Cynthia Hudson
The Exchange
Dallas
12
years of professional experience
Strategic retail merchandising and buying leader with 10+ years of experience managing high-volume businesses ranging from $50M to $190M+ across apparel, accessories, beauty, and consumer goods categories. Proven track record of driving multimillion-dollar revenue growth through assortment optimization, vendor negotiations, private label development, and omnichannel expansion. Experienced in leading cross-functional teams, cultivating vendor partnerships, identifying emerging market opportunities, and executing data-driven merchandising strategies that improve sales, margin, and customer engagement.
Work History
Buyer
4 Years 5 Months- Own a $65M Soap & Bath and Shaving business, driving more than $4M in sales growth in FY2025 through assortment optimization, category expansion, and strategic vendor partnerships.
- Manage a complex portfolio of 50 suppliers across national brands and private label programs supporting multiple retail formats and global store locations.
- Improve profitability through vendor negotiations, co-op marketing agreements, promotional funding, fixture investments, and markdown support.
- Identify whitespace opportunities and execute category growth initiatives, including new brand expansions and custom merchandising fixtures that increased customer engagement and sales productivity; launched Manscaped and Method & Mrs. Meyers endcap programs.
- Expanded key men’s grooming brands including Duke Cannon and Manscaped, generating more than $3M in incremental sales across FY2024–FY2025.
- Lead market and competitive analysis efforts to identify emerging trends and drive assortment decisions.
- Partner cross-functionally with merchandising, store operations, marketing, and visual teams to execute planograms, fixture strategies, and category enhancements.
- Support enterprise initiatives focused on dropship growth, private label expansion, and increased penetration of clean beauty products.
Co-Founder
3 Years 1 Month- Founded and operated an online fashion marketplace and boutique specializing in designer handbags, apparel, jewelry, and accessories.
- Secured product placement partnership with Universal Television for Season 4 of Good Girls.
- Developed marketing, social media, and local retail partnership strategies to drive brand awareness and customer acquisition.
- Managed merchandising, vendor relationships, and business operations.
Buyer, Shoes & Handbags
2 Years 1 Month- Managed the off-price shoe & handbag businesses ($50M in annual sales).
- Capitalized on the success of a top handbag vendor and expanded their assortment to shoes; picked up $1.3M in annual sales volume.
- Modernized the shoe assortment based on casualization trend and grew sneakers; picked up $1M in annual sales in FY19.
- Grew the vintage handbag business beyond Hermes by expanding brands (i.e., Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Prada); these brands actualized over $1M in sales.
- Expanded brand and assortment offerings through drop ship; picked up $700K in sales for FY19. This initiative also helped mitigate markdown and inventory liability.
- Collected $1M in markdown allowances in FY19 and FY20 to help improve profitability.
- Effectively managed a team of 8 people: 5 direct reports and 3 cross-functional members. Developed talent on the team; fostered 3 internal promotions and trained new associates.
Buyer, Missy/Jr. Bottoms & Levi's
1 Year- Managed the missy private label ANA bottoms business as well as women's Levi's ($150M in annual sales).
- Delivered positive results in FY2017 with total team sales $2.1M over plan.
- Expanded women's Levi's to an additional 200 doors in Fall 17; picking up $3.3M in sales over LY.
- Executed strategic company initiatives in the private label ANA bottoms business such as adding an inseam shop for shorts as well as converting denim to an annual vs. seasonal strategy.
- Based on success in role during FY2017, responsibility increased in FY2018. Responsibility shifted to junior bottoms and Levi's ($190M in sales). Managed volume increased by over 25%.
Buyer, Plus Career Sportswear
2 Years 2 Months- Managed the plus career sportswear business ($116M in annual sales).
- Navigated the complexities of private label brands and the national brand market.
- Drove $2M in incremental sales with the expansion of plus dresses to all doors as well as the rollout of social/occasion dresses to 200 doors vs. online only.
- Drove omnichannel growth; picked up $2M in eCommerce sales through size and assortment extensions.
- Restored profit in private label brands by increasing the penetration of essentials in fashion pyramid, reducing sku count to improve in-stocks and increasing IMU% with better costing.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration (Marketing and Finance)
Skills
Merchandising Strategy
Vendor Negotiations
Omnichannel Retail
Inventory Optimization
Private Label Development
Team Leadership
Trend Analysis
Pricing & Promotion Strategy
Timeline
Buyer
The Exchange
03.2022 - CurrentRead More
Co-Founder
Luxe Crush
11.2020 - 12.2023Read More
Buyer, Shoes & Handbags
Neiman Marcus Last Call
05.2018 - 06.2020Read More
Buyer, Missy/Jr. Bottoms & Levi's
JC Penney
04.2017 - 04.2018Read More
Buyer, Plus Career Sportswear
JC Penney
02.2015 - 04.2017Read More
Washington University in St. Louis, Olin School of Business
Bachelor of Science from Business Administration (Marketing and Finance)
Read More