Kalie Zimmerman
Pittsburgh,PA
Summary
Innovative Business Leader with a Creative Edge|
9+ years in Retail Merchandising and Project Management|
Passionate About Enhancing Team and System Collaboration|
Crafting Brand Experiences that Drive Sales and Market Growth|
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Retail Operations and Design Consultant- Freelance
Fox and the Fleur
10.2024 - Current
- Shop Operations: Manage POS transactions, process orders, maintain accurate sales and inventory records, and organize shop displays, curating visually appealing arrangements that highlight seasonal plants and merchandise
- Floral Design: Process fresh flowers for daily orders and events of up to $100K, assist with large-scale in-home holiday installations, and contribute to setting up floral designs and selecting hard goods for weddings
- Client Relations: Serve as the first point of contact for clients, offering personalized floral recommendations, managing special event orders, and coordinating pick-up and delivery schedules to ensure timely, reliable service
Merchandise Manager- Women’s Hard Accessories Omni + CDA
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
08.2021 - 10.2024
- Cross-Functional Synergy: Led the Women’s Hard Accessories team to achieve the best Q4 (2021) and Q3 (2022) performance in five years, generating $36M in Sales (+$5.5M from 2021) and positioned the business for a record-setting 2024
- Business Development: Identified and capitalized on untapped third-party business opportunities, establishing new vendor relationships that grew the third-party gifting category to $5M in 2023 (+$1.2M from 2022)
- Team Leadership: Cultivated a collaborative and supportive environment for Merchandising, Design, Production, Planning and broader CFT while leading a team of three Merchants
Merchant- Women’s Shorts and Pants Omni + CDA
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
05.2018 - 08.2021
- Seasonal Success: Led the Women’s Shorts team to achieve record sales in 2020 (surpassing $200M in sales) and 2021, with 2021 surpassing $200M in sales and $140 in margin for first time
- Negotiation Expertise: Managed cost and delivery negotiations with vendors, performing fabric pre-season and managing mode shifts from boat to air shipments ultimately improving buy delivery timelines by up to four weeks for enhanced in-season responsiveness
- Supportive Management: Guided a team of four Merchants, promoting a culture of kindness and collaboration
Assistant Merchant- Men’s Pants Omni + CDA
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
10.2017 - 05.2018
- Sales Achievement: Contributed to the Men’s Pants business, helping achieve the highest Q4 sales in history with $55M in sales and $34M in margin for 2017
- Adaptability Under Ambiguity: Reported directly to the Merchant of Men’s Pants and Shorts, often leading the Pants segment during critical projects, demonstrating adaptability and strong decision-making skills
- Team Development: Maintained and onboarded a junior-level Assistant Merchant within just six months, enhancing team capacity and knowledge sharing
Assistant Buyer- Women’s Graphic Tees, Women’s Dresses
Urban Outfitters, Inc
06.2016 - 06.2017
- Strategic Contribution: Assisted in the development of merchandising strategies that aligned with customer trends, enhancing the brand’s presence across categories
- Coaching Expertise: Coached an intern during the summer of 2017, fostering a collaborative learning environment and contributing to the team’s overall productivity
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marketing And Supply Chain Management
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA05.2016
Yoga Teacher - Registered Yoga Teacher- 200 ERYT
One Point One Yoga
Pittsburgh, PA05.2019
Study Abroad Student - International Marketing
CAPA The Global Education
London, UK06.2014
Skills
Process Professional
Team Player
Creative Organizer
Empathetic Manager
Sustainability Advocate
Diversity Enthusiast
Timeline
Retail Operations and Design Consultant- Freelance
Fox and the Fleur
10.2024 - Current
Merchandise Manager- Women’s Hard Accessories Omni + CDA
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
08.2021 - 10.2024
Merchant- Women’s Shorts and Pants Omni + CDA
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
05.2018 - 08.2021
Assistant Merchant- Men’s Pants Omni + CDA
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc
10.2017 - 05.2018
Assistant Buyer- Women’s Graphic Tees, Women’s Dresses
Urban Outfitters, Inc
06.2016 - 06.2017
Bachelor of Science - Marketing And Supply Chain Management
University of Pittsburgh
Yoga Teacher - Registered Yoga Teacher- 200 ERYT
One Point One Yoga
Study Abroad Student - International Marketing
CAPA The Global Education
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