Michele Olbrys
Clark,USA
Summary
Results-driven Key Account Senior Manager with 20 years of experience in the industry, currently overseeing $100m revenue portfolio at L'Oreal. Proven track record of driving strategic growth, strengthening key retail partnerships, and delivering sustainable topline and bottom line results. Expert in omni channel account management, sales forecasting, and cross-functional collaboration.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager, Key Accounts - Specialty
02.2025 - Current
- Accountable for $100M in retail and net sales goals across assigned retailer accounts
- Manage P&L for all assigned retailer and wholesale accounts, ensuring profitability and strategic alignment
- Lead buy negotiations in collaboration with Head of Sales and AVP, National Accounts
- Oversee topline stock strategy and execution, including ordering, stock monitoring, and maintaining optimal product mix in-store
- Proactively address low/out-of-stock situations and manage stock and sales plans
- Own weekly, monthly, and annual forecasting and planning across brick-and-mortar and .com channels
- Collaborate with CGO Commercial Planning and BU Business Development O+O teams to drive sales performance
- Partner cross-functionally (Marketing, Sales Ops, Finance, Demand Planning, Education, Field) to develop account-specific strategies that grow market share
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture that motivates and inspires
- Maintain and manage account calendars, including key activities and promotional events
Manager – Strategic Planning
07.2024 - 02.2025
- Build and execute the Sell-in Strategies for Nordstrom/Rack, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman for Giorgio Armani and YSL accounts to maximize its goal of retails and net sales, annual sales volume of $50m.
- Strategically plan and forecast retail sales, gross sales and leap deductions to drive overall consolidated net growth
- Partner with each account and customer service to oversee all aspects of the Order Write process; including weekly communication to leadership to achieve net targets
- Partner with Marketing on Events, Visuals, Assets, Media and Launches
- Conduct assortment optimization analysis to ensure each account has balanced and productive inventory
- Analyze and recap weekly sales to report back to leadership team, field and retail partners
- Meet with the buying teams/accounts bi-weekly to review sales, upcoming events/promotions, new product launches and other topics.
Interim Senior Manager – Strategic Planning (contract)
L’Oreal – Kiehl’s
11.2023 - 07.2024
- Build and execute the Sell-in Strategies for Nordstrom/Rack, Dillard’s, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman for Kiehl’s Since 1851 accounts to maximize its goal of retails and net sales, annual sales volume of $56m.
- Strategically plan and forecast retail sales, gross sales and leap deductions to drive overall consolidated net growth
- Partner with each account and customer service to oversee all aspects of the Order Write process; including weekly communication to leadership to achieve net targets
- Partner with Marketing on Events, Visuals, Assets, Media and Launches
- Conduct assortment optimization analysis to ensure each account has balanced and productive inventory
- Analyze and recap weekly sales to report back to leadership team, field and retail partners
- Meet with the buying teams/accounts bi-weekly to review sales, upcoming events/promotions, new product launches and other topics.
- Manage communication and bi-weekly webinars with Dillard’s account managers to discuss business, opportunities, launches/product, upcoming events, and other topics.
