Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Elizabeth Wyatt

Henderson,NC

Summary

Dynamic merchandising professional with over 15 years of comprehensive experience in retail merchandising, planning, forecasting, and inventory management. Proven success in spearheading business development initiatives, enhancing product and brand strategies, and implementing process improvements. Adept at driving growth in high-paced environments, with a strong focus on increasing sales, improving inventory turnover, and maximizing margins. Committed to building collaborative business partnerships and executing innovative merchandising solutions that elevate customer satisfaction and fuel market expansion. Recognized for exceptional strategic planning, analytical problem-solving skills, and ability to develop high-performing teams.

Overview

25
25
years of professional experience

Work History

VP, Divisional Merchandise Manager

Variety Wholesalers-Roses & Big Lots
07.2018 - Current
  • Lead a team of 11, overseeing a $170M division encompassing Apparel, Footwear, Luggage, and Basics.
  • Implemented targeted merchandising strategies that boosted sales by $1.5M and improved margin by 2.3% while achieving markdown reductions of 110 basis points and increasing turnover by 400 basis points.
  • Delivered an improved mix of apparel products by emphasizing brand selection, expanding the breadth of the assortment, and enhancing the flow of seasonal products.
  • Launched 'power stores' in the Kids' division, realizing a 33% increase in store sales, a 10% rise in Average Unit Retail (AUR), and a 1.5% growth in business/store penetration.
  • Developed and launched merchandising strategies in 216 new Big Lots locations, enhancing assortment and brand choice, driving significant customer satisfaction and sales growth.
  • Collaborated with Store Operations to optimize product placement, enriching the customer shopping experience and increasing sales.
  • Streamlined repacking processes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and expedite product delivery.
  • Fostered a culture of mentorship, facilitating professional growth within the team and enabling promotions among team members.

Merchandise Manager

Variety Wholesalers-Roses & Big Lots
01.2020 - 11.2021
  • Managed financial planning and purchasing for Intimates, Sleepwear, and Scrubs, overseeing a $50M annual volume while leading the Socks/Hosiery and Men's Basics categories ($35M).
  • Refocused assortment strategy, driving a $12M annual sales increase (+31.5%) through enhanced vendor relations, focusing on key item classification and increasing brand penetration.
  • Mentored team members, promoting professional development and advancing their careers.

Buyer

Variety Wholesalers-continued
07.2018 - 01.2020
  • Led financial planning and purchasing for Intimates, Sleepwear, and Scrubs with a focus on a $38M annual volume.
  • Increased annual volume in existing programs by $1M through strategic planning and market analysis.
  • Implemented strategies that significantly boosted product offerings and market presence, leading to substantial revenue growth.

Buyer

Belk Department Stores
05.2013 - 06.2018
  • Led all purchasing operations for Boys 2-7 and Children's Polo Ralph Lauren, achieving an annual volume of $64 million while mentoring and developing a team of associate buyers and merchandising assistants.
  • Successfully introduced three new private label brands, resulting in a 4% increase in private brand penetration.
  • Fostered strong partnerships and renegotiated a markdown strategy with Polo Ralph Lauren, which enhanced sales and profit margins (+200 BPS) while driving cost efficiencies.
  • Collaborated with key vendors to elevate margin expectations and developed new programs, boosting annual volume more than $1 million.
  • Directed the entire Open-to-Buy (OTB) process, encompassing sales, receipts, markdowns, and inventory forecasting.

Associate Buyer

Belk Department Stores
03.2014 - 01.2016
  • Led all aspects of purchasing men's dress shirts, with an annual volume of $34 million.
  • Increased sales year-over-year +$700k, +4%, exceeding plan +$900k, +3%.
  • Identified Designer Brand opportunities by aligning brands in similar volume stores resulting in an increase of sales year-over-year of +13%.
  • Increased offerings on ECOM, including DTC, additional styles, and fringe sizes in key vendors boosting annual ECOM sales +31%.

Assistant Planner

Belk Department Stores
05.2013 - 03.2014
  • Relevant experience

Buyer

Stage Stores-Peebles Division
02.2001 - 05.2013
  • Relevant experience

Merchandise Planner

Stage Stores-Peebles Division
05.2007 - 04.2012
  • Relevant experience

Buyer

Stage Stores-Peebles Division
03.2003 - 05.2007
  • Relevant experience

Education

Bachelor of Science -

Appalachian State University
Boone, NC

Skills

  • Merchandising Strategy & Planning
  • Category & Assortment Analysis
  • Pricing & Product Optimization
  • Forecasting & Inventory Management
  • Consumer Insights & Trend Analysis
  • Leadership and Team Development
  • Persuasive Presentation & Negotiation Skills
  • Collaborative Partner Relations
  • Planning & Reporting Systems
  • Advance Technical Proficiency

Timeline

Merchandise Manager

Variety Wholesalers-Roses & Big Lots
01.2020 - 11.2021

VP, Divisional Merchandise Manager

Variety Wholesalers-Roses & Big Lots
07.2018 - Current

Buyer

Variety Wholesalers-continued
07.2018 - 01.2020

Associate Buyer

Belk Department Stores
03.2014 - 01.2016

Buyer

Belk Department Stores
05.2013 - 06.2018

Assistant Planner

Belk Department Stores
05.2013 - 03.2014

Merchandise Planner

Stage Stores-Peebles Division
05.2007 - 04.2012

Buyer

Stage Stores-Peebles Division
03.2003 - 05.2007

Buyer

Stage Stores-Peebles Division
02.2001 - 05.2013

Bachelor of Science -

Appalachian State University

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