Karen Cobb
by Karen Cobb
(Knoxville TN)
Karen J. Cobb
639 Blue Heron Road Knoxville, Tennessee 37934 865-368-3456 karen.cobb@tds.net
Profile
___________________________
Results-oriented fashion industry professional with record of success in buying, merchandising, planning and allocation, and management. Proven leadership capabilites in driving sales and profits by restructuring product mix, devising effective pricing and marketing strategies, and focusing on assortments and store presentation.
„h Decision maker
„h Market and sales analysis
„h Opportunity identification
„h Budget planning and implementation
„h Strong negotiating skills
„h Product development
Professional Experience
___________________________
Goody¡¦s Family Clothing, Knoxville TN
January 2007 ¡V present
Buyer of Dresses and Plus-Size Tops (Dec 2007 ¡V present)
„h Identify merchandising trends and opportunities that meet the need of Goody¡¦s core customer in 282 stores across the South and Southeast.
„h Manage $45 million business during Chapter 11 filing and company restructuring.
„h Understand key financial metrics and how departments contribute to company financial goals. Make day-to-day and long-term merchandising decisions to meet sales and gross margin targets.
„h Execute short-term buying plans based on open-to-buy dollars and develop long-term department strategies.
„h Analyze business trends and opportunities by identifying and maximizing key items. Develop assortment plans that support company¡¦s goals and key item focus.
„h Partner with Product Development team to identify key opportunities for private brand merchandise.
„h Develop and maintain strong vendor partnerships. Negotiate product cost, terms, and shipping to maximize profitability.
Planner (Jan 2007 ¡V Dec 2007), Special Size Sportswear
„h Developed seasonal plans for sales, turnover, and margin based on historical data as well as projected changes in market and company focus.
„h Monitored door-level selling and receipts of key items and key vendors, to achieve penetration and sell-through objectives.
„h Reprojected open-to-buy weekly with team to ensure achievement of key metrics.
„h Mentored team of Merchandise Allocators to include information sharing and professional development.
Belk, Charlotte NC
August 2005 ¡V January 2007
Planner, Dresses and Suits
„h Developed seasonal plans on a topside and by-door level to achieve planned sales, turnover, and margin objectives.
„h Generated weekly/monthly analyses at dept/class/vendor/location levels to identify opportunities and drive sales.
„h Planned and controlled inventory levels to maximize sales, inventory, and profit.
Proffitts, Division of Saks Incorporated, Knoxville TN 1987 ¡V 2005
Planner, Special Size Sportswear (June 2004-July 2005)
„h Directed the merchandise distribution to the store level.
„h Developed seasonal plans for sales, turnover, and margin.
„h Implemented new allocation system in division (MMS), resulting in the reduction of out-of-balance to Poisson ratio by 23%.
„h Performed vendor and style rationalization, size analysis, and door-level sales analysis.
„h Prepared weekly key item reports.
Buyer, Sleepwear & Robes (1999-2004)
„h Increased sales +9.0%, turnover +7.3%, and gross margin dollars +12.0% during a period of significant industry decline.
„h Consistently had the leading Sleepwear/Robe performance within the 6-chain Saks Inc group.
„h Took the lead with Private Brand team to develop climate-appropriate and saleable product, essential in an FOB with a 50% penetration in Private Brand.
„h Developed and implemented seasonal product plans, constantly reassessed strategies to respond quickly to business and market conditions and maximize sales and margin.
„h Established excellent vendor relationships, resulting in exclusive product, achievement of gross margin plans, and respect in the vendor community.
Education
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„h University of Tennessee, Bachelor of Music Magna cum Laude
