York University

Senior Retail Executive

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

SEPHORA

Director, Dot.CA (Ecommerce)

NYGÅRD International

Director - Dedicated Stores & Dillard’s - Alia, Tan Jay, Alison Dailey

Developed & implemented merchandise strategy, seasonal planning & execution of $800M apparel & accessories business, ensuring delivery on planned P&L objectives. Oversaw categories including women’s apparel & intimates, childrenswear, menswear, outerwear, active wear, footwear, jewelry & accessories. Spearheaded a team of 25 team members through product assortment, distribution, marketing, & planning, ensuring achievement of financial and strategic objectives. Streamlined new department reporting standards & analytics for optimized consistency & transparency. Fostered team cooperation & collaboration through continuous communication, maximizing operational efficiency. Consistently sought to improve & add variation to existing product offerings. Partnered with global sourcing teams to develop merchandise & with in-store teams to establish plans & visual merchandising standards to drive sales. Maintained brand image continuity across online & in-store platforms, through signage & comprehensive marketing materials. Doubled private branded business to 30% & delivered an 11% increase in unit sales with 4% less inventory from Q4 2016 to Q2 2017 through the introduction of a new Sears Mono Label strategy. Improved National Brand GM% by 400bps through rationalizing 81 underperforming national brands & increasing product depth in high performing brands and categories. Established plans as well as short & long term forecasts for Sears Mono Label strategy & National Brand Business: Ladies Outerwear: Sales +34% over plan & 47% over LY. Menswear: Sales +6% over plan with -12% inventory to LY. Children’s Outerwear: Sales +72% over plan & +65% over LY. Women’s Intimates: Over achieved AGP$ plan by $1.5M (+8%). Accessories: Sales +16% over plan. Jewelry: Sales +7% over plan. Children’s Fashion: Sales +15% over LY. Footwear: +5.9% in sales to LY & AGP$ by $550K (+5.3%).  Created a new future buyers program for improved career development & employee retention.

Sears Canada

Vice President, Apparel & Accessories

Responsible for the execution of “The Cold Weather Strategy” merchandise initiative to combat two new luxury retailers in the Canadian market; elevated and developed business to increase profitability. Led a team of buyers to develop assortment plans in accordance with budget, trends, space, and business analyses. Tailored merchandise for various locations based on strategies and sales trends. Directed online team to launch eCommerce for new categories and onboard merchandise featuring luxury experience. Successfully doubled Cold Weather business within 2 years, as opposed to scheduled 3 years. Achieved 101% of fiscal 2016 sales plan and 108% of fiscal GM$ plan by week 43; Sales: +59% over LY and +27% over plan; GM$: +63% over LY, +38% over plan; GM%: 56%, +200bps increase over LY, +500bps over plan; Drove +$3.2M in incremental sales. For 2015: Sales: +55% over LY and +16% over plan; GM$: +55% over LY, +15% over plan; First Price Sell Through: 71% vs. 66% plan (55% LY); Drove +$1.7M in incremental sales.   Developed a new buyer in training program in partnership with merchant leads and HR.

Holt Renfrew

Director, Outerwear,  Fur & Cold Weather Accessories, Women's Branded & Modern Collections

Exceeded Jewelry and Accessories plan in 2014 through effective planogram, as well as effective inventory management to achieve turnover targets.
For 2014: Sales: +31% over LY and +12% over plan; GM$: +29% over LY, +9% over plan.
Delivered $1M in incremental sales through “Fur Frenzy” Pop Up Shops.

Director, Accessories, Jewellery & Watches

Senior Buyer, Women's Wear (2012-2013)
Senior Buyer, Cosmetics (2011-2012)
Buyer, Colour Cosmetics (2009-2011)

2010 Holt Renfrew Merchant of the Year.

Managed 4 of the top 10 Deborah Lippmann department stores in the world (2011). Successfully executed brand roll out and sales recovery strategy for Prescriptives brand exit; Recouped 103% of Prescriptives sales. Recovered the total colour cosmetics business from double digit decrease, to end 2009,+1% over LY. Launched the #1 Burberry make-up door in North America in 2010. Drove the highest sales increase across all categories in November 2010 across the company. Created the “Holt Renfrew” beauty bag in 2010 with record breaking sales of 10,000 units (100% FPST). This bag program continues as of 2017.

Senior Buyer / Buyer

Buyer – Soft Décor accessories, floor and window coverings

Wal-Mart

Buyer

Buyer - Girl's Denim & Non-Denim Bottoms (2006)
Acting Buyer - Guy's Tops & Outerwear (2005)

Victoria Lee