Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Selected Career Achievements
Timeline
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JEFFREY JACKOWSKI

Brownsburg,IN

Summary

Results-driven retail merchandising and inventory optimization leader with over 25 years of experience enhancing sales growth and profitability across large-scale operations. Expertise in leading merchandising strategies for 1,500+ stores and implementing systems that boost inventory productivity. Skilled in developing data-driven strategies that optimize sales, margin, and inventory performance while fostering high-performing teams.

Work History

Senior Merchandising Director

LIDS SPORTS GROUP
  • Lead merchandising and allocation strategy across 1,500 retail locations generating more than $800 million in annual revenue.
  • Direct merchandising operations supporting 1,500 stores and over $800M in annual sales.
  • Lead and develop a team of 25+ Merchandise Analysts and Senior Merchandise Analysts, creating a culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Partner with Buying Directors, Planning, and Operations teams to develop seasonal merchandise strategies that align inventory investments with sales and profitability goals.
  • Spearhead companywide markdown strategies through detailed sales, inventory, and margin analysis to optimize inventory productivity.
  • Designed and implemented reporting solutions that improved visibility into product trends, opportunities, and operational performance.
  • Collaborate with Information Technology teams to identify, test, and implement process improvements and system enhancements.
  • Serve on the Real Estate Committee, providing sales analytics and inventory insights to support new store development and site selection decisions.
  • Lead monthly coaching and development sessions focused on analyst training, best practices, and leadership growth.

Merchandising Director

LIDS SPORTS GROUP
  • Promoted to oversee allocation strategy, inventory planning, analyst development, and operational support for a rapidly growing retail organization.
  • Developed and implemented the company's formal Merchandiser Training Program, improving onboarding effectiveness and accelerating employee development.
  • Created advanced reporting and analytical tools that enhanced visibility into sales trends, inventory performance, and product opportunities.
  • Partnered with Field Operations leadership to optimize store assortments and inventory levels through consistent communication and performance analysis.
  • Led inventory liquidation strategies that reduced aged inventory exposure while protecting margin performance.
  • Successfully managed allocation integration efforts for multiple acquisitions and business expansions.
  • Maintained inventory budgets and established store-level inventory targets to improve inventory productivity and turnover.

NCAA Buyer

LIDS SPORTS GROUP
  • Managed NCAA merchandise category representing approximately 25% of total company sales volume.
  • Consistently exceeded gross margin targets through strategic vendor negotiations and disciplined markdown management.
  • Directed purchasing, inventory distribution, budgeting, and replenishment strategies to support changing consumer demand.
  • Managed and developed a team of three merchandisers, successfully mentoring multiple employees into buying positions.
  • Delivered weekly sales and inventory analyses to guide purchasing decisions and optimize open-to-buy management.
  • Promoted through multiple leadership positions based on strong performance, operational excellence, and merchandising expertise.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration

DeSales University
Center Valley, Pennsylvania

Skills

  • Merchandising strategy
  • Merchandise financial planning
  • Sales growth
  • Inventory optimization
  • Demand forecasting
  • Retail operations management
  • Merchandising systems strategy
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Process improvement
  • Organizational change leadership
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Team leadership

Selected Career Achievements

  • Partnered with executive leadership and IT teams to successfully implement the JDA Allocation System, improving allocation efficiency and inventory management capabilities.
  • Led organizational redesign that established a dedicated Allocation Department and successfully managed enterprise-wide change adoption.
  • Created and launched the Regional Analyst function, strengthening communication between stores and corporate teams while improving inventory optimization and trend identification.
  • Named Merchant of the Year on two occasions.
  • Finalist for Department of the Year recognition within Planning & Allocation.
  • Developed and led the 'Opportunity Knocks' initiative, generating three consecutive years of comparable sales growth (6.4%, 3.9%, and 4.4%) and contribution increases exceeding $3.5 million.
  • Designed new store assortment strategies that consistently exceeded budget and sales expectations.
  • Created an anniversary-store sales initiative that delivered significant comparable sales gains across multiple years.
  • Led the 'Focus Stores' initiative, generating approximately $1.7 million in incremental contribution.

Timeline

NCAA Buyer

LIDS SPORTS GROUP

Merchandising Director

LIDS SPORTS GROUP

Senior Merchandising Director

LIDS SPORTS GROUP

Bachelor of Science - Business Administration

DeSales University

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JEFFREY JACKOWSKI