Kristina Weisel
Toms River,NJ
Summary
Strategic and data-driven Buyer with 10+ years experience in multi-category retail, specializing in omni-channel assortment planning, vendor negotiation, and profit optimization. Proven ability to manage $150M+ businesses, launch trend forward assortments, and lead sourcing initiatives that deliver margin growth and operational efficiency. Experiences across home, furniture, tabletop and apparel categories. Seeking to leverage deep buying expertise and cross-functional leadership in a growth-focused merchandising role.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Buyer - Indirect Procurement
Wakefern Food Corp
Edison, NJ
06.2023 - Current
- Optimized procurement strategies, overseeing supplier negotiations and driving cost efficiencies to achieve $1M+ in annual savings.
- Refined purchase order processes, ensuring budgetary alignment and contract compliance while improving supplier performance.
- Identified strategic partnerships through market analysis, securing 10% lower costs on essential procurement categories.
- Developed data-driven forecasting models, reducing procurement cycle time and enhancing decision-making in cost allocation.
- Implemented supplier performance tracking, increasing on-time delivery rates by 20% and reducing vendor-related disruptions.
Buyer-Tabletop & Kitchen Electrics
Bed Bath & Beyond
Union, NJ
07.2022 - 06.2023
- Managed a $150M+ omni-channel business, creating trend-right assortments through private label development and national brand presence.
- Collaborated with planning partners to develop and monitor OTB strategies ensuring balanced buys and timely receipts.
- Expanded digital merchandising strategies, driving 20% e-commerce sales growth.
- Reduced excess inventory by 25% through promotional planning and increased marketing to optimize product lifecycle planning and seasonal transitions.
- Secured $115K in promotional vendor funding, enhancing category visibility and marketing reach.
Associate Buyer - Furniture & Mattresses
Bed Bath & Beyond
Union, NJ
08.2020 - 07.2022
- Led purchasing operations for an $80M+ category, implementing strategies that boosted online revenue by 125%.
- Lead the development and assortment strategy to create trend-right youth driven assortment for Back to College, and holiday gifting .
- Developed private label assortments through direct sourcing and white labeling, increasing market share by 15% through targeted merchandising efforts.
- Launched data-driven consumer engagement initiatives through online chat feature, improving direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales by 20%.
- Streamlined category budgeting, reducing operational costs by 15% through better demand forecasting.
Assistant Buyer - Lighting
Bed Bath & Beyond
Union, NJ
03.2017 - 08.2020
- Developed new product lines, boosting category sales by 30% and securing 10% cost reductions.
- Improved inventory management, reducing slow-moving stock by 50% while increasing profitability.
- Led cross-functional collaborations, improving product launch efficiencies.
- Managed vendor negotiations, securing long-term contracts that secured funding for future markdowns up to 30% off.
- Monitored vendor performance through vendor scorecard reporting to ensure on-time delivery and track return percentages.
Assistant Buyer - Women's/Junior's Apparel & Swim
B&B Department Store
Brick, NJ
12.2014 - 03.2017
- Managed category buying, implementing trend-driven assortments that increased seasonal sales by 15%.
- Established vendor relationships, reducing lead times and improving sell-through rates.
- Developed competitive pricing strategies, leading to 5% margin growth.
- Enhanced product placement strategies, increasing foot traffic by 15%.
Intern/Showroom Sales Assistant
Anna Sui
New York, NY
01.2014 - 12.2014
- Assisted team in project coordination and scheduling tasks effectively.
- Prepared presentations and reports to communicate findings to stakeholders clearly.
- Managed documentation for projects, ensuring accuracy and organization throughout.
- Supported senior staff in analyzing data and identifying trends for decision-making.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising
Berkely College
Woodbridge, NJ05-2014
Skills
- Retail Buying & Category Management
- Vendor Negotiation & Supplier Relations
- Omni-Channel Merchandising & E-Commerce Optimization
- Strategic Sourcing & Private Label Development
- Budgeting, Cost Control & Financial Forecasting
- Inventory Planning & Supply Chain Efficiency
- Data-Driven Decision Making & Market Trend Analysis
- Promotional Planning & Consumer Insights
Systems
- SAP
- JDA
- Oracle
- Microstrategy
- Tableau
Timeline
Buyer - Indirect Procurement
Wakefern Food Corp
06.2023 - Current
Buyer-Tabletop & Kitchen Electrics
Bed Bath & Beyond
07.2022 - 06.2023
Associate Buyer - Furniture & Mattresses
Bed Bath & Beyond
08.2020 - 07.2022
Assistant Buyer - Lighting
Bed Bath & Beyond
03.2017 - 08.2020
Assistant Buyer - Women's/Junior's Apparel & Swim
B&B Department Store
12.2014 - 03.2017
Intern/Showroom Sales Assistant
Anna Sui
01.2014 - 12.2014
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising
Berkely College
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