Emma Krauss
New York,USA
Summary
Dynamic professional with a comprehensive understanding of omni-channel merchandising, product assortment, and trend analysis. Proven ability to build cross-functional partnerships that enhance product development and drive sales growth, while curating engaging assortments that resonate with customers.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Omni Merchandiser Knits
LOFT
New York, New York
01.2026 - Current
- Managed $150m Knits business and an assistant
- Analyzed trends to inform product development and translate trend to profitable big ideas, identifying the next big thing
- Analyzed trends, product assortment, and competitive landscape to inform seasonal strategy development
- Developed and presented pre-season strategy to cross-functional team quarterly, aligning product direction with business goals
- Partner with Planning to strategize budget and white-space opportunities
- Planned all buys using product strategies and analytical insights, aligning line with budget and presenting at assortment and investment reviews
- Engaged in sketch reviews to assess design concepts and provide feedback on silhouette, fabric, and color based on hindsight and strategy
- Developed frameworks for design that outlined newness needs by month with AUC targets.
- Approve garment fit on all products/buys ensuring product meets design integrity and acceptable quality standards
- Manage partnership with planning and allocation on reviewing sales, receipts, markdown/promotional cadence, and choice counts
- Analyze the competitive environment and use that insight to positively impact results, making recommendations to leadership
- Using business acumen to assess reports and translate data into actions to drive profitable results
- Partner with Marketing, Styling, and Visual to ensure key times are elevated to protect top volume items and supported throughout the cross-functional team
Omni Merchandising Manager Knits + Sweaters
FULLBeauty Brands
04.2025 - 01.2026
- Establish, drive and execute a strategic Omni product vision and business plan through effective communication and coordination with cross-functional business partners inclusive of design, international merchandising, planning, sourcing, & creative
- Work closely with Design team to interpret and forecast trends through the customer lens. Develop and assort trend-right and brand right product. Drive product innovation
- Assessed competition and marketplace, including brick-and-mortar and digital, to inform brand-right business decisions aligned with customer needs
- Establish seasonal strategic plans for sales, markdowns, inventory, and growth opportunity and effectively manage in-season business to maximize topline sales and minimize markdowns
- Manage the Open-to-Buy as far as receipts, sales, margin, markdowns, and Weeks of Supply
- Analyzed performance and plans to identify sales and margin opportunities, adapting swiftly to changes and trends in the business and marketplace
- Developed and implemented test and react strategy across all channels to enhance product responsiveness
- Manage and develop two assistants
- Effectively and efficiently run executive business meetings to ensure objectives and deadlines are met
Wholesale Merchandiser – Mid-Size + Specialty Retailers
Centric Brands
12.2023 - 04.2025
- Built/Established the Messi brand at JCPenney, Kohl’s, and The Children’s Place
- Built/Established the Character Sleepwear business at the Children’s Place
- Cultivated and maintained relationships with new and existing customers to enhance business partnerships
- Researched and performed competitive analysis, monitoring trends to curate assortments tailored for mid-tier accounts
- Develop a customized line plan for each brand, create & execute seasonal business proposals with curated assortments based on market trends, customer, & sales analysis
- Collaborated with production, design, and planning to develop business strategy sustaining profitability and penetrating new markets
- Partner with customers to communicate & execute brand positioning & key strategic initiatives
OMNI MERCHANT - SLEEPWEAR
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE
02.2023 - 12.2023
- Responsible for 40% of total sleep business ($250k annually)
- Develop annual business strategy for sleepwear business
- Use data to make strategic business decisions to drive sleep business
- Made business decisions prioritizing customer needs to support overall business goals
- Collaborated with cross-functional team (design, planning, allocation, sourcing, marketing, visual) to align strategies
- Developed and trained team of 2 direct reports to enhance operational effectiveness
- Analyzed pricing strategies to enhance product value.
OMNI ASSOCIATE BUYER
SAKS OFF 5TH
08.2022 - 02.2023
- Own & run the Women’s Contemporary Denim business, while supporting the Swim & Outerwear businesses with a “customer-first “mentality
- Manage an open-to-buy to react in-season & strategize in pre-season
- Collaborate with cross functional teams (planning, digital, marketing etc.) to maximize sales
- Collaborated with vendors, monitored industry trends, and evaluated competition to identify opportunities and negotiate strategic deals
- Actively sought business growth and managed liquidity expectations to ensure financial stability
- Manage & develop a merchandise assistant
ASSOCIATE OMNI MERCHANT MEN’S SHIRTS
EXPRESS
09.2018 - 07.2021
- Collaborated with associate and senior merchant on casual shirt business, contributing to $150k in annual sales, representing 40% of total shirt volume
- Curated and merchandised an assortment of 350 styles annually
- Analyzed data to inform strategic business decisions, enhancing profitability
- Facilitated teamwork among design, planning, allocation, sourcing, marketing, and visual departments to enhance project outcomes
- Work with a senior merchant to develop a profitable strategy for the shirt business
- Make business decisions with a “customer first” mindset
- Understands the importance of price/value and anticipates the needs of the business
- Has an accurate pulse on the market trends and the competitive landscape
- Presented insights in weekly business meetings with senior and c-suite leadership
ASSOCIATE VISUAL MERCHANDISER
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
06.2016 - 09.2018
- Curated a floorset plan based on sales to drive profitable business for the Men’s European fleet of stores
- Merchandised all categories in Men’s business to optimize product placement and enhance customer engagement
- Work closely with a CFT team (design, planning, allocation, sourcing, marketing, visual)
- Work with the District Managers to ensure floorset is set up accurately and appropriately to merchandise items appropriately to drive profitable sales
- Use data to make strategic business decisions to drive a profitable business
- Monitored market trends and competitive landscape to identify improvement opportunities and inform merchandising strategies
- Understands the importance of price/value and anticipates the needs of the business
- Presented key insights and strategies in weekly business meetings to senior and c-suite leadership
- Promoted from Assistant to Associate after 1 year
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Analytics
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio05-2016
Skills
- Product assortment
- Trend analysis
- Sales analysis
- Competitive analysis
- Channel strategy
- Buy management
- Revenue optimization
Timeline
Omni Merchandiser Knits
LOFT
01.2026 - Current
Omni Merchandising Manager Knits + Sweaters
FULLBeauty Brands
04.2025 - 01.2026
Wholesale Merchandiser – Mid-Size + Specialty Retailers
Centric Brands
12.2023 - 04.2025
OMNI MERCHANT - SLEEPWEAR
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE
02.2023 - 12.2023
OMNI ASSOCIATE BUYER
SAKS OFF 5TH
08.2022 - 02.2023
ASSOCIATE OMNI MERCHANT MEN’S SHIRTS
EXPRESS
09.2018 - 07.2021
ASSOCIATE VISUAL MERCHANDISER
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH
06.2016 - 09.2018
Bachelor of Science - Business Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Analytics
Miami University