Melissa Arnell
Chesterfield,NJ
Summary
Driven Buyer with over 20 years of retail experience. Concentrated focus on exceeding sales and gross margin plans while providing trend right assortments that are appropriate balance of Good/Better/Best as well as Branded/Unbranded. Utilize strong business analytics, vendor partnerships and clear execution of merchandise strategies to consistently drive results. Move with a sense of urgency to drive sales trends and react to current business trends while working with the financial parameters given by the company. Exemplifies strong leadership skills to encourage growth through coaching in the moment through influential leadership leading to consistent growth of talent.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Buyer Decorative Pillows, Outdoor, and Trim
Burlington Stores Inc
Burlington, NJ
03.2022 - Current
- Effectively communicates strategic vision to Senior Leadership.
- Successfully drives business through informed decisions making process that is cultivated through fact based data. Provides actionable direction to the team on how to make what is working bigger and address the downside.
- Partner with DMM and planning to ensure we are maximizing the business. Providing clear expectations of the needs of the business both short term and long term.
- Leads team in execution of seasonal strategies; through extensive competitive shopping, and trend research and vendor direction to ensure impactful results.
- Be a student of the business; continue to be self critical in order to push both the team and business forward.
Senior Buyer Decorative Pillows, Throws/Blankets
Burlington Stores Inc.
Burlington, NJ
02.2020 - 03.2022
- Use FQBP and negotiating skills to deliver trend right assortments at exceptional values.
- Responsible for driving the team to build assortments reflective of both every day and seasonal product mix. Ensure product is trend right and timing supports rack strategies.
- Maintain strong vendor relationships that translate into business driving opportunities for the company. Influence the market while maintaining a positive reputation.
- Accountable for growth of direct reports as well as positive influence for total division.
Senior Buyer - Bath/Utility Bedding
Burlington Stores Inc.
Burlington, NJ
03.2019 - 02.2020
- Participated in continuous business initiatives, contributing to distort big ideas and maximize key vendors.
- Use analytical insights to make informed buying decisions that positively impacted the bottom line and turn faster.
- Leveraged market intelligence, store visits, and performance with urgency.
- Responsible for creating clear, flexible and executable strategies for the business.
- Coached team to successfully deliver on the off-price model chasing key drivers while reducing underperforming styles.
Buyer
Burlington Stores Inc.
Burlington, NJ
02.2014 - 02.2019
- Used analytical reasoning and reporting to respond quickly to strong-performing business and minimizing risk.
- Consistently exceeded company's aggressive goals for department. Growth driven by companies target of getting home to be 15% of total business.
- Leveraged analytical skills, market intel, and planning partner's perspective to guide merchandise strategy. Consistently executed clear vision of the floor showing distinct assortment updates every 60 days.
- Successfully grew brand penetration 15% to 70% while continuing to meet corporate financial goals
- Partnered with DMM to develop merchandise assortments for private label brands creating clear fashion, quality, and value direction.
- Shopped all channels of distribution to ensure assortment was competitive identifying new resources, emerging trends, and capitalize on white space.
Buyer
Burlington Stores Inc., Baby Depot Division
Burlington, NJ
01.2006 - 02.2014
- Drove sales growth through strong negotiating, distorting big ideas and reacting to business trends
- Managed fifteen classifications including: health & baby care, nursery accessories, travel, bath, bibs, teething, safety, hair accessories, nursing, infant, and toddler feeding, gift, picture frames, gift wrap and diaper bags; totaling $70 million in annual sales
- Collaborated with key vendors to create unique products which differentiated the assortment from the competition.
- Responsible for developing Designer Diaper Bag line totaling $4 million in annual sales.
- Maintained strong business relationships with key vendors in the juvenile industry.
- Collaborated closely with the DMM and Planning to ensure that we were properly funding classifications based on sales trends, maintaining liquidity targets and meeting corporate sales goals.
- Created an assortment that was a proper balance of opportunistic, in-line, and upfront purchases
Assistant Buyer
Burlington Stores Inc., Baby Depot Division
Burlington, NJ
01.2004 - 01.2006
- Assisted in managing all aspects of the assortment building and planning.
- Gained clear understanding of business acumen and how to partner with planning and allocation to drive business.
- Effectively managed PO submission, PO tracking, and calendar for buyer.
- Supported team's preparation for market appointments by analyzing business and providing feedback to buyer.
- Assisted in developing seasonal buying plans, ensuring optimal merchandise assortment to meet customer demands.
Production Assistant
Fleurette
New York, NY
06.2003 - 12.2003
- Placed and tracked manufacturing orders with factories to ensure on time deliveries.
- Logged purchase orders and managed changes to minimize charge backs from key accounts.
- Communicated with buyers regarding order placement, deliveries, samples, and promotional events.
- Assisted in inspection of manufactured goods to ensure quality of garments.
Assistant Merchandiser
Mamiye Brothers
New York, NY
12.2002 - 05.2003
- Collaborated with team of designers to forecast future trends in children's apparel.
- Participated in development and launch of several merchandise lines for major retailers.
- Assisted design team in creating and presenting product boards to major corporate accounts.
Education
Master of Science - Accounting And Business Management
La Salle University School of Business Administration
Philadelphia, PA12.2008
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising
Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York
New York, NY05.2003
Skills
- Strategizing
- Negotiation
- Relationship Building
- Influencing skills
- Trend assessment
- Analyzing data
- Consistently driving results
- Strong Communication
- Adaptable
- Self Aware
- Influential
Timeline
Senior Buyer Decorative Pillows, Outdoor, and Trim
Burlington Stores Inc
03.2022 - Current
Senior Buyer Decorative Pillows, Throws/Blankets
Burlington Stores Inc.
02.2020 - 03.2022
Senior Buyer - Bath/Utility Bedding
Burlington Stores Inc.
03.2019 - 02.2020
Buyer
Burlington Stores Inc.
02.2014 - 02.2019
Buyer
Burlington Stores Inc., Baby Depot Division
01.2006 - 02.2014
Assistant Buyer
Burlington Stores Inc., Baby Depot Division
01.2004 - 01.2006
Production Assistant
Fleurette
06.2003 - 12.2003
Assistant Merchandiser
Mamiye Brothers
12.2002 - 05.2003
Master of Science - Accounting And Business Management
La Salle University School of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising
Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York