RACHEL APPELBAUM
Hoboken,USA
Summary
Results-driven retail merchant with experience in off-price and e-commerce, managing high-volume businesses across 100+ brands. Skilled in strategic planning, vendor negotiation, and sales analysis to drive margin and growth. Proven track record of delivering financial results through cross-functional collaboration in fast-paced environments.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Buyer
Rue Gilt Groupe
New York, NY
05.2023 - Current
- Own a $32M multi-category seasonal business, outerwear and swimwear, alongside high-volume replenishment in intimate apparel; consistently balance risk and opportunity, pivoting to chase trends and optimize performance in a fast-moving off-price environment
- Drive forward-looking seasonal strategy by synthesizing trend insights, prior-season performance, and market intelligence; build and execute detailed action plans that position the business to exceed sales, margin, and turn targets while consistently looking for new emerging brands
- Cultivate and leverage a network of 100+ vendors to unlock opportunistic buys; negotiate aggressively to secure favorable costs & terms —maximizing margin and delivering profitable, high-turn inventory
- Lead and develop junior talent by elevating analytical and strategic thinking; mentor associates on sales analysis, market preparation, and opportunity identification, fostering a proactive, ideas-driven team culture
Associate Buyer
Rue Gilt Groupe
New York, NY
05.2022 - 05.2023
- Own the Women’s Outerwear and Swimwear business ~$25M, managing OTB, sales, margin, and inventory to drive performance against financial targets
- Analyze trends and in-season results to identify risks and opportunities, pivoting quickly to maximize sell-through
- Collaborate cross-functionally with planner and manage vendor relationships, representing the business in market and supporting profitable deals
- Stay forward-thinking, proactively identifying opportunities to drive growth
- Learn key management skills; being a role model for assistant buyer and merchandise assistant creating a positive and exciting environment
Assistant Buyer
Rue Gilt Groupe
New York, NY
10.2020 - 05.2022
- Execute daily business operations with proficiency across key systems, including Tableau, Jasper, Storemanager and assortment/pricing tools; analyze performance to identify hits, misses, and opportunities
- Support the Denim and Active businesses through event recaps, trend analysis, and competitive shopping, providing actionable recommendations
- Collaborate cross-functionally and communicate effectively with vendors and internal partners, escalating insights and issues to the Buyer as needed
- Demonstrate strong sense of urgency, organization, and attention to detail, managing multiple priorities while remaining flexible in a fast-paced environment
Merchandise Assistant
Rue Gilt Groupe
New York, NY
10.2018 - 10.2020
- Maintain strong organization, attention to detail, and sense of urgency, ensuring accurate and timely execution of daily tasks
- Communicate effectively with vendors and internal teams, escalating issues and key updates
- Demonstrate a proactive, growth-oriented mindset, building foundational skills and business acumen to progress to an Assistant Buyer role
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising, Business Administration
University of Delaware
DE05-2018
Skills
- Multi-Category Buying Experience
- Strategic Thinking & Forward Planning
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Risk Assessment & Opportunity Identification
- Systems (eg, Tableau, microsoft365, Jasper, Gemini, storemanager)
- Team Development & Mentorship
Timeline
Buyer
Rue Gilt Groupe
05.2023 - Current
Associate Buyer
Rue Gilt Groupe
05.2022 - 05.2023
Assistant Buyer
Rue Gilt Groupe
10.2020 - 05.2022
Merchandise Assistant
Rue Gilt Groupe
10.2018 - 10.2020
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising, Business Administration
University of Delaware