Catharine Mc Connell

• Collaborated with Omni team and Design to create profitable assortments by monitoring and reporting merchandise performance. • Monitored Style Adoption Rate vs. Plan and conducted detailed analysis of merchandise performance. • Prepared and presented materials for weekly sales meetings, line previews and buy meetings to help ensure customer buys appropriate assortment. • Communicated product vision and strategies to Omni Buying team. • Compiled and shared information within organization on trends, pricing, positioning, materials and assortments. • Responsible for tracking and monitoring line development activities based on a seasonal time and action calendar. • Communicated all target costs and assist in pricing negotiations with overseas offices and domestic vendors. • Assisted in development of line plans down to classification and style level. • Assisted in developing line list based on style plan and input from selling, customers, and market. • Assisted in management and development of Product Assistants, Trainees and Interns as determined through department hierarchy.

• Conducted financial analysis of business and sales • Developed and implemented sales-driving strategies in both regular price and clearance categories • Responsible for $344M of company’s gross markdown budget (Fiscal Year 2016) • Identified and reacted to company and industry-wide trends • Focused on sales, margin and inventory turnover to make accurate and timely pricing decisions • Responsible for the communication of financials to buying and planning teams • Forecasted future markdowns and provided cost projections to buying and financial planning teams • Identified opportunities for zone level markdowns • Tracked aged inventory to maximize sales and to meet and exceed projections by end of season • Collaborated with Merchandising, Financial Planning and cross-functional partners

• Partnered with vendors and cross-collaborative teams to track and manage sale dates, receipts, and photo shoots • Generated merchandising reports and assist with market preparation • Responsible for visual merchandising of live sales • Assisted buying team with administrative, product and technical tasks pertaining to related brand and category buys • Oversaw the collection and organization of product details and copy for each sale • Responsible for purchase order entry and maintenance

• Provided support to three buyers within bath, body, & fitness accessories • Established positive working relationships with vendors • Maintained files and metrics to track budget and generate purchase orders