Elisa Steinlage
Grayslake,IL
Summary
Dynamic merchandise planning professional with extensive experience at Crate and Barrel, excelling in inventory management and analytical forecasting. Proven track record of optimizing sales and gross margin through partnership with cross-functional teams.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director of Merchandise Planning
Crate and Barrel
Northbrook, Illinois
02.2021 - 10.2024
- Collaborated with Buying, Sourcing, and Logistics teams to design profitable inventory strategies.
- Developed and managed inventory strategy for product category, including plans for new purchases and markdowns.
- Coordinated pre-season plan targets with company objectives and merchandising partners.
- Oversaw monthly sales, margin, and inventory forecasts in partnership with merchants based on business trends.
- Led monthly business reviews to identify actions for optimizing sales and gross margin.
- Provided analytical insights to influence future purchasing and assortment strategies.
- Identified sales opportunities through strategic assortment planning in collaboration with merchant team.
- Presented strategic recommendations to Executives on business results and future direction.
Senior Merchandise Planner
Crate and Barrel
Northbrook, Illinois
02.2018 - 02.2021
- Directed Kids Furniture team, collaborating with Buying, Marketing, Sourcing, and Allocation teams on inventory strategies for profitable sales growth.
- Oversaw inventory strategy for product category, including Top Down Plans, new product buys, reorders, and markdowns.
- Established pre-season Plan targets aligned with company goals and merchandising partners.
- Monitored monthly sales, margin, and inventory forecasts at category level in partnership with merchants.
- Led monthly business reviews (OTB) to identify actions optimizing sales and gross margin.
- Conducted business analysis to influence future purchases and assortment strategies.
- Worked with merchant team to uncover sales opportunities through strategic assortment planning.
- Presented weekly business review to Merchandising leadership, discussing results and upcoming strategies.
Merchandise Planner
Crate and Barrel
Northbrook, Illinois
03.2014 - 02.2021
- Collaborated with Buying and Product Development Teams to create product sales and financial plans.
- Coordinated with suppliers to order inventory in alignment with business trends.
- Managed inventory by analyzing sales trends and operational needs before placing supplier orders.
- Conducted monthly OTB meetings to re-forecast plans and adjust strategies.
- Formulated markdown and promotional strategies with Buyer to optimize sales and minimize margin risks.
Store Planner
The Bon Ton Stores Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
12.2011 - 03.2014
- Coordinated with Ladies Apparel offices to align company strategies with regional localization initiatives.
- Drove strategic objectives, planning brand rollouts and vendor alignment ahead of Merchant teams.
- Developed preliminary store plans and opportunity analyses to support Merchants' objectives.
- Conducted market analysis for strategic planning of store profiles and category shifts.
Associate Merchandise Planner
The Bon Ton Stores Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
04.2011 - 12.2011
- Collaborated with Buyer to create merchandise strategies aligned with financial and store plans.
- Executed financial plans to achieve sales, margin, and inventory objectives.
- Reforecasted plans mid-season to adjust strategies based on sales trends.
- Formulated assortment plans for effective store allocation of merchandise.
Assistant Merchandise & Allocation Planner
The Bon Ton Stores Inc.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
03.2009 - 04.2011
- Developed financial and store plans to achieve sales, inventory, turnover, and margin goals.
- Reforecasted plans during season to align strategies with current sales trends.
- Managed inventory replenishment models to optimize stock levels.
- Projected future replenishment needs and communicated adjustments to vendors.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WISkills
- Inventory management
- Merchandise planning
- Analytical forecasting
- Assortment strategy
- Financial analysis
- Sales optimization
Affiliations
- Long distance runner
- Volunteer for the Archdiocese of Chicago
Timeline
Associate Director of Merchandise Planning
Crate and Barrel
02.2021 - 10.2024
Senior Merchandise Planner
Crate and Barrel
02.2018 - 02.2021
Merchandise Planner
Crate and Barrel
03.2014 - 02.2021
Store Planner
The Bon Ton Stores Inc.
12.2011 - 03.2014
Associate Merchandise Planner
The Bon Ton Stores Inc.
04.2011 - 12.2011
Assistant Merchandise & Allocation Planner
The Bon Ton Stores Inc.
03.2009 - 04.2011
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
University of Wisconsin-Madison