Project Manager Sales

RACHEL LYNN SWERDLOFF

*** **** **** ******, ***. 5B ( New York, NY 10016

Mobile: 917-***-****

***********@***.***

EXECUTIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC

RELATIONS

Dynamic and goal-driven corporate leader with a decade of hands-on

experience directing innovative marketing and advertising

initiatives under the umbrella of one of the nation's most

venerable and progressive retail companies. Poised to leverage

valuable set of cross-functional skills to a role overseeing

account and project management for a forward-looking organization.

Natural communicator with inherent leadership abilities who employs

avant-garde approaches to push the envelope. Talent for negotiating

joint ventures and creating positive dynamics between divisions and

business partners in order to effectively navigate complex

marketing projects and facilitate profitability. Comprehensive

thinker with proven track record of exemplary insight into

streamlining processes, managing people, and seeing 'The Big

Picture'. Adept team builder who influences and motivates

colleagues and vendors by employing collaborative and cooperative

approaches in order to manage employee performance and enhance

overall organizational effectiveness. Proven, decisive leadership

ability in training and motivating team members and building

internal rapport and consensus. Process driven and methodical yet

innovative and creative with high-caliber business acumen, often

called upon to consult on operational and business management

problems that elude resolution by others. Proficient in Adobe

InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Plan Control.

Project Management ( P&L Responsibility ( Customer Service (

Vendor Relations ( Operational Streamlining (Joint Ventures (

Branding

Merchandising ( Target Marketing ( Media Relations ( Direct Mail

( Network ( Quality Control ( System Analysis & Streamlining

Market Analysis & Penetration ( Account Management ( Product

Launch & Marketing ( Sales Forecasting ( Promotions

Team Leadership ( Motivation ( Employee Relations (

Communications ( Training/Development ( Policy Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GILT GROUP, New York, NY

2010-Present E-Commerce Retailer who provides access, by

invitation only, to Men's, Women's and Children's coveted fashion

and luxury brands, hotels and tourism attractions. Each sale lasts

36 hours and features hand selected styles and promotions from a

single designer/event/hotel, with over 400 individual sales

featured monthly.

Project Management Consultant for all Sales and Operations

Communicate with diverse merchandising teams to obtain updates for

multiple sales/operations schedules and tasks, tracking all aspects

of the sale process to ensure target timelines are being met; this

includes sample tracking, bulk receipt, reconciliation, cycle count

requests, copywriting, re-touching etc.. Conduct research into

inventory; monitor un-photographed inventory, identify opportunity

for repeat sales, off-site sample sales and donation. Monitor and

update multiple sales calendars and tools, including field requests

from merchandise teams and following up with images from creative

team

CAROLE HOCHMAN DESIGN GROUP, New York, NY

2009-2010 Global Design House

with over 12 Major Luxury Brands, such as Betsey Johnson, Oscar De

La Renta, OnGossamer, Ralph Lauren, Lilly Pulitzer

Project Manager, Media Specialist and Public Relations

Representative

Managed timelines and budgets with graphic designers, copy editors

and printers.

Spearheading creative briefs, reviewing proofs and tracking revenue

through post mortem meetings.

Managed all aspects of packaging for the branding accounts between

Sales, Brand Managers and Global Vendors. Communicated with

Factories Over-Sees, monitoring component budgets, order forms, and

vendor compliance to withstand design house standards.

Managed Photo Shoots, Booking Talent Processing Images, Managing

website marketing initiatives and social media efforts.

Created Events with Editors to showcase upcoming designs, securing

media space, updating Press Kits with design team, sending out to

prospective clients, set up and break down of tradeshow booths,

organized all team members from inception to completion.

LORD AND TAYLOR, New York, NY

1999-2009 National

upscale retail chain providing fashion clothing merchandise since

1826 with over 10,000 employees and an average of $1.4 billion in

annual revenue.

Assistant Manager of Creative Services, Advertising and Marketing

Senior Account Executive

2007-2009

Launched and directed all aspects of media projects including

Direct Mail, Catalogs, Postcards, and Newspaper and Magazine

advertisements, managing internal and external cross-functional

teams to ensure production consistency. Drove creative strategy

while administering a $2-$3

RACHEL LYNN SWERDLOFF

PAGE 2

LORD AND TAYLOR continued

Million division budget to ensure project efficiency. Oversaw

activities of five Creative Service executives and one merchandise

manager, training all new executives on marketing and advertising

strategies and tactics. Realized creative vision and direction

during fashion photo shoots by providing detailed shot lists and

key seasonal items and by effectively communicating account shot

needs. Elevated to this newly created position based upon

implementation and success of workflow practices and procedures

guideline handbook, which is used daily to manage merchant and

advertising agency expectations.

. Maintained budget with a surplus and retained advertising agency

partnerships even after department budget was slashed by 40%

through strategic prioritization in collaboration with Vice-

President and agency and creative cost and expense reductions.

