Molly Stiles
Philadelphia
Summary
Dynamic Senior Buyer with a proven track record at Spirit Halloween, driving consistent growth through strategic assortment planning and vendor negotiation. Expert in financial analysis and market trends, I excel in creating profitable product assortments that resonate with customers, fostering strong cross-functional partnerships to achieve business objectives.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Buyer, E-Commerce, and Amazon
Spirit Halloween
Egg Harbor Township
04.2016 - 04.2024
- Responsible for implementing processes to achieve extreme growth in 8 years through a keen understanding of the guest as well as vendor and product development partnerships and lifecycles.
- Our team has delivered positive comps every single year.
- Identifying new opportunities and new approaches is my personal and professional goal.
- Constant focus on financial metrics and strategic plans and vision to achieve them.
- Strong Analytical Skill, Sales, inventory management, and gross margin are the essential metrics to a strong and sustainable business.
- Strong partnership cross functionally internally and externally with the vendor matrix and category management.
- Managed, mentored, and developed a team of 4-5.
- Together we provide our guests with the most optimal Halloween assortment from costumes to décor all year long.
- Consistent brainstorms and product forecasting to capitalize on the hottest trends of the season and to provide a balanced assortment every year.
- Competition is fierce and it is essential to stay in front of them and position our business to always be the best.
- Constantly asking 'Where is the next $1M coming from?'
- Be fresh, continually creating newness and being current for our direct guest all while reflecting the strategy is most important.
- Consistently analyzing business and making quick and efficient decisions to continue to see growth through the Buying and Procurement process.
- Worked very close with Logistics to ensure the highest profitability within transportation, quality and on time deliveries.
- Report monthly to President and upper management team providing them with all current states of the business.
Owner
Shopalmostheaven.com
Philadelphia
02.2015 - 04.2016
- Created an e-commerce site for unique home goods, fashion, and gifts.
- Responsible for all aspects of the site and business, including securing financing, marketing, and buying the ideal assortment for a specific customer base.
- Secure and negotiate vendor contracts to support growth, and sales.
Senior Buyer – Charter Club
Macy’s Department Stores
New York
08.2013 - 02.2015
- Rebranded and elevated a $200M apparel business, managing a team to drive a 20% growth in 2014.
- Selected and secured contracts for appropriate assortment for the target customer delivering positive results and achieved all metrics of the plan including sales, receipts, turnover, gross margin and weeks of supply.
- Guided and mentored a team of three through positive reinforcement and coaching.
- Worked cross functionally with Product Development, Design, Planning, Marketing, Allocation, Stores and Gross Margin to ensure plans are set, executed, and met.
- Maintained keen eye on competition; learned and reacted where necessary.
- Consistently updating customer data information to stay on top of the customer ensuring the assortment was precise and delivery was always met.
- Influenced the day-to-day business identifying new opportunities; reacting to hits and misses to drive profitable sales and growth.
Divisional Merchandising Manager – Occasion Dresses and Accessories
David’s Bridal, Inc.
Philadelphia
06.2008 - 12.2012
- Obtained 40% growth in sales and profitability of $100M dress and accessory division.
- As buying team manager of 8, established and initiated challenging and measurable strategic plans.
- Introduced new assortment planning tools to maximize efficiency.
- Traveled quarterly to Hong Kong, China, and India to oversee production and negotiate best possible prices ensuring high profitability.
- Worked cross functionally with the heads of Product Development, Marketing, Public Relations, Planning, and the E-commerce team to fulfill accomplishments on all fronts.
- Traveled seasonally to Europe to ensure appropriate fashion trends were met and translated appropriately for the customer.
Senior Director of Merchandising – Women’s Apparel
Lilly Pulitzer
King of Prussia
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Improved assortment building to create 15% growth in sales and margin.
- Identified through consumer research the customer’s lifestyle needs and buying patterns to provide the most profitable assortment and brand positioning in the marketplace.
- Worked simultaneously with design, identifying appropriate style, fabric, cost, and country of origin recommendations while guiding and keeping the team focused.
- Consistently researched current trends, through trend services, domestic and international travel, to aid in preparation of merchandise assortments that met company objectives for sales, gross profit and productivity while reporting all results to executive team weekly.
- Prepared, updated, and acknowledged annual and three-year merchandise plans for women’s apparel including sales, expenses, inventory level, marketing and creative strategies.
- Supervised, trained, and prepared for further advancement in careers of the merchandising staff.
General Merchandise Manager – A Pea in the Pod; Divisional Merchandise Manager and Buyer
Destination Maternity
Philadelphia
01.2003 - 01.2007
- Improved and grew business by 10% through stronger sourcing strategy.
- Managed merchant and design team to identify trends, select products, and manufacture ideal assortments domestically and internationally.
- Managed negotiations and product assortment with high-end brands and price sourcing on production and fabrics to create significant annual profit increases.
- Developed and initiated long term strategic visions to build a stronger hold on the competition.
- Partnered with finance to set budgets, identify aggressive but achievable sales goals, markdowns, turnover and inventory levels reporting results weekly to Executive Team.
- Analyzed business persistently to understand daily trends and consumer’s needs while identifying successful product and implementing reaction plans.
National and International Sales Manager
LAGOS, Inc.
Philadelphia
01.1997 - 01.2001
- Responsible for complete profitability of distribution to major department stores throughout the United States and Canada, achieving increase of 52% over the two years within our Key Accounts.
Department Manager
Neiman Marcus
Fort Worth
01.1993 - 01.1997
- Responsible for profitable sales growth in Women’s Sportswear, Contemporary Apparel, Designer Jewelry, Leather, and Accessories.
Store Manager
The Gap, Inc.
Fort Worth
01.1991 - 01.1993
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing
Stephen’s College
Columbia, MO01.1991
Skills
- Vendor negotiation
- Inventory management
- Assortment planning
- E-commerce strategy
- Financial analysis
- Market analysis
Timeline
Sr. Buyer, E-Commerce, and Amazon
Spirit Halloween
04.2016 - 04.2024
Owner
Shopalmostheaven.com
02.2015 - 04.2016
Senior Buyer – Charter Club
Macy’s Department Stores
08.2013 - 02.2015
Divisional Merchandising Manager – Occasion Dresses and Accessories
David’s Bridal, Inc.
06.2008 - 12.2012
Senior Director of Merchandising – Women’s Apparel
Lilly Pulitzer
01.2007 - 01.2008
General Merchandise Manager – A Pea in the Pod; Divisional Merchandise Manager and Buyer
Destination Maternity
01.2003 - 01.2007
National and International Sales Manager
LAGOS, Inc.
01.1997 - 01.2001
Department Manager
Neiman Marcus
01.1993 - 01.1997
Store Manager
The Gap, Inc.
01.1991 - 01.1993
Bachelor's Degree - Fashion Merchandising, Business, Marketing
Stephen’s College