Kara Nowak

• Manage concept, edit and buy sessions to assist in generating an average of $170M in sales or 45% of total office on an annual basis.
• Led business review and product buy meetings with management and key stakeholders
• Working with planning, production and design partners on chase and agility models.
• Determined markdown cadence and styles in partnership with sr. buyer and planner.
• Lead and mentor other assistant and associate merchants in the kids' division.

• Managed cost negotiations in order to meet financial objectives with a focus on IMU.
• Partnered with sourcing team to achieve target IMU plans, make seasonal fabric projections, and drive improvements in costs, delivery, and other vendor-related matters.
• Assisted in developing the company initiative for Adaptive clothing.
• Worked closely with design and art team to add a buying perspective prior to meeting with merchants on assortment.

• Lead strategy, development and product assortment to optimize sales growth.
• Ensured allocation strategy was executed with appropriate inventory across all channels: retail stores, customer web, and print catalog.

Key contributor to the company wear-to-work initiative

• Developed a business framework that in turn delivered strong financial results.

-Fiscal 2016 sales of $11M or up +$2M to 2015; +$970K to plan

-Gross margin sales of $7.2M or up +$2M; +$840K to plan

-Analyzed current and historical sales of product performance in relation to floor placement.

-Created Sr. Leadership documents with overview of sales plans and placement profitability.

FY14 delivered the best year in Skirts/Dresses reaching $31M in annual sales by capitalizing on key driving silhouettes.

Assisted in building customer appropriate assortments.