Jessica Fowler Stachurski

Direct Pre-Production, Production and Global Sourcing teams for Fashion Accessories, Jewelry, Swim and Footwear for Chico's frontline stores, e-commerce and international stores.

Enhanced bandwidth by adding the Jewelry division to area of responsibility in February 2015.  

Successfully launched Footwear, Swim and Gifting business in 2013.

Act as product development lead for Footwear and Swim.

Leading the conversion of LDP vendors to FOB terms in jewelry and accessories.  

Build and execute 3 year sourcing strategy. 

Manage vendor and factory base in China, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, Mexico and Italy.  

Source new suppliers and navigate them through the on boarding process for Chico's supply chain.  

Consistently source raw materials and trims. 

Establish and maintain core fabric library for accessories to decrease costs and increase speed to market.  

Build T&As for each category and guide all pertinent teams to meet key deadlines.   

Coach and develop a team of 8 high performing Sourcing professionals. 

Ensure that team is consistently hitting cost and IMU targets, driving on time handover and brand designated OQL.  

Partner with Design and Product Development to develop styles that hit cost targets.

Work with planning to determine vendor and factory projections in order to negotiate programs and book capacity. 

Direct the technical design process including wear trials for jewelry, belts, scarves and handbags.  

Work closely with the apparel technical design team to determine specs and tech packs for coverings, swim and belts. 

Develop and source product for all marketing and promotional events including charity and foundation partnerships such as Children's Miracle Network, Stand Up to Cancer and the American Heart Association.  

Work with the Sourcing Operations team to develop and evolve performance testing standards for each category.   

Current member of the Product Safety Council to ensure Chico's accessories are adhering to the most up dated conflict mineral laws and restricted substance testing.  

Consistently partner with the Risk Management, Legal and Custom's Compliance team to ensure that all suppliers are socially compliant.  

Direct the Accessories team to launch business critical tools such as Boardwalk WIPS, Flex PLM and the pilot of BOOM.  

Travel internationally to maintain supplier relationships and ensure continuous improvement of right first time manufacturing.  

Accountable for controlling expenses and proposing annual budget for all areas of responsibility including travel, headcount and promotion.  

Drove supply chain operations including pre-production and sourcing for Fashion Accessories in Frontline and Outlet Stores as well as  E-Commerce.

Stepped up to take on the Product Manager role for the Outlet Jewelry and Fashion Accessory categories in addition to my Sourcing responsibilities.  Gave trend direction to suppliers, developed product and presented to the Outlet Senior Vice President and merchandising teams for 2 years.  

Built and launched the Sourcing team for Chico's sister brand White House Black Market.

Responsible for hitting Average Unit Cost and Initial Mark Up targets.

Regularly published costing and IMU rollups to merchandising and product development to ensure designs and raw materials work within our cost targets.  

Constructed T&A's and drove adherence amongst cross functional teams. 

Developed and coached a team of 5 to ensure top notch quality control and on time delivery.

Sourced new suppliers and raw materials. 

Maintained vendor relationships and factory matrix.

Partnered with cross functional teams to form a 3 year strategy for the supply chain.  

Gave unit projections to suppliers and planned capacity. 

Joined the Product Safety Council and acted as an ambassador to the brand on all developing laws and industry shifts regarding restricted substance including Prop 65 and Phthalates.

Managed supply chain operations for the Frontline and Outlet Jewelry and Fashion Accessory divisions

Ensured that the development process, cost negotiations, technical design phase and any revisions were in compliance with the T&A.  

Directed team and supplier base on best practices for cost engineering

Coached team to negotiate and finalize costs to meet brand targets

Increased IMU%s in all product categories 

Led Accessories Technical Design team to establish product standards and manage all pre-production and top of production samples

Reviewed all lab dips and bulk fabric, communicated comments to suppliers

Approved all technical and aesthetic revisions

Established any special trim and packaging

Oversaw the Jewelry division from the design and development process to delivery.

Managed a team of product development, quality control and technical design professionals. 

Established key trends and rolled out to cross functional partners through seasonal presentations.

Built seasonal trend presentations for suppliers and direct reports.  

Developed brand right product with multiple suppliers, directing their design teams on silhouettes, components, plating.

Partnered with counterparts in other categories to build collections and coordinate components. 

Worked with merchant team to establish retail price points.

Provided merchant teams with a well balanced assortment for monthly buy meetings. 

Executed costing strategies, negotiated prices and successfully hit targets.  

Reviewed all bulk components, pre-production and top of production samples for approval. 

Built and executed T&A's to develop and deliver on time for key calendar dates.  

Partnered with Marketing team to develop product for special projects.

Developed a well balanced jewelry assortment based on trend direction from the Product Development Director. 

Worked with suppliers and their internal design teams to provide prototypes for monthly buy meetings.  

Reviewed design samples daily and advised necessary revisions to the suppliers.  

Reviewed all components, pre-prodution and top of production for approval.  

Communicated all sample comments to suppliers.  

Partnered with product managers in other departments to coordinate components.  

Coached and developed Assistant Product Manager.​

Supported the product development team in building the jewelry assortment.  

Processed orders in the system and managed all revisions. 

Communicated all changes and revisions to suppliers. 

Reviewed all approval samples and communicated comments to the suppliers.  

Checked in warehouse deliveries daily and followed up on any missing inventory.  

Partnered with Logistics on any major delivery shits and communicated preferred delivery method to the supplier.  

Worked closely with Product Managers and CAD artists to conceptualize new styles for knits and wovens Misses/Plus/Petite.

Prepared cost packets in order to source best suppliers and raw materials.

Communicated cost targets to suppliers.  

Negotiated costs with suppliers and reviewed weekly with Product Managers.

Organized Letter of Credit and Import Order information.

Communicated daily with international suppliers in Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey.

Supported the Technical Design team to establish specs and build tech packs.  

Participated in weekly fit sessions.  

Inspected production samples for fabric, trim and color approval.

Collaborated with HR on the Internship program and participated in college campus recruiting.  

Hired into the Executive Development Program in an Assistant Buyer role.  

Trained in the buying office and in stores with Areas Sales Managers.

Supported the merchandising team in footwear.  

Managed the open to buy for Men's shoes. 

Participated in selecting the monthly assortment including both debut and flow styles.  

Planned units and size breaks.  

Allocated merchandise. 

Monitored inventory and replenishment.

Communicated selling and business needs to vendors. 

Selected to work on special marketing projects and the launch of a new product line.  

Shadowed Goody's Young Men'g product development team, technical designers and merchants.  

Learned the product development role from beginning to end.  

Communicated daily with suppliers. 

Successfully completed the project of launching a young men's jewelry line.  

Sourced new vendors and samples to present to product development and merchandising teams.  

Negotiated jewelry prices and placed initial orders.