Gerhard Hickey
Cleveland,OH
Summary
Retail professional with expertise in trend analysis, vendor negotiations, and sales performance. Skilled at optimizing inventory management and enhancing product selection through market insights. Committed to creating engaging customer experiences and fostering vendor relationships to achieve business goals.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Athletic Shoe Buyer
Mar-Lou Shoes
Lyndhurst, Ohio
02.2024 - 03.2026
- Analyzed sales data to forecast demand and adjust purchasing plans.
- Secured advantageous pricing and terms by building strong vendor relationships.
- Optimized stock availability by coordinating inventory levels and minimizing excess.
- Developed promotional strategies for new footwear launches, enhancing product visibility.
- Collaborated with team members to align customer needs with market trends.
- Resolved discrepancies between purchase orders and actual receipts of goods or services.
- Attended industry trade shows and conferences to remain informed on current product development trends.
Area Sales Manager
Dillard's
Orlando, FL
08.2022 - 12.2023
- Consistently met and exceeded departmental sales goals through strategic merchandising, staff development, and customer service initiatives.
- Supervised and coached a team of 12 associates, improving sales performance through training on product knowledge, selling techniques, and customer engagement.
- Managed men’s, women’s, and children’s footwear departments, enhancing merchandising, product presentation, and sales strategy.
- Trained team members on new product launches, brand features, and seasonal footwear trends, strengthening the team’s ability to drive informed sales.
- Created employee schedules aligned with staffing needs and sales trends, enhancing floor coverage and sales support.
- Monitored inventory levels and product performance across footwear categories, guiding replenishment and merchandising strategies.
- Managed customer escalations and service recovery, ensuring high customer satisfaction and safeguarding brand reputation.
Corporate Assistant Buyer
Dillard's
Little Rock, AR
07.2021 - 08.2022
- Analyzed daily sales for large omnichannel retailer in order to forecast business trends and buyer behavior, and optimized sales and gross margin dollars by analyzing, evaluating and adjusting pricing and other promotional plans.
- Negotiated with vendors using strong product knowledge to secure favorable shipping, delivery, and merchandise costs.
- Managed vendors effectively, resolving discrepancies between purchase orders, invoices, and merchandise receipts to uphold customer service and vendor satisfaction.
- Maintained strong vendor relationships through effective communication, ensuring timely problem resolution and follow-up.
- Ensured timely delivery of merchandise through proactive communication and diligent follow-up.
- Utilized merchandising systems and research analyses to inform risk decisions aligned with company objectives.
Visual Merchandiser
Crate & Barrel
Lyndhurst, OH
09.2020 - 07.2021
- Designed and executed in-store visual displays and seasonal floor sets to highlight key furniture and home décor collections.
- Styled product displays using color, texture, and layout principles to create engaging lifestyle environments that inspired customer purchases.
- Interpreted and implemented corporate visual merchandising guidelines, ensuring brand consistency and high-impact store presentation.
- Collaborated with store leadership and sales teams to effectively feature high-priority merchandise and support new product launches.
- Monitored sales performance and customer engagement metrics to adjust displays and optimize product placement for increased visibility.
- Managed floor moves and product resets during seasonal transitions to maintain organized and visually appealing sales floor.
- Maintained store standards for cleanliness, signage, and visual storytelling, ensuring a premium customer experience.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Fashion Merchandising
Kent State University
Kent, OH01-2020
Skills
- Assortment planning
- Trend forecasting
- Demand forecasting
- Merchandising strategy
- Pricing strategy
- Sales performance analysis
- Retail analytics
- Inventory management
- Vendor negotiation
- Product curation
- Consumer insights
Timeline
Athletic Shoe Buyer
Mar-Lou Shoes
02.2024 - 03.2026
Area Sales Manager
Dillard's
08.2022 - 12.2023
Corporate Assistant Buyer
Dillard's
07.2021 - 08.2022
Visual Merchandiser
Crate & Barrel
09.2020 - 07.2021
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) - Fashion Merchandising
Kent State University