Megan Ailish Costello
Jacksonville,FL
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchandise Planner
Southern Tide
Remote: Jacksonville, FL
06.2023 - 02.2026
- Buying and planning for the women's and custom business across all categories in DTC and wholesale.
- Create and manage comprehensive sales, margin, receipt, and inventory plans for all channels
- Collaborate with merchants to develop assortment strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Monitor and analyze inventory productivity metrics, including stock-to-sales ratios and weeks of supply.
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce costs, and maximize profits.
- Manage product creation, assortment, and product offerings for custom product across all stores and for all events.
Senior Merchandise Manager
Herve Leger & Zac Posen (Centric Brands)
05.2021 - 05.2023
- Advanced to Senior Merchandise Manager, maintained position and added Zac Posen
Merchandise Manager
Herve Leger (Centric Brands)
New York, NY
01.2019 - 05.2021
- Oversaw merchandising, buying, planning, and allocation for all direct-to-consumer channels, including HL free-standing shops, HL e-commerce, HL outlets, and shop-in-shop boutiques within Bloomingdale's and bloomingdales.com.
- Developed open-to-buy plans and SKU assortment strategies for each location.
- Created daily, weekly, and monthly plans for eight Bloomingdales boutiques and outlets.
- Managed merchandise flow to stores and e-commerce platforms, optimizing stock levels.
- Conducted quarterly store visits and product knowledge seminars to enhance team expertise.
- Executed markdown and point-of-sale strategies across all divisions to maximize sales.
- Directed e-commerce merchandising, including content layout and copy management.
- Collaborated with Bloomingdales on shop locations, promotions, and strategic initiatives.
- Manage the Shopify account for HL Ecommerce, uploading all copy, pricing, images, and copy.
- Participated in all ecommerce photoshoots creating shot list, marketing images list, styling of items
Merchandise Planning Manager Consultant
Ralph Lauren Home
New York, NY
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Participated in pre-season merchandising to align product assortment strategies with global standards.
- Developed assortment plans for all product categories, supporting financial objectives.
- Facilitated communication between Merchandising, Account Planning, and Sales teams.
- Analyzed historical and in-season sales data to inform future planning and development.
- Conducted weekly and monthly performance analyses using key business reports to monitor sales and inventory levels.
- Provided analytical insights to partners to guide future investment decisions and report on deliverables.
- Collaborated with global planning on annual unit purchase estimates for each delivery period, recommending flow and sales strategies.
Buyer Consultant
Tourneau
New York, NY
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Analyzed weekly, monthly, and yearly sales and inventory plans
- Created plans for exiting out of dated merchandise to markdown, rtv, or send to outlet
- Communicated with all vendors on markdown strategy
- Managed all weekly reorders, rtvs, and consolidations within the stores
Women's Collection Merchandiser
Calvin Klein Collection
New York, NY
08.2015 - 12.2016
- Collaborated with wholesale and buying teams to deliver accurate product, style, and pricing information.
- Attended design fittings, offering feedback to adhere to budget and line plan.
- Conducted comprehensive market research and analysis on products and competitors.
- Monitored industry trends, fabrics, garment construction, and techniques.
- Tracked seasonal product line development, analyzing plan versus actual performance.
- Developed product line planning and pricing processes based on historical sales data.
- Delivered seasonal training packages for wholesale and retail teams on new products.
- Analyzed seasonal sell-out and sell-in data, generating reports on best and worst sellers.
Buyer
Faconnable
New York, NY
04.2013 - 07.2015
- Buyer of Women's ready to wear, accessories, and shoes for US Boutiques and Outlets
- Planned and executed all buy prep financials for all collections by door
- Execution of the merchandise planning and assortment
- Provided daily support and communications to boutiques on product needs and action plans
- Created product selection for US boutiques during Paris/Nice market in collaboration with global merchandising plan
- Worked with the Europe and Asia buyers to create a global buy to create cohesiveness in all stores and to proactively plan for minimum issues
- Conducted all product trainings within the US stores four times a year
- Performed weekly consolidations and re-allocations to full price boutiques
- Managed the men's and women's assortments, inventory and flow of merchandise to all outlet stores
- Collaborated and influenced visual departments and boutiques on visual merchandising strategy
- Provided all communication to US stores on new collection marketing placements
Retail Coordinator/Buyer
Emilio Pucci (LVMH Fashion Division)
New York, NY
10.2011 - 04.2013
- Prepared OTB for each collection by store; conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis of previous collections.
- Collaborated with retail management to create product selection for US stores and Ecommerce during Milan market.
- Executed weekly, monthly, and periodic reporting, including forecasts, sell-through rates, and stock analysis.
- Managed inventory across all US stores; performed weekly inter-store transfers to enhance sell-through by style.
- Traveled quarterly to US stores for associate training on new collections and understanding business needs.
- Coordinated logistics for merchandising and deliveries for all store openings and closings.
- Compiled and distributed weekly visual merchandising reports by store based on purchases and deliveries.
- Executed visual merchandising in NY store bi-monthly alongside the store manager.
Assistant Buyer
Theory
New York, NY
09.2010 - 10.2011
- Facilitated product selection for Theory, Helmut Lang, and Theyskens Theory across 19 outlet stores.
- Utilized advanced Excel, Blue Cherry, and KWI for markdown and pricing management.
- Produced weekly sales reports and managed replenishment programs to optimize inventory.
- Oversaw markdowns and holiday promotions to enhance sales performance.
- Coordinated weekly store transfers and end-of-season RTV programs efficiently.
- Developed a cut-up merchandise program using leftover fabric based on past best sellers, achieving 35-40% participation.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Art & Art History
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA05.2009
Timeline
Merchandise Planner
Southern Tide
06.2023 - 02.2026
Senior Merchandise Manager
Herve Leger & Zac Posen (Centric Brands)
05.2021 - 05.2023
Merchandise Manager
Herve Leger (Centric Brands)
01.2019 - 05.2021
Merchandise Planning Manager Consultant
Ralph Lauren Home
01.2018 - 01.2019
Buyer Consultant
Tourneau
01.2017 - 01.2018
Women's Collection Merchandiser
Calvin Klein Collection
08.2015 - 12.2016
Buyer
Faconnable
04.2013 - 07.2015
Retail Coordinator/Buyer
Emilio Pucci (LVMH Fashion Division)
10.2011 - 04.2013
Assistant Buyer
Theory
09.2010 - 10.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Art & Art History
Bucknell University