Jonathan Ray
Clinton,MS
Summary
Buying footwear at Fleet Feet Jackson has fostered skills in inventory management, footwear tech, communications on the vendor and customer side, and time management. Having an engineering background allows for an analytical approach to retail buying. I am excited to pursue new opportunities in run specialty which is my expertise and passion.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Footwear Buyer/Events Team/Outfitter
Fleet Feet Jackson
01.2021 - Current
- Two plus years experience managing $800k footwear inventory for top 10 Fleet Feet franchise composed of three doors across Mississippi and Louisiana
- Analyze historical data and work with vendor representatives to determine unique assortment for two markets and make buying decisions for 11 specialty footwear brands in order to optimize sell through and profitability
- Re-evaluated buying plan and maintained flexibility during multiple droughts of inventory caused by global supply chain crisis
- Ensure customers purchase optimal footwear to suit their gait and activity needs
- Coordinate brand involvement at community events around product launches and strategic sales pushes
- Responsible for 12.5% increase in On footwear sales in the Jackson market since 2021 and 13.5% increase at Monroe location since acquisition in August 2022
Apparel Buyer
Fleet Feet Jackson
10.2019 - 06.2022
- Managed five apparel brands at two locations
- Grew On mens apparel sales by 244% in first year of buying
- Used Open to Buy tool to keep budget on track
Research Mechanical Engineer
U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center
06.2014 - 01.2019
- Developed innovative engineering solutions to verify and validate models of mobility systems, ensuring their operational effectiveness in real world scenarios
- Collaborate with other research teams, engineers, and military personnel to identify desired capabilities in robotic platforms and unmanned aerial vehicles in military operations, ensuring their compatibility and effectiveness in challenging terrain
- Wrote software code and integrated existing programs into super computing capabilities to allow for rapid modeling of vehicle dynamics.
- Planned four data collection experiments from beginning to end, focusing on timelines, budgets and reporting of results
Education
Undeclared -
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS08.2019
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering -
The University of Mississippi
Oxford, MS05.2014
Skills
- Purchase Order Management
- Organization
- Vendor Relations
- Inventory Management
- Forecasting
- Community Outreach
- Sales Experience
- Strategic Planning
- Customer Service
Timeline
Footwear Buyer/Events Team/Outfitter
Fleet Feet Jackson
01.2021 - Current
Apparel Buyer
Fleet Feet Jackson
10.2019 - 06.2022
Research Mechanical Engineer
U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center
06.2014 - 01.2019
Undeclared -
Mississippi College
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering -
The University of Mississippi