Heather Gutowski
Portland,Oregon
Summary
Detail oriented, motivated professional with 15+ years of experience. Creative problem solver with excellent verbal
and presentation skills.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Buyer
Norm Thompson
Hillsboro, Oregon
09.2015 - 05.2016
- Retail Buyer - Catalog and eComm.
- Managed a yearly volume of $7.8M; Women's Footwear, Knit and Woven Bottoms.
- Selected and completed Footwear buys for Spring and Summer '16.
- Identified missed opportunity within the Women's Woven Bottom business for Spring `16 and recouped $600k in volume for the year.
- Provided planning team a new weekly recap report showing sales by sub categories which resulted in regular reorders and sub category sales penetration for future buys.
- Worked with inventory to ensure category plans were bought correctly.
- Maintained Brand consistency between catalog and ecommerce.
- Worked with designer on colorways, prints and fabrications for new Fall '16 products.
- Negotiated with vendors on discounts to improve margins.
Buyer
Columbia Sportswear
Beaverton, Oregon
03.2008 - 10.2009
- Youth Apparel, Accessories, Equipment and Licensee Buyer - Outlet Stores.
- Identified opportunities within the Youth Apparel business with the outlets & executed a new assortment strategy to all stores.
- Delivered new product in a timely manner to new store openings to accomplish store opening sales goals, sell thru and gross margin.
- Identified merchandising strategies & rolled out new merchandising standards within the sock and accessories businesses to help drive sales, resulting in an 80% sales increase.
- Delivered a consistent & focused product message with focused product assortments & key item investments for the Youth Apparel business to ensure brand consistency.
- Rolled out visual merchandizing plan-o-grams for stores for consistent merchandising in sock, base layer and winter accessories walls.
- Generated SMU apparel and equipment styles seasonally to help fill holes within the assortment.
- Accurately forecast item and quantity needs for planning team.
- Worked closely with vendors to ensure execution of design and the product developed fit the Columbia Brand standards.
- Assorted licensed goods by season to create a product flow based on seasonality of each item.
- Managed markdowns to drive sales and reach margin objectives.
Buyer
Nike Inc
Beaverton, Oregon
06.2006 - 02.2008
- Equipment and Third Party Merchandise Manager/ Buyer - Niketown, Nike Women & Employee Stores.
- Created premium footwear, apparel, timing, vision, Nikeplus and equipment product assortments for several Nike brand retailers.
- $10M volume and 1400 styles were managed.
- Worked closely with Sales Rep to ensure adequate inventory for the "never out" AR product strategy within key item categories such as the sock business.
- Delivered a consistent and focused product message with focused product assortments and key item investments to maintain planned weekly sell thru's.
- Determined season length for each style/color to help guide and minimize markdown liabilities based on comp item sales and future sales goals.
- Integrated industry and regional consumer trends into individual store assortments by tiering product assortments.
- Worked with third party vendors to ensure that all items purchased/delivered ensure premium standards as a brand.
- Developed and executed financial plans and merchandise plans to support business strategies.
- Developed ideal style counts to drive maximum sales and SKU productivity.
Merchandise Manager/ Buyer
Nike Inc
Beaverton, Oregon
09.2005 - 06.2006
- Women's Footwear and Accessories Merchandise Manager - NikeWomen Stores.
- Created premium women's footwear and accessories product assortments for NikeWomen's retail stores.
- $7M volume and 800 styles were managed.
- Completed seasonal assortments at a style-level on a per store basis.
- Selected products to support brand initiatives to drive sales volume
Buyer
Nike Inc
Beaverton, Oregon
09.1999 - 09.2005
*Started at Nike Inc. as a Buyer Specialist in 1999 for Men's Footwear for all Niketowns and Employee Stores. Worked my way up to Assistant Buyer for Women's and Kids Footwear. Then was promoted to the Buyer for Kids Apparel and Footwear in 2005.
Merchandise Manager
Kids Footwear & Apparel
Nike Inc.
05.2004 - 09.2005
- Maintained key item stock levels.
- Forecasted purchasing trends.
- Generated reports detailing sales trends and store performances.
- Tracked inventory shipments.
- Improved merchandising strategies.
- Removed poor performing items from future buys.
- Made sure the youth apparel and footwear business was consistent with the brand and that followed the brand consistency with Women's and Men's product offerings.
Kids Footwear & Apparel Allocations Analyst
Nike Inc.
Beaverton, Or
04.2003 - 05.2004
- Generated reports detailing sales trends and store performances.
- Tracked inventory shipments.
- Prepared spreadsheets detailing item information.
- Maintained key item stock levels.
- Communicated with vendors regarding inventory needs.
- Wrote and expedited purchase orders.
Women's/Kids Footwear Assistant Buyer
Nike Inc.
Beaverton, Or
01.2001 - 04.2003
- Wrote and expedited purchase orders.
- Maintained key item stock levels.
- Generated reports detailing sales trends and store performances.
- Set up product within our IP system
- Managed price changes and markdowns.
- Replenished product daily based on sales and sell-thru.
Men's Footwear Buyer Specialist
09.1999 - 01.2001
Education
Bachelor of Science Degree - Interior Design
Oregon State University
1998
Skills
Island Pacific, Excel, Outlook, Word, SAP, Internet, ADOBE, Social Networking
Timeline
Buyer
Norm Thompson
09.2015 - 05.2016
Buyer
Columbia Sportswear
03.2008 - 10.2009
Buyer
Nike Inc
06.2006 - 02.2008
Merchandise Manager/ Buyer
Nike Inc
09.2005 - 06.2006
Merchandise Manager
Kids Footwear & Apparel
05.2004 - 09.2005
Kids Footwear & Apparel Allocations Analyst
Nike Inc.
04.2003 - 05.2004
Women's/Kids Footwear Assistant Buyer
Nike Inc.
01.2001 - 04.2003
Men's Footwear Buyer Specialist
09.1999 - 01.2001
Buyer
Nike Inc
09.1999 - 09.2005
Bachelor of Science Degree - Interior Design
Oregon State University