- Manage and maintain all Leap tactics for all accounts: inputting all tactics, maintaining them in season and clearing deductions with credit teams
Buyer
Christmas Tree Shops
11.2021 - 07.2023
- Responsible for the Furniture, Wall Décor, Lighting, Home Décor Accessories (Everyday, Summer & Wedding) business which represents about $40m of the total company’s annual sales
- Introduced in 2022 bath furniture which was about $500k in less than 10 months
- Introduced in 2022 a mix and match lamps program which consisted of shades and bases. Annual sales $500k (since July)
- Grew the Home Décor Accessories business (Summer, Everyday and Wedding) by $1.4m in 2022, GM of 60% +300BP
- Partner daily with the planner to monitor open to buy, forecast sales, review markdowns, trends, and business review
- Plan assortment strategies for seasonal businesses to present to senior management
- Pull together product to feature in our monthly e-blasts for our marketing channel
- Consistently working with our overseas office to source product within these areas
- Work closely with design/fashion director on development for company trends to ensure there is a cohesive presentation on the floor
- Partner with allocation team bi-weekly on strategies to optimize flow, identify strong trends, create achievable sales plan, and execute strategies
- Hired and developed staff through coaching and provide performance feedback
- Lead buyer for the Spring & Halloween Seasonal Trend committee for the company
Associate Buyer
Christmas Tree Shops
03.2018 - 11.2021
- Responsible for the Apparel (including seasonal), Fashion Accessories, Footwear and Totes/Reusables business which represents about $18m of the total company’s annual sales – sales growth of $3m, GM 50.1% vs. 45.1% +500BP
- Launched the luggage business in 2021 which did $1m, GM of 45%
- Grew the slippers business to $2.6m from $1.9m
- Worked with my peers in company trend meetings to collectively bring together trend ideas, presentations, and advertisements
- Partner daily with the planner to discuss buys, opportunities, markdowns, trends, and business
- Collaborate with the allocations team to ensure merchandise gets pushed out for store sets - grids, seasonal merchandise, ad product
- Plan, analyze and buy for our advertising channels - eblasts and print
Associate Buyer/Planner
Bed Bath & Beyond - CTS
09.2016 - 03.2018
- Created and analyzed financial analysis on sales performance, AUR, gross margins, wos, and sell through
- Managed and initiated the markdowns for the andThat! Concept
- Worked with the store field to discuss inventory flow, merchandise setups, markdowns, and sales
- Organized and participated in the advertisements monthly
- Involved in opening Jacksonville, Kennesaw, Woodland Park, Rehoboth Beach and Fairfax andThat! stores
- Was responsible for the register queue product for the andThat! Stores
- Determined quarterly trends for the concept
Associate Buyer
Century 21 Department Stores
07.2014 - 09.2016
- Responsible for the jewelry business which included Ladies’ and Men’s Fashion and Better which represented $4.2m of the total company’s annual sales
- Grew the Jewelry caseline business from 17% in 2014 to 29% in 2016
- Revamped the jewelry department: trade the customer up in terms of price, quality, and brand
- Adhered to the six-month plans: MD $, EOM, BOM, sales and receipts
Assistant Buyer II – Denim/Active/Swimwear
Century 21 Department Stores
04.2013 - 07.2014
- Coordinated and collaborated with ecommerce planners/merchants re: sales, events, and new merchandise
- Touch based weekly with planner for Jewelry to discuss buys, opportunities, sales, voids and forecast trends
- Worked side-by-side with senior management to open the Philadelphia and Green Acre store; currently assigned to open Citi Point, Brooklyn and Sawgrass, Fl
- Involved in launching a fine Jewelry department at Century 21 in our NYDT and Sawgrass, Fla stores and Ecom
Assistant Buyer – Junior Sportswear
Century 21 Department Stores
12.2010 - 04.2013
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising Management
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY05.2010
Associate of Applied Science - Fashion Merchandising Management
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY12.2008
Associate of Applied Science - Business Administration
Brookdale Community College
Lincroft, NJ05.2007
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Data-driven decision making
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Troubleshooting and problem resolution
- Process improvement
- Problem-solving
- Training and development
- Decision-making
- Excellent communication
Timeline
Senior Manager, Key Accounts - Specialty
02.2025 - Current
Manager – Strategic Planning
07.2024 - 02.2025
Interim Senior Manager – Strategic Planning (contract)
L’Oreal – Kiehl’s
11.2023 - 07.2024
Buyer
Christmas Tree Shops
11.2021 - 07.2023
Associate Buyer
Christmas Tree Shops
03.2018 - 11.2021
Associate Buyer/Planner
Bed Bath & Beyond - CTS
09.2016 - 03.2018
Associate Buyer
Century 21 Department Stores
07.2014 - 09.2016
Assistant Buyer II – Denim/Active/Swimwear
Century 21 Department Stores
04.2013 - 07.2014
Assistant Buyer – Junior Sportswear
Century 21 Department Stores
12.2010 - 04.2013
Associate of Applied Science - Fashion Merchandising Management
Fashion Institute of Technology
Associate of Applied Science - Business Administration
Brookdale Community College
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising Management
Fashion Institute of Technology