I am a customer focused leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing highly
profitable business strategies, as well as building high value vendor relationships and developing
strong teams with top talent. I possess dual Canadian and American citizenship.

Developed and executed Buyer training "360 degree Buying" to enhance company
Buying performance. Challenged Buyers to think about all aspects of their business in order to drive sales.
Developed and implemented a strategic profitability plan that maintained Division GM%
before, during and after emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization.
Strategically negotiated direct payment terms with vendors that protected company
liquidity and profitability.
0% Merchandising Attrition rate during volatile reorganization process.

Vice President Merchandising Guy's Division

Implemented division wide Good, Better, Best pricing strategies. Resulting AUR increase
offset smaller basket size to maintain comp sales for 2017.
Rebalanced Core, Must Have, and Fashion on order resulting in a +4% Comp Stack for Sp 17.
Significantly improved vendor relationships with key vendors while Company was
unable to gain Factor approval, resulting in better product assortments, terms and pricing, improving INV turn and GM%.

Director Merchandising Guy's Division

September 2012 S.V.P Award Winner for Innovation: Accessories Strategy.
Proven Sales and Profitability increases. In 2012 Department beat Plan, GM $, GM%, and won "Golden" award for hitting all financial metrics.
Managed a diversified and complex nine figure business and partnership with a cross
functional team of over eighty people.
Successfully Plan, Assort, Develop and Deliver numerous product categories including:
Bags, Belts, Hats, Wallets, Watches, Umbrella's, Hankies, Bandanna's, Robes, Slippers, Woven and Knit PJ sets, Boxed Gifts, Knit and Woven Winter Hats, Gloves and Scarves, Leather Gloves and Jewelry, Suspenders and Ties.
Experience with National Brand vendors, Target Owned brands, and multiple License
Vendors.
Department Captainships: Plan Captain, Forecast Captain.
Men's Division Captainships: Visual Concept Committee Captain (Visual
Merchandising); Q4 Strategy Captain; United Way Captain; Father's Day Taskforce
(Member), Numerous L.T.O. Captainships.

Buyer Men's Sleep, Gifting, and Accessories Department

January 2008 - January 2012
Developed and delivered three brand new product categories with high IMU & MMU that
grew the business and drove sales within the department by 1.8%.
Recruited for one of thirteen positions from over 1,000 stores.
Demonstrated rapid growth with promotions from Assistant Merchant to Associate
Merchant to Career Level Merchant within 3 years.
Managed a multi-million-dollar business spanning 130 different styles across 3 different
brands.
On sight negotiating and product evaluation experience in Hong Kong and China.
Lead a cross functional team of merchants, concept, design, sourcing, planning, tech-
design, transportation, allocation and others to get the highest quality product, at the best cost, to the right stores, at the right time.
Successfully developed and delivered numerous product categories including: Rubber
Flip Flops, Baseball Caps, Knit and Woven Winter Wear, and Jewelry.

Merchant Men's Accessories

Attained the highest secret shop average in the region: 4.7 / 5.0
Filled critical staffing levels between October 2007 and January 2008
Successfully undertook diversity and inclusion initiative with a +11.11% hire rate vs.
application rate for African Americans and a +16.67% for Hispanic American
applicants

Store Manager Store #747

Reduced shrink by almost 50%; dropped from a 3.59% to 1.84%
Beat L.Y. same store sales 22 weeks in a row
Achieved 10 out of 11 perfect or above average secret shops

Store Manager Store #329

Find out detailed information about James Dion,  in Pittsburgh, PA

James Dion: in Pittsburgh, PA

James Dion

rue21

rue21

Target Corporation

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch

Marquette University