Simerjeet Sahota

- Create and execute tariff mitigation strategy by reducing China receipts from 83% LY to 57% LY through dual sourcing, establishing new vendor relationships, and assisting in new factory establishment. Increase Southeast Asia and India receipts from 16% LY to 43% TY. - Negotiate vendor terms, FOB, Tooling costs, MOQ to remain competitive across all COOs. Current savings of $9M FOB. - Lead strategic sourcing for $424M Portfolio across several product categories, ranging from power tools to heaters to outdoor hand tools. - Identify diverse vendor base with high expertise and core competencies to ensure product standards are met - Manage projects cross-functionally with various teams including Quality Assurance, Quality Compliance, Legal, Merchandising, Packaging, Vendor Management

Lead and created sourcing strategy for $195M private brand portfolio, achieving +12% year over year growth Oversee RFP/RFQ process resulting in savings of $7M Execute and implement global sourcing strategies including country diversification, long range sourcing plans and savings goals Manage vendor matrixes for numerous hard line businesses including yarn, kids crafts, wood crafting, jewelry, and craft textiles

Oversee the entire Craft division including Basic Craft, Kids Craft, Yarn, Jewelry, Craft Textiles, Papercrafting, Crafting Technology Grow Private Label Brands through innovation and trend correct products. Manage and develop a team of designers and associate product managers to develop exclusive products and execute product assortments. Work cross functionally to develop strategic direction and lifestyle appropriate assortments. Evaluate artwork assets and manage design studios. Work directly with vendors and factories to ensure strategy, pricing and quality standards are exceeded. Manage product development timelines Evaluate market trends to seek out future opportunities Analyze product performance metrics to help drive assortment strategies

Manage $70M in import receipts across Floral and Storage shops. Drive direct import penetration by converting $3M from domestic goods to import. Develop and execute sourcing strategies related to country diversification. Navigate logistic, vendor, material challenges based on market fluctuations and global factors. Develop and maintain vender matrices by identifying, evaluating, and maintaining vendor relationships Negotiate cost savings and tariff mitigation to achieve best cost/value equation across all categories

Grew the Cosplay fabric business +$200,000 in sales through strategic marketing initiatives, line building, and vendor partnership. Managed $60M in sales comprising of niche categories such as bridal and Halloween textiles. Drove strategies to achieve sales and inventory goals through marketing, assortment planning, and sourcing. Managed and guided cross-functional teams to create a collaborative and efficient environment.

Drive sales and margin by managing seasonal programs. Monitor Open-to-buy and inventory flow. Pursue trend right assortment. Manage and analyze promotional offers and cadences.

Build merchandise assortment and sales strategies to generate high sales, profit and inventory turnover. Develop seasonal business plans through partnership with merchant group and in-depth analysis of historical data and forecast and sales trends. Collaborate closely to build trust among cross-functional partners to drive desired results. Monitor monthly performance analysis to inventory, sales, and gross margin targets. Manage weekly Open-to-buy (OTB) and related reports.

Achieve set inventory goals by increasing margin dollars, meeting sales plans and end of period inventory dollars. Analyze trends and sales patterns to forecast sales units and sustain product replenishment. Maintain high supply chain efficiency by monitoring shipments, coordinating deliveries with vendors, and quickly responding to inventory receipt issues to ensure product demand is met. Cooperate with buying and planning team to purchase inventory and control stock levels to acquire high store in stock percentages.

Coordinated and launched a digital rebranding marketing campaign to generate consumer interest and revenue for new and existing product brands. Researched and analyzed competitive marketing techniques to differentiate and improve Jo-Ann Fabric’s approach in order to engage more consumers. Worked closely with other team members and Cotton Inc. to ensure merchandise promotion and differentiation.

Coordinated merchandise sales with online retailers such as Amazon and Overstock, to increase revenue streams. Selected seasonal merchandise and prepared marketing approaches to entice consumer purchasing. Prepared and analyzed inventory management metrics to ensure proper sell-throughs and product movement. Created interactive content to promotes e-commerce and product education

Exceeded sales goals of $10,000 in the month of March 2014 in addition to exceeding cross-merchandising unit goals. Developed customer relationships creating ongoing sales accounts and loyal customers to drive sales goals. Assisted in merchandise rollout on selling floor: planograms, visual, and window displays to increase merchandise visibility and shopabilitiy.

• Edited web-based material. • Researched product development to determine performance and sales of products. • Managed and organized hard goods inventory.

Researching local and state law on all criminal areas Updating and ensuring accuracy of Judge's bench book Researching, writing, and organizing judicial opinions on motions and dispositions Handling administrative tasks including some IT work

Aided lawyers throughout Ohio with their various pro bono work Researched topics such as family law, divorce law, and juvenile law Edited legal writing documents

Drafted a brief for the Federal Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Researched and wrote Returns of Writ and other habeas documents Analyzed and drafted memos on difficult legal topics on varying confidential cases Composed prosecutorial assistance documents Attended clemency hearings, evidentiary hearings, en banc arguments

Legal Volunteer, January 2009 Aided and assisted attorneys with interviews and uncovering legal issues Proactive involvement with clients who experienced complex issues such as immigration, domestic violence, landlord/tenant issues, etc. Exposed to private and confidential information and handled it with delicacy and respect

Assistant Marketing Coordinator for Modista Fashion Group. Staff writer for fashion magazine, A magazine. Studied abroad at the Paris American Academy in Paris, France with a focus on the luxury industry.