Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
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Solene Kurtz

Los Angeles,USA

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

Sr. Director of Merchandising

A.L.C.
Los Angeles, CA
10.2023 - Current
  • Lead the creation of comprehensive seasonal line plans based on historical selling, opportunity mapping, and demand forecasting.
  • Approach merchandising plans with data driven analysis and instinctive trend awareness. Balancing fashion forward pieces with proven best sellers, ensuring that the collection architecture supports both core business and innovation.
  • Collaborate closely with Design, PD, and Production to achieve target margins through strategic fabric selection and pricing architecture.
  • Project seasonal needs, pre-market, and proactively secure fabrics to ensure timely and efficient production execution.
  • Own go-to-market product assets for the wholesale team, highlighting key stories, product investments, and strategic focuses to drive sales and achieve target margins.
  • Post-market, drive alignment between merchandising and marketing teams through clear product handoffs that focus on volume-driving styles, exclusives and key marketing styles.
  • Create and present competitive analysis decks to the design team to inform design direction, pricing strategy, and assortment positioning.
  • Conduct monthly sales and seasonal hindsight meetings
  • Played a role in launching A.L.C.’s Icons Program and Denim Program, contributing to brand evolution and new category success.

Wholesale and Ecommerce Manager

Raquel Allegra
Los Angeles, CA
08.2017 - 07.2021
  • Managed the global wholesale distribution for Raquel Allegra
  • Responsibilities included seasonal sales forecasting by account, prospecting local and international accounts, and fulfilling seasonal orders
  • Managed a team of account managers in NY, LA, and Paris Showrooms
  • Responsible for all in season decision making related to RTV's, mark downs, and discounts with department stores and specialty stores
  • Collaborated with Majors and Specialty Stores to identify growth opportunities to drive sales
  • Costed each collection with the production manager and CEO ensuring competitive profit margins
  • Lead monthly meetings to discuss sales performance, operational challenges, business opportunities and sales goals
  • Partnered with the design team to develop successful merchandising plans per season
  • Responsible for all seasonal product data entry into Apparel Magic, JOOR, Shopify
  • Partnered with Production to ensure optimal quality control and on track shipping lead times
  • Managed the day to day back end of the E-commerce via Shopify
  • Responsible for planning & buying for www.raquelallegra.com – achieving ~74% Sell Thru per season
  • Increased E-commerce sales from ~$300K/year to ~$1.8m/year
  • Produced and styled all E-commerce shoots
  • Merchandised web product strategically to achieve optimal sales and customer visibility
  • Coordinated with marketing on all company mailers
  • Implemented customer service strategies to optimize our CRM and customer experience
  • Worked closely with the shipping department to ensure smooth RTV, swap, and order fulfillment.

Director of Sales and Brand Development

Juan Carlos Obando Intl
Los Angeles, CA
01.2017 - 07.2017
  • Managed the wholesale distribution and oversaw all private client relations
  • Opened new doors and acquired new private clients for custom orders
  • Communicated daily with the production team to uphold deadline requirements for stockists and private client orders
  • Implemented targeted marketing strategies for private client retention
  • Provided weekly sales projections and updates to the CEO
  • Became proficient in the use of Apparel Magic: leading inventory management and apparel software.

Account Manager

CD Network Llc
New York, NY
01.2012 - 10.2015
  • Managed the wholesale distribution of Giada Forte (known as forte forte in the EU) and Roseanna
  • Supported 60+ clients during sales periods
  • Analyzed and formulated weekly selling reports
  • Input all orders/re-orders and oversaw all shipping logistics with our distributor
  • Handled swaps and rtv's for clients whenever necessary
  • Opened distribution to 20+ account (Barneys, ShopBop, Steven Alan etc.)
  • Increased sales for Giada Forte from ~$500k to $1m/season
  • Increased sales for Roseanna from ~$100k to $400k per season
  • Opened 15 accounts including Barneys and Shopbop
  • Worked closely with each client to increase in store sales through product knowledge seminars
  • Provided in depth collection reports to our designers
  • Focusing on key strengths, weaknesses, client feedback, aesthetic direction, trends, colors, fabrics and all quantitative analysis
  • Created competitive analysis reports to maintain a competitive edge in terms of style, and pricing.

Education

Master - Fashion Experience and Design

SDA Bocconi School of Management
Milan, Italy
12-2016

Bachelor Degree - Psychology

Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
05-2011

Skills

  • Seasonal line planning
  • Merchandise planning
  • Margin optimization
  • Sales forecasting
  • Product development collaboration
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Effective communication
  • Trend analysis
  • Pricing strategy
  • Excel, Apparel Magic, Joor, Shopify

Languages

Mother tongue French and English

Timeline

Sr. Director of Merchandising

A.L.C.
10.2023 - Current

Wholesale and Ecommerce Manager

Raquel Allegra
08.2017 - 07.2021

Director of Sales and Brand Development

Juan Carlos Obando Intl
01.2017 - 07.2017

Account Manager

CD Network Llc
01.2012 - 10.2015

Master - Fashion Experience and Design

SDA Bocconi School of Management

Bachelor Degree - Psychology

Boston University

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Solene Kurtz