Experienced Merchandise & Buying Manager

Mark A. Noia

*** ** *** ****** ***.*** Delray Beach FL. 33444

`****.*.****@*****.*** Phone: 954-***-****

Objective

Merchandise Manager with years of experience and proven record in product development, product selection, planning and purchasing strategies, achieving budgeted sales, profitability, quality standards and corporate goals, is now seeking an opportunity with operational management responsibilities for merchandising, buying, purchasing logistics, sales and marketing that includes ecommerce, retail wholesale, distribution, and brokerages services in both national and international markets. Professional Background

TJX Company (2002 – Present)

Merchandise Coordinator

• Assisted with sales in women apparel, junior apparel, activewear, swimwear, intimate apparel, purses, jewelry, men’s wear, beauty and home goods.

• Merchandise coordinator for store - to include adequate stock levels, up selling, point of sales, display presentations, features, runway, fitting room and cashier duties.

•. Responsible for markdowns, mis-mates, reticketing, price checks, damages, inventory push, customer service and sales goals.

• Role model for exceptional customer service

• Create a positive internal and external customer experience

• Promotes a culture of honesty and integrity; maintains confidentiality

• Takes an active role in training and mentoring Associates on established merchandising and processing principles using appropriate company resources and tools

• Communicates with the Manager on Duty to ensure efficient flow of goods to sales floor

• Maintains and upholds merchandising philosophy and signage standards

• Maintains all organizational, cleanliness and recovery standards for the backroom, fitting room and customer counter returns area according to established company policy

• Communicates accurately and effectively with management and associates when setting and addressing priorities; provides periodic progress updates

• Provides and accepts ongoing recognition and constructive feedback

• Partners with Management on associate training needs to increase effectiveness

• Ensures adherence to all labor laws, policies, and procedures

• Promotes credit and loyalty programs during customer interactions

• Supports and participates in store shrink reduction goals and programs

• Promotes safety awareness and supports maintenance of a risk-free environment Brendy’s Collections – Delray Beach (2009 – Present) Merchandise Manager – Internet Sales

• Responsible for Product Development and product selections in all categories for the Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, Overstock, Ebay and Buy.com platforms

• Traveled overseas and domestically for the purpose of product development and product selections

• Responsible for negotiating, sourcing, marketing, forecasting, purchasing, pricing, marketing, inventory control, shipping and re-buying over 2000 items in all categories.

• Responsible for platform layout, brochure selection, layout, copy, strategic placement, and selecting and inserting search terms to ensure customer purchase and satisfaction

• Maintained 30% gross margin, netting 150K in net profits monthly

• Negotiated terms, profit percentages, product development, guarantee sale, closeouts, imports and write offs.

Increased market share in home and garden, health and beauty, toys, home improvement, jewelry, kitchen and dining, pet, automotive, electronics, sporting goods, apparel accessories and “As Seen on TV”

Elkor, LLC – Palm Beach (2007 – 2009)

USA Merchandise Manager, Exporting Elkor Stores Riga, Latvia

• Responsible for Branded Merchandise product selections in all categories for exporting purposes to 20 retail stores in the country of Latvia, netting 6 million in annual sales

• Responsible for planning, costing, purchasing, gross margins, packaging, payment terms, and exporting documentation

• Traveled to Riga, Latvia to analyze markets, market share, retail competition, category selections, brands, and to recommend areas for growth, marketing strategies, and new store locations

• Traveled to all USA domestic trade shows to product select and purchase branded name merchandise, research and development, quotations, pricing, territory distribution and opportunity purchases

• Negotiated with vendors on Elkor’s behalf to establish distribution rights for the Baltic States

• Researched Latvian financial markets for the purpose of store branded credit and merchandise warranty packages

• Opened up US merchandise markets in Estonia, and Lithuania with branded merchandise in toys, furniture, hardware, barbecues, storage, electronics and videos Grande Portal, Inc. – Pembroke Pines, FL (2006 – 2007) Director or Merchandising, Mail Order Catalog

• Partnered in a new start up mail order and internet sales company established in October 2006

• Responsible for all product development and product selection for all categories resulting in sales of 500K

• Conducted all retail pricing, margins, sales, inventory, cost of goods, packaging, marketing, catalog layouts, product specifications, copy, catalog print and studios to ensure timely mailings

• Responsible for all forecasting, replenishment, promotional Items, markdowns, returns, back orders, opportunity buys and payment terms

• Head of customer service, website layout, email campaign layouts and wholesale division

• Followed trends, retail competition, quality and shipping to ensure timely items are maintained and executed

• Traveled to all domestic shows for the purpose of product development and product selections to ensure best price, delivery and future product placement

• Worked closely with marketing to ensure website traffic, sales promotions and giveaways

ABC Distributing, LLC – Miami, FL (1995 – 2006)

Senior Buyer, Mail Order Catalog

• Increased department sales by 400% netting 100 million in annual sales

• Responsible for the product development and selection for nine departments including toys, sporting goods, electronics, hardware, pet supplies, books, jewelry, apparel and apparel accessories

• Conducted all negotiating, sourcing, forecasting, packaging, pricing and shipping for all re-buy items

• Responsible for analyzing sales, trends, designs, vendor relations, retail pricing and backorders

• Interacted with accounting, design, MIS, quality control, catalog operations, traffic, returns and inventory control

• Worked directly with factories and trading companies in Europe and the Far East as well as domestically for the purpose of product Development and product Sourcing

• Managed a staff of eight employees, including administrative assistant and junior buyers

I.P.C. Company – Beachwood, OH (1993 – 1995)

Director of Operations

• Responsible for 16 million in annual sales of terra-cotta and ceramic pottery

• Oversaw distribution, purchasing, pricing, inventory control, and order entry

• Liaison between retailers and factories in Europe, South America and Far East

• Assisted sales department with product development and presentations

• Organized shipping schedules and containers to ensure prompt delivery Lilian Vernon – Yonkers, NY (1989 – 1995)

Control Buyer, Mail Order Catalog

• Purchased a variety of product lines from Europe, Ear East, and domestically, resulting in 50 million in sales while achieving a 93% fulfillment rate

• Responsible for all reorders for over 1600 items

• Participated in establishing a toy catalog with annual sales of 18.5 million

• Responsible for analyzing inventory, trends, purchasing, forecasting, logistics and back orders

• Traveled to Hong Kong and Taiwan to renegotiate with manufacturers resulting in 5 million savings

Educational Background

Lehman Colleges, Bronx, NY- Bachelor of Arts Accounting/Business Practice Computer Skills

Microsoft office, Seller Central, WordPerfect, Internet Research, Oracle, Mainframe and Mac Operating Systems

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