 - 12.2000

Sales Assistant, promoted to Manager

Hecht’s
05.1996 - 01.1998

Assistant Manager

Lerner New York
06.1994 - 04.1996

Education

Associate Degree - Specialized Business Fashion Marketing

Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts
York, PA
05.1995

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Lancaster Community College
Lancaster, PA
05.1992

Skills

  • Verbal and written communication
  • Supplier relationships
  • Strong Attention to Detail
  • Cross-functional teamwork
  • Price negotiation
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Reliability
  • Self motivation
  • Purchasing strategies
  • Data analysis
  • E-commerce
  • Results-oriented
  • Buying trends
  • Product assortment selection
  • Time management
  • Ordering and purchasing
  • Active listening
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Decision-making
  • Price negotiations
  • Team building
  • Product knowledge

Timeline

Associate Buyer – Christmas and Spring Holidays

Big Lots Inc
04.2008 - Current

Assistant Buyer/Import Coordinator – Seasonal

Value City Department Stores
10.2006 - 04.2008

Assistant Buyer- Gifts, Garden & ChristmasTrim-a-Home Buying Office

The Bon Ton Stores, Inc.
12.1998 - 09.2006

Promotion Assistant

Cumulus Media/Radio
06.1998 - 03.2019

Administrative Assistant, Sleepwear Buying Office

The Bon Ton Stores, Inc.
01.1998 - 12.2000

Sales Assistant, promoted to Manager

Hecht’s
05.1996 - 01.1998

Assistant Manager

Lerner New York
06.1994 - 04.1996

Associate Buyer – Seasonal eCommerce – Lawn & Garden, Christmas, Halloween, Harvest, Summer, Spring Holidays

Big Lots Inc

Merchandise Coordinator – Seasonal – Trim, Spring Holidays, Summer, Floral, Halloween, Harvest, Wicker Buying Office

Big Lots Inc

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Lancaster Community College

Associate Degree - Specialized Business Fashion Marketing

Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts

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