Jennifer French
Grand Rapids
Summary
Results-oriented merchandising professional with 16 years in the apparel industry, specializing in product development and pricing strategies. Launched and scaled private label and branded lines, driving revenue growth and margin improvements. Skilled in translating consumer insights into impactful product strategies and leading cross-functional initiatives to enhance market presence.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Buyer
Meijer
01.2022 - Current
- Lead end-to-end product strategy and assortment architecture for men’s activewear and lifestyle categories, managing a $20M+ business with accountability for revenue, margin, and SKU productivity.
- Delivered #2 YoY growth across Men’s in 2025 (second only to Team Sports) through disciplined assortment strategy and key item focus.
- Owned pricing strategy and margin optimization, balancing cost, value, and brand positioning through data-driven decisions.
- Developed and scaled private label platform (Vively), establishing pricing architecture and product frameworks aligned to consumer demand and white space, driving +24% sales growth YoY.
- Scaled Oakley & Costa programs, expanding distribution by 244% and growing revenue from $1M to $5M.
- Drove SKU productivity by scaling high-performing styles and eliminating underperforming SKUs, enhancing overall product performance.
- Influence product development, fabrication, and costing decisions through vendor partnerships and sourcing alignment.
- Mentor and develop assistant buyers, strengthening team capabilities in assortment strategy, pricing decisions, and business analysis.
- New Store Captain for Men’s & Softlines, leading merchandising execution, product placement, and cross-functional coordination for new store openings.
Senior Merchant
Joe’s Jeans
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Directed a $100M+ business across men’s & women’s denim, sportswear, retail stores, and off-price channels.
- Partnered with sales to implement an 18 month core product cycle program, achieving IMU, margin and profitability growth by +26% YOY.
- Analyzed performance trends, sales, and competitive insights to identify growth opportunities and shift category investments, improving profitability and reducing inventory risk.
- Liaised with design, wash team, planning, sales, production, and marketing to align calendar execution and go-to-market strategies.
- Owned collection deliverables including seasonal line architecture, storytelling, line sheets, market presentations, fit/style approvals, and hindsight meetings to enhance product alignment.
- Cultivated talent in assistant merchants, enhancing team proficiency in assortment planning, pricing, and business analytics.
Senior Merchant (Consultant)
AG Jeans
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Directed a $100M+ business, owning product lifecycle from concept through go-to-market across denim and sportswear.
- Developed and implemented 18-month product lifecycle and pricing strategy, segmenting product mix into Introduction, Growth, and Maturity stages to lift margins and volume by 15%.
- Led product architecture, line planning, and seasonal storytelling, aligning design, production, and sales.
- Drove innovation in fabric, wash, and silhouette to establish key item dominance and enhance market share.
- Coached and empowered assistant merchants in strategic assortment, pricing, and performance analytics, enhancing team competence.
- Partnered with planning on financial investment growth strategies, guiding budget investment across all categories.
- Presented at sales meetings, including major’s seasonal buy meetings.
Buyer
American Apparel
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Directed a $50M annual business across women’s & men’s, achieving a 50% YoY e-commerce growth by balancing core assortments with fashion capsules.
- Spearheaded re-launch of American Apparel e-commerce site post Gildan acquisition, enhancing online customer experience.
- Led cross-functional execution of new product launches, aligning digital marketing campaigns.
- Coordinated cross-functional efforts to ensure successful seasonal execution across merchandising, marketing, and e-commerce.
- Developed exclusive capsules with key partners, tailoring product to meet specific channel consumer needs.
Education
Fashion Design & Merchandising -
Pasadena City College
PasadenaAssociate of Arts -
Indian River State College
Ft. Pierce, FLSkills
- Product line management
- Assortment planning
- Cross-functional leadership
- SKU optimization
- Pricing strategy
- Go-to-market strategy
- Consumer insights
- Textile innovation
- Supplier negotiation
- Team development
Timeline
Buyer
Meijer
01.2022 - Current
Senior Merchant
Joe’s Jeans
01.2020 - 01.2022
Senior Merchant (Consultant)
AG Jeans
01.2019 - 01.2020
Buyer
American Apparel
01.2017 - 01.2019
Fashion Design & Merchandising -
Pasadena City College
Associate of Arts -
Indian River State College