Linda F. Cerqua

**-** ******* ****, *********, New York 10594

Home: 914-***-**** e-Mail address: ac5f9a@r.postjobfree.com Mobile: 914-***-****

LinkedIn.com Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-cerqua-573295103/

Career Profile

Merchandise Forecasting/Demand Planning/Inventory Management/Size-Width Analysis /Data Analysis

Sales Reporting & Standardization/Database Management/Demographic Analysis/Staff Management

I am an experienced, high performing professional with a proven track record of success in inventory control, Business Development, Business Reporting and style-sku analysis. I have a solid record of business enhancements, service performance improvements and quality management skills.

Professional Experience

Nine West Holdings, New York, New York 2000-Present

Manager of Allocation/Distribution and Analysis 2006-Present

Lead a team of four analysts in areas including process review, reporting, forecasting, data analysis and distribution. Identify and develop best practices, process improvements, operational efficiencies, and cost savings opportunities. Concentration areas include business alignment and deployment of new programs.

Work closely with Merchants and Planners to clearly communicate allocation strategies, execute Merchant and Planning strategies, and ensure alignment with cross-functional partners

Streamline the resource distribution process to the stores to ensure 50% quicker turnaround

Conducted periodic reviews to assure buy quantities and stock levels meet current sales trends

Built style by store models of size-width penetration, increasing store and category sales by 20%

Maintaining and monitoring inventory with SAP/BW/MMS and NRS systems ensuring proper dates, units and inventory flow to over 700 stores

Organized openings of new stores with proper inventory capacity, demographic analysis, styles and units basing on sim store attributes

Coordinated and planned the closings of all Easy spirit retail stores and converting to outlet stores. Executing resulting in maintained AUR, margin and sales

Responsible for allocated merchandise at SKU and store level based on quantitative and demographic analysis

Supervise the training and development of the Replenishment and Allocation team totaling 15- 20 associates’

Develop monthly store plans by category for accurate merchandise allocation

Monitor all store plans weekly to ensure correct stock to sale levels in all stores

Collaborate with three distribution centers to resolve issues relating to product flow, back-stock, and all store related issues and paperwork

Maintain accurate size tables, allocations attributes, model stock, size profiles and store profiles

Analyze sizes and widths to ensure proper percent penetration categorically within geographical, climate and attributes

Senior Merchandise Analyst 2003-2006

Responsible for Managing and implementing projects in conjunction with Allocation manager, that is aligned with best practices, and goals and objectives to improve and sales and margin.

Manage orders from initial allocation through end of life cycle of merchandise, including replenishment and consolidation of goods to other stores or channels

Manage overall store inventory levels based on store capacity, seasonality and selling curves

Manage the basic stock replenishment programs

Assist Allocation Manager in setting priorities and analyzing the business

Partnering with merchants and planners to assure the proper merchandise assortment for stores

Established successful working partnership with allocation manager in identifying and standardizing operational reporting specifications, priorities, and interpreting business requirements

Interfaced with Senior Leadership to provide quantitative data and forecasts; provide analysis conclusions and recommendations

Worked closely with Senior Management to track sales performance and other related KPIs

constructed and managed multiple models, queries, and data analyses to effectively report sales by week, geographic region, program or initiative

Responsible for the training of new Merchandise Analysts

Promoted to Manager of Allocation/Distribution

Linda F. Cerqua Page 2

Merchandise Analyst – Footwear and Accessories – Retail and ESO Outlet Stores 2000-2003

Diverse scope of responsibilities including: product sizing, demographic analysis, development of company reporting, data and analysis, sales and program effectiveness. Product planning, tracking, and status updates to senior management.

Responsibilities include the managing of planning, forecasting, and analysis of specific categories

Make key inventory decisions to provide the stores with great value, quality and style

Responsible for distributing assortment categories based on individual store profiles and history

Maintain store inventory levels through the analysis of sales data and market trends

Monitor and react to warehouse inventory and activity

Work with buying and planning teams to develop initial merchandise commitment plans

Apply skills and experience to assist in developing assortment and business strategies to drive sales

Responsible for the preparations of individual store plans; outlet and retail stores combined over 700 stores

Participate in monthly planning/open to buy meetings and in weekly meetings to analyze selling patterns

Prepare seasonal analysis, on shape and fabrication (for all stores) to forecast / project future seasons inventory levels/buys

Promoted to senior Merchandise Analyst

Sterns - Corporate Office, - Paramus, NJ

Associate Buyer - Better Separates & Collections 1999-2000

Responsible for assisting the buyer in all aspects

Assisted the buyer in all duties

Performed analysis to support the development and enhancement of assigned areas

Assisted in the development of product and negotiation cost, terms and recourse

Helped to establish new and maintain existing relationships with vendors

Assisted in the termination of vendor relationships when appropriate

Analyzed inventory levels/sales for proper allocations, and determining appropriate MU%

Assisted in creation of assortments for all stores and in assist in planogram creation

Helped to establish pricing for promotional items and programs

Proofed all photos and written copies, verifying photography and stock numbers

Helped to determine and obtain ad samples for photography shoot

Created promotional signing/store signing

Maintained productive inventories (edit assortments, RTV’s)

System maintenance, price integrity, accuracy and timeliness of markdowns and sales at POS

Recapped all advertising promotions

Daily input and maintenance of purchase orders in excel

Worked in conjunction with stores (visits) to help organize the presentation of new goods

Early Professional Experience

Sears Roebuck and Co, White Plains, NY

Department Manager: Women’s Fashions, Lingerie, Jewelry and shoes

The IBM Learning Center, Thornwood, NY

Maintain site and hotel room hardware and software as well a site helpdesk

Education and Professional Development

Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, BBA, Management Information Systems (MIS)

Awards

EXCEL I & II - Continued courses in developing essential expertise

Cross Functional team award spring 2009 - JAG sales +3.3% to ly, margin +.1% to ly

Cross Functional team award fall 2009 - JAG - sales +7.9% to ly, margin +2.7% to ly

Cross functional team award spring 2012 - JAG - sales +12.9% to ly, margin +4.1% to ly

Cross functional team award fall 2012 - JAG - sales +4.3% to ly, margin +3.5% to ly

RISE Program Fall 2012 - 6 month course in developing time management, team management and developing areas for effectiveness

Software: Microsoft Office Suite, Advanced MS Excel, IBM PC, MAC, SAP, BW, Outlook, MMS, NRS, AS400, PA, BI, Windows, Sky-it

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