. Educated Creative Services Coordinators on successful

negotiating concepts and implemented cost saving guidelines to

increase time and financial efficiencies and to prevent out-of-

process charges in order to provide a comprehensive view of

departmental roles and responsibilities, resulting in enhanced

communications with outside agency, streamlined workflow, and

reduced costs.

. Saved nearly $50,000 by reducing photo shoot charges on multiple

projects through implementation of specific and clear re-shoot

policies and by instilling a negotiation mentality with Creative

Services Coordinators in order to help merchants make informed

business decisions based on alternative solutions.

. Designed and deployed a merchant training course for buyers and

division merchandise managers to educate merchants on processes

and charge structures which led to more accurate, timely, and

cost-efficient advertising.

. Discovered and eliminated $8,000 in agency overcharges for a

cosmetic catalog, leveraging these funds to negotiate lower

rates for other projects.

. Developed a Color Round Chart tracking system to manage

merchandise flow between demanding departments, facilitating

photo shoot scheduling and ensuring easy sharing among all

parties, which led to all samples being accounted for at all

times.

. Eliminated $20,000 in agency overcharges through consistent and

exhaustive oversight of catalog parameters.

Creative Services Coordinator, Advertising and Marketing Account

Executive 2001-2007

Account and project management role liaising between merchants and

advertising agency in order to deliver high quality, on-budget, and

accurate marketing collateral while maintaining creative vision.

Managed overall expectations of all parties and ensured all

objectives were met during photo shoots to provide precise and

efficient creative deliverables. Fostered partnerships with outside

vendors through collaboration with merchants during advertising

campaigns in order to ensure accuracy and drive sales through open

communication. Effectively trained and led interns and new hires,

initiating projects to systematize and organize merchandise and

other advertising tools.

Pioneered a major workflow practices and procedures guideline

handbook defining specific requirements and timeline obligations of

merchants and advertising agency and clarifying individual and

group responsibilities, which resulted in significant cost-savings

by eliminating lost time and meeting agency requirements to avoid

charges and which provided a advantageous negotiating tool to

leverage against the agency when necessary.

Successfully architected and creatively executed a guerilla

marketing campaign, an unconventional approach for the fashion

retail industry, to promote Men's and Nationwide Catalogs through

efforts of an efficient and cost-effective street-level promotional

team distributing vendor-sponsored gift bags and specialty catalogs

with coupons, which generated nearly $250,000.

Streamlined workflow across all departments by identifying the need

for a company-wide shared server between PC and MAC workstations to

improve a stalled email system and create a virtual filing system

that enhanced departmental interfacing and collaboration as well as

vendor communication; played a critical role in system

implementation and management.

Assistant Buyer

1999-2001

Executed sales, margin, and inventory plans for 82 nationwide

department stores Maintain relationships with vendors to negotiate

costs and markdown allowance. Supported senior management in

driving overall direction and growth by maintaining knowledge of

industry and competitor market trends and by presenting effectual

selling techniques while eliminating unproductive practices.

Managed selection of advertised merchandise based on product sales,

spearheading all comparable collateral. Created metrics to organize

individual departments' claims and accruals.

Devised and implemented a vendor-sponsored contest to motivate and

reward store managers for exceeding sales targets in competition

with each other, rewarding $500 to manager with the highest

increase, which boosted sales nearly 60% over year prior.

Singled out to represent Lord and Taylor nationally at major

universities, educating students about the buying program, offering

advice about transitioning from academic to corporate spheres, and

leading training sessions and courses on selling best practices.

Reversed $40,000 during inventory reconciliation by identifying and

reacting aggressively to invalid charges on promotional

merchandise.

RACHEL LYNN SWERDLOFF

PAGE 3

EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT continued

STERN'S DEPARTMENT STORE, Lake Grove, NY

Summer 1998 Regional

department store chain that was integrated into Macy's and

Bloomingdale's in 2001.

Executive Management Intern

Researched and devised a customer and employee relations

presentation for senior buyers and executive managers. Reconciled

inventory, scheduled staff, and merchandised wares for Men's Suit,

Accessories, Underwear, and Furnishings departments. Corresponded

and collaborated with divisional directors and buyers in order to

establish effective problem solving techniques in order to resolve

customer service, product fit and cut, and stock level issues and

motivational strategies to drive sales.

EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, New York, NY

1997-1998 Economic

development agency and New York state government partner tasked

with attracting and retaining new businesses and encouraging

tourism.

Marketing and Advertising Intern

Served as chief assistant to Deputy Commissioner, Project Manager,

and Media Director, copywriting, editing, researching, and

designing proposal advertising. Played a key role in developing a

website promoting New York State tourism, cultivating relationships

with vendors and third parties and monitoring data input. Conducted

market research through data collection and mass mailings, then

interpreted results in order to create promotional advertising

designs for specific clients.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Arts: English and Business

University at Albany ( New York, NY

People Development Skills and Training Certified

Quark Express Certified

AFFILIATIONS

American Marketing Association - Member

Ambassador of Arts and Entertainment

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers - Member

AIDS Walk - Participant

Contact this candidate