HYUNG JIN CHO
Fullerton,CA
Summary
Merchandising and production operations leader with 14+ years of experience driving regional category strategy, assortment planning, and go-to-market execution across apparel and accessories. Partners with design, sales, planning, and supply chain teams to align brand direction, inventory guardrails, and commercial goals while translating consumer insights into scalable product assortments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President & Senior Director of Merchandising/Production Operations
BLITHE LA, INC.
Los Angeles, CA
07.2019 - 10.2026
- Led regional product execution, strategic category planning, and multi-division assortment alignment to drive brand vision and top-line commercial growth.
- Translated market trends and consumer insights into scalable product assortments, strengthening channel differentiation and brand relevance.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with design, sales, and planning teams to align brand heat with margin expectations and inventory guardrails.
- Led vendor negotiations and line investments, ensuring cost efficiency and high-quality delivery in Apparel and Accessories categories.
- Managed seasonal go-to-market preparation and key account presentations, enhancing booth operations and product storytelling at MAGIC Trade Show in Las Vegas.
Production & Merchandising Manager
BIZZ INC.
Los Angeles, CA
02.2014 - 06.2019
- Directed seasonal launch strategies and marketplace presentations at bi-yearly MAGIC Trade Shows, driving wholesale sell-through and achieving revenue targets.
- Managed regional product strategy, shipping performance, and assortment execution for four brand divisions, enhancing alignment with tier-one retailers (Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Dillard's, Lord & Taylor).
- Developed and mentored team of production and merchandising associates, strengthening organizational capability and decision-making processes.
- Built data-driven tracking and reporting models to analyze selling results, track order status, and improve demand forecasting accuracy.
Merchandising & Production Assistant
BIZZ INC.
Los Angeles, CA
01.2012 - 02.2014
- Coordinated product development timelines and milestones across design, sales, and vendor networks, achieving 100% on-time seasonal delivery.
- Addressed line execution bottlenecks and vendor issues, preserving target costing and maintaining design intent.
Merchandising & Product Intern
BAND OF OUTSIDERS
Los Angeles, CA
07.2011 - 12.2012
- Collaborated with design teams to create seasonal mood boards and visual line concepts based on consumer trend forecasting.
- Managed product development data and updated pre-order charts to enhance tracking of seasonal samples.
Men's Apparel Merchandising Intern
OBEY CLOTHING
Santa Ana, CA
05.2011 - 08.2011
- Conducted marketplace research and competitor analysis on Men's apparel trends to inform line expansion for the Fall/Winter collection.
- Organized prototype, pre-production, and TOP samples to facilitate efficient design evaluations and line review milestones.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Family and Consumer Sciences – Fashion Merchandising
California State University – Long Beach
Long Beach, CA01-2011
Skills
- Merchandising & Strategy: Merchandising strategy
- Assortment planning
- Demand forecasting
- Commercial & Business Acumen: Margin optimization
- Vendor negotiation
- Technical Systems: ERP systems
- Leadership & Collaboration: Team leadership
- Languages: Bilingual in English and Korean
Timeline
Vice President & Senior Director of Merchandising/Production Operations
BLITHE LA, INC.
07.2019 - 10.2026
Production & Merchandising Manager
BIZZ INC.
02.2014 - 06.2019
Merchandising & Production Assistant
BIZZ INC.
01.2012 - 02.2014
Merchandising & Product Intern
BAND OF OUTSIDERS
07.2011 - 12.2012
Men's Apparel Merchandising Intern
OBEY CLOTHING
05.2011 - 08.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Family and Consumer Sciences – Fashion Merchandising
California State University – Long Beach