MCKENZIE BAJTOS
Austin,TX
Summary
Creative and detail-oriented merchandising and brand production professional with hands-on experience executing branded merchandise, apparel, print, and event assets from concept through delivery. Skilled in vendor sourcing, production coordination, and managing timelines, budgets, and approvals across cross-functional teams. Passionate about turning creative ideas into high-quality, tangible brand experiences, while maintaining consistency, organization, and attention to detail.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Merchandising
Lane Boots
Austin, TX
06.2025 - Current
- Owned end-to-end branded merchandise and production from concept through delivery, including apparel, packaging, gifting, event assets, and retail materials, ensuring alignment with brand standards, budgets, and timelines.
- Served as the central cross-functional partner for merch and print initiatives, collaborating with Brand, Creative, Marketing, PR, Field, and Operations teams to execute seasonal launches and campaign moments.
- Built and managed vendor relationships and production workflows, overseeing sourcing, costing, sampling, approvals, and long-lead international timelines while maintaining quality and cost efficiency.
- Developed systems, trackers, and reporting to manage production status, inventory coordination, POs, and spend, improving visibility, on-time delivery, and execution consistency.
Patient Coordinator / Medical Assistant
Westlake Dermatology
06.2023 - 01.2025
- Patient preparation and interaction: Rooming patients, patient education, photos, and consent
- Inventory and supply management: Stocking and ordering necessary supplies
- Scheduling and appointment management: Booking appointments and appointment reminders
- Patient communication and support: Initial point of contact, answering inquiries, patient education
- Insurance + billing coordination: Insurance verification and billing assistance
Merchandiser, Women's Apparel
Gap, Inc.
03.2022 - 06.2023
- Responsible for preseason, in-season, and post-season product development, all copywriting, and performance from a global, omni channel perspective
- Create assortment strategy (~200 SKUs/quarter) that drives YoY growth for the brand, 156M, 15% growth
- Partner with Design counterparts to develop a seasonal line plan by delivery, style, and SKU
- Manage seasonal consumer trials for consumer feedback and data which led to brainstorming new merchandising ideas and improvements to existing products
- Analyze and present market trends, anticipated consumer needs, and purchasing habits to VP leaders on a weekly and quarterly hindsight basis to identify short-term and long-term market strategies
- Collaborate with Planning team to seasonally buy plan sales and inventory
- Work closely with Product Engineering and Production to manage profitable margins, responsible and strategic sourcing, and on-time deliveries
- Traveled to various locations for routine competitor shopping to stay informed and cognizant of trend and whitespace
- Utilize brand filters to translate trends to be customer appropriate.
Assistant Merchandiser, Women's Apparel
Gap, Inc.
04.2020 - 03.2022
Merchandising Growth & Development Trainee
Gap, Inc.
07.2020 - 08.2021
Merchandise Coordinator
Gap, Inc.
05.2019 - 08.2020
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising, Communication Studies
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX05.2019
Skills
- Branded Merchandise & Print Production
- Apparel, Gifting & Event Asset Execution
- Vendor Sourcing & Relationship Management
- Production Timelines & Long-Lead Management
- Costing, Budget Tracking & PO Management
- Sampling, Approvals & Quality Control
- Cross-Functional Collaboration (Brand, Creative, Marketing, PR, Field)
- Merch & Inventory Tracking Systems
- Process Development & Workflow Optimization
- Project & Schedule Management
- Brand Consistency & Visual Standards
- Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Slides)
- End-to-end merchandising
- Excel / Airtable
- Project Management Tools (Miro)
- Presentation Development & Creative Briefing
Timeline
Director of Merchandising
Lane Boots
06.2025 - Current
Patient Coordinator / Medical Assistant
Westlake Dermatology
06.2023 - 01.2025
Merchandiser, Women's Apparel
Gap, Inc.
03.2022 - 06.2023
Merchandising Growth & Development Trainee
Gap, Inc.
07.2020 - 08.2021
Assistant Merchandiser, Women's Apparel
Gap, Inc.
04.2020 - 03.2022
Merchandise Coordinator
Gap, Inc.
05.2019 - 08.2020
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising, Communication Studies
Texas Christian University