Marisa Braswell

Managed buying, planning, and allocation for $10M swimwear and branded fashion apparel business for leading specialty retail chain of 36 beachwear and souvenir stores.

Managed product development process for footwear department, including trend direction, product design, assortment selection, visual merchandising, and omni-channel marketing.

Buying, product development, visual and eCommerce merchandising, sales analysis, markdown and promotional strategy, and inventory management for all boutiques, outlets, and website. Increased 2016 total comp sales by $4.2M, 37%, driving the highest category growth for the company.

• Facilitated buying process for junior, missy, and plus apparel, accessories, intimates, and beauty • Managed purchase order process from inception and approval to allocation and distribution • Monitored receipts by department and delivery to maintain open-to-buy and stock-to-sales • Selected items for advertising and established promotional pricing to drive volume and maintain margin • Styled photoshoots, launched junior apparel online, and coordinated looks for social media trend posts • Managed replenishment bra and panty programs to minimize inventory and maximize sales • Managed product development of private label key items and fashion basics with import vendors • Analyzed sales and inventory to identify redundancies and opportunities in product assortments

Managed $13 million in annual retail sales for missy updated separates (tops & bottoms) departments Analyzed sales by department, class, style, color, and size to find opportunities to maximize business Shopped major markets for the most trend-right product for the season, department, class and customer Planned assortments by department, vendor, and class to achieve sales, margin, turn, and GMROI goals Allocated merchandise to stores based on purchase plan, open-to-buy, and vendor performance by store Ran monthly stock projections and balanced inventory by store to maintain healthy stock-to-sales ratio Selected styles for signage and advertising, including run-of-press, statement enclosures, and email blasts

Worked with planner to review open-to-buy and manage receipt flow to maximize sales and inventory Reported latest fashion trends and recapped attribute selling in monthly pre-market attribute recaps Attended markets and trade shows to find and select the best product for trend, brand, and customer Issued purchase orders and confirmed cost, delivery, colors, and fabric; managed DC issues and RTVs Updated assortment grids and generated weekly reports of sales, promotions, on order, and shipping Reviewed sales reports with buyer and created detailed spreadsheets for further business analysis Presented best sellers, attribute selling, and trend reports in weekly meetings with merchant team

Researched fashion trends, attended trade shows, conducted store visits, and shopped competitors Developed balanced assortments based on seasonal trend, brand integrity, and customer preferences Established retail pricing to meet target mark-up, maximize gross margin, and minimize markdown risk Worked with Visual and Marketing to ensure optimal product presentation, advertising, and promotion Partnered with Planning and Allocation to monitor open-to-buy and maintain inventory to make sales Analyzed business to recognize redundancies or missed opportunities and chase or cancel as needed Evaluated style performance to identify best/worst sellers, reorders, updates, and potential key items

Elite Productions (Houston, TX): Marketing Coordinator (September 2006 – June 2007) Managed office of upscale multi-faceted promotions company specializing in creative, profitable events Increased exposure of small to mid-size companies by addressing and targeting appropriate audience Planned corporate/charity events, product demonstrations/promotions, pageants, and fashion shows Booked venues and staff, including caterer, photographer, videographer, models, and entertainment Obtained individual and corporate sponsors for events and donations for silent auctions and raffles Issued public service announcements and wrote and submitted press releases for upcoming events

Coordinated special events for full-service marketing, public relations, and events production company Compiled sponsorship packages and recruited sponsors for events and advertisers for e-newsletter Reserved venues, hired caterers and event staff, and booked event host, models, and entertainment Styled models’ wardrobe and scheduled hair/make-up artist for fashion shows and informal modeling Solicited corporate and individual donations and assembled gift packages for silent auctions and raffles Composed press releases recapping events and updated expense reports immediately following events

Nordstrom Cosmetic Trend Fashion Show (Fall 2006): Assistant Stylist FGI Houston “Fashionably Loud” Fashion Show (Summer 2006): Stylist Essence Music Festival Lane Bryant Fashion Show (Summer 2006): Stylist IEM “Identity Houston” Fashion Show (Summer 2006): Assistant Stylist JC Penney “Rock Your Prom” Fashion Show (Spring 2006): Women’s Stylist Pamela Rolland Fashion Show (Fall 2006 NY Fashion Week): Showroom Intern