MOLLY PHELPS
Kent,USA
Summary
Combining design with strategic planning, I deliver impactful displays that drive engagement, sales and ensure seamless project execution. Dynamic Senior Visual Merchandising Category Strategist with a combined 10+ years of demonstrated success in the retail industry surpassing objectives, retaining clientele, and upholding a strong reputation for customer satisfaction. Talent for devising creative strategies with a proven knowledge of sales analysis, project management and negotiating skills.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Visual Merchandising Category Strategist
JOANN Inc.
Hudson, OH
2023.09 - Current
- Mastered visual merchandising strategies for over 800 retail locations, ensuring consistency and alignment with overall brand objectives
- Surpassed the Needle Arts annual sales target by 9% by analyzing floor plans and enhancing shop productivity
- Optimized and managed a $5 million annual budget, sourcing materials and hardware within budget constraints while ensuring high-quality standards for over 150+ annual print jobs
- Developed and executed cohesive visual merchandising strategies for an incremental $30M in sales for the Fabany private label launch, aligning with brand guidelines and customer preferences
- Led the successful expansion of a Yarn Shop to 800+ stores in under 3 months, working closely with internal teams to swiftly finalize product assortments and store execution
- Achieved an incremental $10 million in sales through strategic inventory management and visual merchandising initiatives that enhanced product placement and displays for the yarn expansion
Visual Merchandising Marketing Planner
JOANN Inc.
Hudson, OH
2021.08 - 2023.09
- Plan and execute in-store marketing campaigns that align with brand objectives, seasonal initiatives, and sales goals to drive customer engagement and increase sales by 4% year over year
- Managed a sector budget of $1.6M to implement cost-effective in-store marketing campaigns that delivered a high ROI
- Attained a 17% increase in sales for the Needle Arts and Fabric teams by refining in-store presentations and partnering with the design team to create visuals for diverse marketing campaigns
- Crafted and presented over 45 strategy briefs for in-store marketing and visual merchandising campaigns to the executive leadership team, directly impacting $700M of the business
- Generated $150k in cost savings by strategically creating marketing materials and distributing the same kit to over 50% of stores for the Badgley Mischka brand launch
- Elevated vendor funding collections by 35% by implementing a vendor contract tracker, which facilitated timely collections through collaboration with cross-functional partners
Assistant Buyer
JOANN Inc.
Hudson, OH
2019.05 - 2021.07
- Skilled in market research, vendor negotiation, and sales analysis, contributing to a 59% increase in sales and improved product assortments
- Experienced in collaborating with 12+ cross-functional teams to ensure efficient stock replenishment and the execution of promotional strategies
- Contributed to an 87% sales increase by assisting with chase buys for sewing machine inventory
- Generated and surpassed gross margin plan by 72% within sewing machine category financial detailing performance metrics and promotional cadence
- Delivered 8% sales increase above the planned target by identifying understocked items and proposed a buying strategy for the Irons category
- Mentored 4 cross-functional partners and created training materials for various teams across the merchandising division
- Delivered a 6% margin increase in the lighting category by analyzing business trends and executing a targeted promotional strategy
Buyer Coordinator
JOANN Inc.
Hudson, OH
2018.03 - 2019.05
- Highly organized and results-driven with in-store retail expertise in market analysis, forecasting, and optimizing stock levels to ensure timely product availability
- Demonstrated success in working with cross-functional teams to implement product strategies, enhance operational efficiency, and support sales growth
- Coordinated daily purchasing activities for 28 categories, ensuring timely replenishment and alignment with sales forecasts
- Contributed to a 13% increase in sales by supporting the buying team in market research and analyzing customer trends to identify new product opportunities
- Improved stock turnover by 4% and reduced excess inventory by 11% by assisting in the development of inventory management strategies
- Drove an 18% sales increase across multiple categories during peak holiday season by effectively managing promotional product turn-ins
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies, Public Communication
Kent State University
Kent, OHSkills
- Workfront
- SAP
- DMR
- Basecamp
- Microsoft Office
- Google Analytics
- Lucernex
- Coupa
- Scout
- Hubspot
- JDA
- Reflexis
- Focal Point
- Data Manager
Accomplishments
- Produced and reallocated over $1M in marketing savings to increase product sales.
- Managed & oversaw planning and execution of Yarn Concept Shop for incremental $1.5M sales.
- Managed a $700M annual marketing business in the Needle Arts, Tech Shop & Sewing Construction sectors.
Timeline
Sr. Visual Merchandising Category Strategist
JOANN Inc.
2023.09 - Current
Visual Merchandising Marketing Planner
JOANN Inc.
2021.08 - 2023.09
Assistant Buyer
JOANN Inc.
2019.05 - 2021.07
Buyer Coordinator
JOANN Inc.
2018.03 - 2019.05
Bachelor of Arts - Communication Studies, Public Communication
Kent State University