Lifestyle

Outdoor

A passionate buyer with 14 years of experience in retail, purchasing and product development with a proven track record that has increased sales and achieved inventory management objectives.   An analytic thinker and effective communicator with financial forecasting and strong negotiation skills.  Seeking a buying position in a professional and challenging environment that thrives on innovation, motivation and fun

Developed and executed merchandise strategies for the women’s apparel, shoe (athletic and casual) and accessory classes for a retail chain of 30 stores in average of $40M in yearly revenue sales.  Promoted in the first 30 days of hire with the women’s athletic shoes, a $1.3M in yearly revenue. 

o	Achieved +22% over plan for the athletic shoe class, +11% over plan the following month and increased the average retail sale by 2.8%.
o	Selected trending casual footwear that increased the average retail sale by 4% subsequently increasing the actual sales by 6%.
o	Decreased an overstock of inventory by 28% by renegotiating RTV’s and initiating sales promotions and spiffs increasing sales by 14%.
o	Targeted high demand and fashion forward apparel and initiated strategies to sell 50% of new items within the first 30 days.  Managed inventory by line-item to sell through 80% by 8 weeks of ownership then provide direction for full consolidation. Identified top selling items for reorders and slow 

Women's Apparel and Shoe Buyer

Developed and implemented retail purchasing program, negotiated operational equipment costs and initiated a marketing promotional program for a dog day care franchise company of 29 locations that produced $16M in annual revenue sales.  

- Developed a retail program increasing sales by +38% and sales percent to total revenue by +22% in annual revenue sales of $214K.
- Identified cost savings on supplies and equipment by strategic planning and streamlining core vendors saving 15%.
- Added additional revenue of $18K by leading and developing promotional branded items from concept stage to final availability.
- Wrote and negotiated contracts to provide quality products and services at optimal costs from reliable sources.
- Performed competitive supplier selection and bids routinely and conducted cost analysis to evaluate current items and new items.
- Submitted all purchase orders, managed inventories, provided accurate reporting and sourced best suppliers maximizing initiatives.
- Managed retail inventory and increased sales by +212% and sales to total revenue by +2% for the 5 company owned locations.
- Trained owners and managers on successful retail lines and created and provided video tutorials on merchandising and selling techniques.
- Approved invoices, reconciled issues and ensured credit memos and return to vendor invoices were all processed with Finance.
- Partnered with Marketing on promotional campaigns and developed a client appreciation giveaways and promotional items with 3rd party.
- Built strong vendor partnerships providing favorable discounts on regular and promotional items, free freight and accrual funds. 
- Provided franchisee with operational purchasing, negotiated terms, cost and delivery on their behalf.	
- Supported Executive team and Field with the retro fit initiatives by providing new and low cost operational equipment and supplies.

Purchasing Manager

Managed retail and consumable vendors for 800 locations in annual revenue sales of $400M.  Maintained 19 retail vendors for 52 prestige brands and 22 consume vendors for all 800 locations.  

- Achieved retail objectives by +.4% in retail goal and a +1% increase in gross margin for prestige brands in revenue sales of $10M. 
- Maintained gross margins, warehouse inventories, achieved quarterly inventory turns, field replenishment and forecast inventory.
- Negotiated contracts, managed Open to Buy with an average $690K monthly spending allowance.  Issued purchase orders.
- Performed daily and weekly inventory and vendor analysis to identify inventory opportunities, slow item sellers and exit strategies.
- Developed product knowledge guidebooks with the creative team that identified the benefits of each retail item for the field.
- Allocated replenishment pars of regular items and promotional items within the field and monitored warehouse inventories.
- Teamed with visual and creative team issuing seasonal plan-o-grams and conducted salon visits providing merchandising guidance.
- Coordinated vendor deliveries through a third party distribution center, maintain weekly/monthly inventory levels and turn.
- Ensured vendor contracts and vendor disclosure agreements were accurate, current and kept confidential.	
- Presented new and promotional items, recommend assortment change, secured quotes, negotiated price and ensured quality items.
- Analyzed and organized markdowns, markups, promotional prices and clearance to be within align with financial objectives.
- Resolved credit memos, return to vendor orders, and invoice discrepancies between vendors financial teams and accounts payable.

Assistant Buyer

Designed a process to order and receive inventories with a lean budget that subsequently fulfilled 80 consultant’s orders covering national selling areas for a start-up company in direct selling.  Compiled and managed consultants selling history and commission data.  
o	Developed and managed order processing, shipping and receiving inventories for a direct selling, start-up company. 
o	Built and maintained strong vendor relationships, sought new items, monitored trends, initiated and balanced an open to buy. 
o	Submitted purchase orders, negotiated costs of goods, kept lean inventories and fielded consultant's needs.
o	Developed and supported a sales force up to 80 sales consultants nationally.  
o	Accountable for all consultants "Fast Start Program" tracking, commission profile data and contest campaigns earnings.  
o	Developed and executed sales strategies within team, facilitated and sought events to marketing, networking and recruiting. 


Operations Manager/ Buyer

Continuously grew in a managerial position for a direct marketing and retail company.  Increased retail sales for an “A” volume store by initiating and coaching strong customer service, motivating and retaining successful performance driven teams and achieving company business objectives.   

- Maximized and increased sales goals by 5% for an "A" volume store, managed up to 22 employees, and awarded sales bonuses.
- Lead and developed sales strategies for management team and sales associates and ensured high customer service.
- Delivered results in low shrink results, planned to budget, low turnover, complied with audits, managing plan-o-grams, and HR initiatives.
- Managed appropriate stock levels, monitored cash office functions, adhered to budgets, daily operations functions.
- Conducted performance reviews for both management and sales associates.

Co-Manager/ Visual Manager 
- Supported efforts of the Store Manager, kept sales goals focused and responsible for maintaining store's visual initiatives.                
- Attended District and Floor Set meetings. 
- Coached and developed leaders from sales associates, provided sales leadership, lead in example of customer service, performed daily operations, opened and closed the store, and executed company policies and campaigns.
- Organized strategies for the sales associates to maximize customer service and to continuously reach and over achieve sales goals.  Responsible for sales associates training, recognition and individual monthly sales goals.

Retail Manager

A part time position that flourished to a managerial position for a delicatessen that focusing on domestic and international food and drink. 

o	Managed Deli Department.  Placed orders, received inventory, managed food shelf rotation, visual displays, deli product knowledge.
o	Ensured all special event promotions were ordered and executed seamlessly. 
o	Maintained vendor relationships, sought new trends, attended Food Shows, and maintained relationships with high profiled clientele.
o	Observed and ensured compliance with company sanitation and US Food and Drug Administration and Virginia Department of Health. 
o	Maintained solid product knowledge and assisted in processing and replenishing merchandise and trained new sales associates.


Deli Manager

Find out detailed information about Sarah Emery,  in Oakland, CA

Sarah Emery: in Oakland, CA

Sarah Emery

Sports Zone Elite

Dogtopia

Ratner Companies

Simple Graces

Delias

Piedmont Gourmet

Virginia Commonwealth University