Karimba Allen
West Orange,NJ
Summary
Retail leader with 8+ years of experience in sales, merchandising, inventory management, and team development. Selected for Nordstrom’s Merchants in the Making program, gaining hands-on exposure to buying, assortment planning, and trend forecasting. Skilled in analyzing sales data, supporting assortment decisions, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize inventory flow and product placement. Passionate about delivering customer-first assortments and building a career in buying.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchants in the Making – Assistant Buyer Training
Nordstrom & Parsons School of Design
Edison, New Jersey
03.2025 - 05.2025
- I was selected as 1 of 10 participants company-wide for a competitive 10-week merchandising development program designed to fast-track high performing leaders into corporate buying roles.
- Completed a Parsons-led Fashion Buying course covering retail math, trend forecasting, assortment planning, inventory management, and vendor negotiations.
- Gained exposure to the full retail buying life cycle including product selection, pricing strategy, and consumer behavior analytics.
- Conducted market and competitor analysis to inform product curation and align merchandise with evolving customer preferences.
- Participated in hands-on learning with Nordstrom's Merchandising Group, shadowing buyers and planners to understand cross-functional collaboration and vendor relations.
- Applied Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP) to analyze retail data and simulate buying scenarios supporting merchandise planning.
- Developed merchandising strategies based on fashion and consumer trends with a focus on value and profitability.
- Balanced full-time department manager responsibilities with intensive program coursework, demonstrating time management and strong work ethic.
Department Manager
Nordstrom
Edison, New Jersey
08.2023 - Current
- Manage a $4M business, overseeing sales performance, inventory flow, and visual merchandising to optimize profitability and achieve revenue targets.
- Collaborate with vendors and internal buying teams to communicate customer feedback, identify best sellers, and adjust product placement to increase sell-through.
- Analyze daily and weekly selling reports to monitor trends and take action on underperforming categories through markdowns or re-merchandising.
- Partner with visual and store teams to execute floor sets and seasonal transitions, ensuring alignment with brand standards.
- Coach and develop a team of stylists to maximize client experience, resulting in consistent achievement of department sales goals.
Assistant Department Manager
Nordstrom
Short Hills, New Jersey
10.2021 - 08.2023
- Supported department operations, including sales tracking, floor set execution, and team coaching.
- Assisted with seasonal product launches and visual merchandising efforts to maximize sales.
- Provided feedback to department leadership on customer preferences and product performance.
Content Creator
Freelance
West Orange, New Jersey
08.2020 - Current
- Develop high-quality digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content, including styling, photography, video, and social media campaigns, for notable brands such as True Religion, Gap, Valentino Beauty, Merit Beauty, Call It Spring, and Just Fab to drive engagement.
- Conduct trend research to ensure content aligns with current market preferences and customer interests.
- Collaborate with brands to support marketing campaigns and product promotion strategies.
- Track engagement metrics and audience insights to refine creative direction and improve reach.
Sales Associate
Nordstrom
Short Hills, New Jersey
03.2020 - 10.2021
- Delivered personalized styling and customer service to build lasting client relationships.
- Participated in product launches and assisted with seasonal floor changes to maintain strong visual presentation.
Manager
Fittingroomgala Boutique
South Orange, New Jersey
06.2017 - 03.2020
- Managed boutique operations including inventory management, staff oversight, and visual merchandising.
- Collaborated with wholesale vendors to select products based on market demand and customer preferences.
- Led a small team to achieve sales goals, coaching on product knowledge and customer service.
- Built client relationships through personalized styling services and customer engagement.
- Used trend analysis to inform pricing and assortment strategies.
Sales Associate
Fittingroomgala Boutique
South Orange, New Jersey
06.2017 - 10.2018
- Assisted in product selection, styling, and event planning for store promotions.
- Maintained visual merchandising and inventory standards to optimize sales.
- Built client relationships through personalized styling and product recommendations.
Education
Bachelor of Arts -
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ01-2017
Skills
- Assortment Planning & Trend Analysis
- Inventory Flow & Stock Management
- Vendor Relations & Communication
- Retail Math & Sales Analysis
- Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP)
- Visual Merchandising & Floor Sets
- Team Leadership & Coaching
- Customer Engagement & Feedback Integration
Timeline
Merchants in the Making – Assistant Buyer Training
Nordstrom & Parsons School of Design
03.2025 - 05.2025
Department Manager
Nordstrom
08.2023 - Current
Assistant Department Manager
Nordstrom
10.2021 - 08.2023
Content Creator
Freelance
08.2020 - Current
Sales Associate
Nordstrom
03.2020 - 10.2021
Manager
Fittingroomgala Boutique
06.2017 - 03.2020
Sales Associate
Fittingroomgala Boutique
06.2017 - 10.2018
Bachelor of Arts -
Montclair State University
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