TOSHIA ASHLEY
Fort Mill,SC
Summary
Enterprise retail executive with 26+ years driving merchandise planning, inventory optimization, and financial performance across multi-banner organizations. Expert in transforming planning models, scaling forecasting discipline, and aligning merchandising strategy with enterprise goals. Trusted C-suite partner collaborating with CEO, CFO, COO, and CMO to deliver top-line growth, margin expansion, and long-term value. Strategic, data-driven leader known for balancing financial rigor with merchant instinct and leading high-performing teams through change.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Merchandise Planning & Allocation
Shoe Carnival, Inc.
Fort Mill, SC
08.2022 - Current
- Lead enterprise merchandise planning, allocation, and inventory strategy across a multi-brand retail platform
- Own enterprise sales, margin, inventory, and turn frameworks aligned to corporate financial objectives, including open-to-buy (OTB) planning and execution to optimize seasonal inventory spend
- Partner directly with CEO, CFO, COO, and executive leadership team to translate enterprise strategy into executable commercial and operational plans
- Architect standardized, scalable planning models to support long-term growth and operational discipline
- Drive enterprise performance through forecasting accuracy, inventory productivity, and margin optimization
- Lead and develop enterprise planning organizations, strengthening leadership depth and execution excellence
- Provide strategic leadership for the allocation team, ensuring enterprise-wide inventory optimization, alignment with sales strategies, and execution of seasonal demand plans to maximize financial performance
Senior Director, Merchandise Manager
Shoe Carnival, Inc.
Evansville, IN
08.2020 - 08.2022
- Built and scaled the company’s drop-ship business from the ground up into a $10M operation in under two years, achieving 38%+ margin contribution, expanding SKU assortment by 300%
- Directed enterprise merchandise management strategy, including company-wide drop-ship operations, forecasting, allocation, and performance management
- Led the transformation of planning and allocation models, modernizing forecasting, inventory strategy, and performance management to align merchandising structure with long-term enterprise growth and scalability
Buyer, Women’s Sport/Casual & Director of Drop Ship
02.2020 - 08.2020
- Launched and scaled drop-ship capabilities to support digital and omnichannel expansion
- Expanded vendor partnerships and assortment strategy to meet revenue and margin targets
- Directed product selection and vendor partnerships for a $70M merchandise portfolio, achieving comp sales growth while optimizing inventory (-25%) and driving a 96-basis point margin improvement
Progressive Leadership Roles
Shoe Carnival
01.1999 - 01.2020
- Buyer, Lead Geo Buyer, Associate Buyer, Allocation Analyst, DMM/Buying Assistant
Co-Manager
Victoria’s Secret
01.1996 - 01.1999
- Managed high-volume retail operations, sales performance, and team leadership
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Organizational Interpersonal Communication
Skills
- Enterprise Strategy & Transformation
- Financial Planning & Forecasting
- Inventory & Omnichannel Optimization
- Executive Governance & Board Communication
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Change Management & Organizational Development
- Coaching & Talent Development
Accomplishments
- Transformed merchandise planning, forecasting, and allocation models enterprise-wide
- Built scalable inventory strategies supporting multi-banner growth, optimizing turn and cash flow
- Drove margin expansion through pricing, assortment architecture, and inventory productivity
- Integrated planning with omnichannel fulfillment and demand forecasting
- Led enterprise technology and planning tool enhancements, modernizing processes and increasing efficiency
- Partnered with CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, and executive leadership; managed board-level communication and governance
- Developed high-performing teams and strengthened organizational capability
Timeline
Vice President, Merchandise Planning & Allocation
Shoe Carnival, Inc.
08.2022 - Current
Senior Director, Merchandise Manager
Shoe Carnival, Inc.
08.2020 - 08.2022
Buyer, Women’s Sport/Casual & Director of Drop Ship
02.2020 - 08.2020
Progressive Leadership Roles
Shoe Carnival
01.1999 - 01.2020
Co-Manager
Victoria’s Secret
01.1996 - 01.1999
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) - Organizational Interpersonal Communication
EXECUTIVE POSITIONING STATEMENT
Transformational enterprise leader specializing in retail strategy, financial discipline, and operational scalability. Trusted executive partner known for building organizations, systems, and frameworks that convert strategy into measurable enterprise performance, sustainable profitability, and long-term shareholder value.