Rabia Dhanani

• Managed and coordinated the category product selection, pricing and product development for various departments; equating to 25% of business with a focus on increasing Sales and Gross Profit while remaining competitive. • Collaborated and developed with the Product Development team to build and execute the corporate objectives and strategy, while ensuring category seasonal growth. Worked cross-functionally with planning and allocation teams to ensure product was allocated for best sales growth. • Managed and built 15+ strong global supplier relationships new and existing to grow business. Negotiated all buying agreements with regard to product costs, quality, payment terms, delivery and evolved product assortment to maximize business opportunities. • Aligned strategies and communicated category initiatives with Marketing and E-Commerce for best customer experience, product knowledge and omni-channel advertising programs were successfully brought to market. • Teamed with Visual Merchandising and Vendors to develop efficient an effective displays and planograms to ensure best customer shopping experience. • Effectively developed multiple reporting associates, ensuring productivity, accountability and standards were met through proper training and development with timely, constructive performance management and strong leadership, support and direction. • Buyer lead for design development and implementation of ERP technologies and product management software’s, [i.e. APTOS and Gerber PLM systems]. Then managed all tickets for bugs/ personalization’s to the system based on business needs. • Produced standardized process for corporate communications including employee on-boarding and training, 2 software ERP system training manuals and administered training for new systems. Managed software change and all training for a team of 15. International Travel Required*

• Built profitable seasonal assortment plans which had led to increased sales of 20%. • Managed category buying process for two departments from assortment building to product delivery/ sales and tracked all performance matrix. • Maintained all 8+ vendor communications and negotiations for product quality, cost and markup. • Generated and filtered market research in order to forecast trends and guide quarterly buying decisions. Analyzed buying and product data, market/ consumer trends and direct competitors to ensure products are competitive. Info gathered through store visits, vendor relationships and online market research. • Involved in the review and execution of promotional strategies, pricing structures, financial reviews and budgeting • Responsible for the planning, selection and assembly of new merchandise to best fit our consumer needs while being agile and quickly react to changes in customer demand • Maintained an open line of communication between store personnel and office to advance current customer insights & feedback

• Assisted Executive Team is corporate realignment to redesign and align roles of assistant buyers across the entire company, resulting in process improvement across 3 divisions • Supported one buyer of two departments with logistical and operational tasks, including vendor communication, delivery maintenance and shipment methods • Maintaining and constructing of all delivery schedules, on-order updates for both domestic and international orders along with product sales analysis • Continuous inter-communication with various departments and levels of retail to ensure the right product is available at the right time by gathering and analyzing all feedback, acquiring SWOT information and engaging in competitive shopping • Combined commodity teamwork to develop new strategies, plans and ideas to achieve the maximum gross profit return while decreasing markdown rates

For cleo.ca online catalog: • Maintained product logs, sample acquisition and inter-departmental communication • Recorded sample information with great attention to detail and accuracy of apparel and accessory terminology and creative descriptive writing • Product styling and photography for cleo.ca online product catalog • Edited, re-touched and processed photographed products • Styled and photographed for flat shoot imagery for Cleo's marketing email and online campaigns

Dresses, Skirts, Outerwear, Cold Weather Accessories and Camisoles • Assisted 2 buyers in product selection (of 4 departments), development, and pricing • Coordinated and executed vendor purchase orders, delivery schedules for all orders (international and domestic), big picture sales analysis on current product sales, in addition to general support functions, providing excellent attention to detail. • Maintaining product life cycle from initial orders, fit sample requests, to DTS shipment of product. • Continual correspondence with vendors (maintaining positive working relationships), and internal associates providing clear and concise communication with attention to detail for any and all product discussion. • Sales analysis on current and past product to maintain our target customers’ requests and product demands. Including gathering store and customer feedback and SWOT analysis on our direct competition.

• Merchandise high volume stock, for a PC Store, on sales floor, following planograms and new shipment plans. • Assess store success through weekly sales analysis then adjust merchandise to increase total SPR to above region sales %. [GTA] • Receiving Direct to Store shipments to maintain product lifecycle and merchandise flow through. -Up to 150,000 units on sales floor in 2/3 days. • Assisting managers with training, coaching, and orientation; staff of 14. • Creating weekly schedules for all associates [14]. • Ensuring all associates are aware of daily goals, productivity, visual maintenance, and LP awareness.

Coordinate and execute the visual merchandising of 5 store locations • Responsible for the updating and maintenance of web pages, Facebook pages, managing marketing and media activities including the photography of models and merchandise for advertisements and commerce channels • Assist in determining the pricing structure of merchandise and its physical application (Distribution and Allocations) • Forecast new and popular trends for on-going buying trips (Buying) • Managing single store locations at once; customer service, cashier and sales associate

• Held a position actively contributing to services such as providing styling, interview and grooming tips and tricks for marginalized men and women • Held a second position in admin: transferal of data from paper to electronic

(unpaid) • Social Media and file rep; Facebook, Twitter, Blog, and Website.

Responsible for visual layout and displays within the store. Entrusted with management responsibilities. Received 95% on a secret shopper report.

Processed purchases and returns in a fast pace environment. Assisted management with price updates and inventory log.