Sales Assistant

SAMIA HALL

**** ***** ****** ****, **** TX *****

Phone: 832-***-**** / Email: ***********@*****.***

Education

University of Dallas (while working full-time at Zale Corp) Masters of

Business Administration (MBA) in Business Management [01/07 - 04/09]

Indiana University, College of Arts and Science ? Bloomington, Indiana

Bachelor of Science in Apparel Merchandising- Minor Kelley School of

Business

Education Experience:

Financial Management, Enterprise Risk Mgt, Operations Mgt, Strategic Mgt,

Project Mgt, Mgt Consulting, Marketing, Accounting, Negotiations, Global

Business, Study Tour- Brazil

. Negotiation; learned the process and technique of negotiating lasting

agreements and formal business contracts.

. Global Business; learned the evolving nature of global trade, foreign

direct investment, integration of markets and cultural factors.

. Brazil Study Tour; scheduled visit to Cargill (ethanol), Light,

Equifax, UNICA, S.I.N., LLX, US Consulate, Navteq.

. Capstone Client; Overhead Door, determined and established the

validity of conversion coefficients.

. Macy's West 10- week internship- Worked five weeks in stores to

develop the necessary skills to manage a team of 50, coordinate sales

events, complete floor moves & showroom presentations. Worked five

weeks in the corporate office to prepare for the upcoming season

(specifically in the handbag department).

Work Experience:

V. P. of Merchandising, Blastoff Network, Plano, TX. [07/09 - 05/10]

. Work with the CEO and Co-Founder to develop and implement strategic

plans for the Merchandising Dept.

. Create the shopping experience for the "Blastoff Mall" by establishing

vendor relationships.

. The lead for Link Share, Commission Junction, Google Connect Commerce,

Let's Talk and Acceller

. Set-up over 600 mall participants through the affiliate program.

. Work with creative team and copywriters to direct product promotions

though company Blog / member emails.

. Project planning based on member profile, analytics and buying

history.

. Redesign web layout of the Blastoff Mall.

. Negotiate with vendors for exclusive promotions and/or commission

increases.

. Attend Affiliate Conferences.

Merchandise Analyst / Planner, Zale Corporation, Dallas, TX. [09/05 -

02/09]-5-year Service Award Recipient

. Build plans in Arthur to meet top down sales, gross margin and

inventory targets goals.

. Manage Open-To-Buy dollars (monthly receipts average $6 million).

. Review OTB with Planning Executive Team and President.

. Maintain over 1100 stores including Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Canada

locations. Visited Canada locations.

. Built relationships with the following watch brands: Movado, ESQ,

Rado, Tissot, Omega, Citizen, Bulova, etc.

. Maintain a narrow sku base by consistent item and subclass level

review to reduce unproductive inventory.

. Manage inventory through multiple store assortments and routine return

to vendors or stock balance projects.

. Determine available new investment dollars based on levels of program,

sell-down and clearance inventory.

. Maximize store and distribution center in stocks during peak selling

periods by maintaining sku/store models.

. Generate and analyze sales reports using Microsoft Excel /Word/ Power

Point/Desktop Intelligence and Retek to detect trends in the business.

. Support Buyer in organizing the office and improving team efficiency.

. Prepare negotiating strategies and attend quarterly vendor meetings.

. Consistently communicate goals and priorities between the buying

office and planning organization.

. Coordinate monthly schedule reporting, including schedule forecast

updates.

. Implement a new forecast system for the Watch Department using Oracle.

. Train, develop and mentor new Planners

. Create standardized reports utilized by all Zale North American Buying

Teams.

Assistant Merchant, Zale Corporation, Dallas, TX. [06/03 - 8/05]- Promotion

to Merchandise Analyst/ Planner

. Support the Planner and Buyer for decisions impacting stores and

sales.

. Research market trends while understanding the trends of the Canadian

customer.

. Coordinate letters to stores for all departments within the Zale

Canada brand.

. Generate reports for members of the department and executive team.

. Competitive shop and analyze industry fashion reviews.

. Build relationships with vendors and select product in vendor

meetings.

. Planogram merchandise for the diamond, color and gold departments.

. Train, develop and mentor new Assistant Buyers.

. Supervise Detail Assistant.

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