1. FrancesSmith LinkedInProfile
Headline
CategoryManagementProfessional,leveragingrelationshipstoharnessnew opportunitiesforproduct
growth
Summary
Merchandisingprofessional capitalizingonvastexperience withrenownedretailerNordstrom. Drives
revenue growthbycontinuallyanalyzingmarketandcompetitorstoreveal new opportunities .
Impressive trackrecordof mentoringteams,guidingindividualsandbusinessunitstonew heights.
Careerprogressionincludes variedandincreasingresponsibility inretail management,buying,planning,
merchandising,andmarketing.
As Ecommerce Merchandiser,achieved4% revenuegrowthduringchallengingsituationinwhichother
corporate unitsstruggled.
As Ecommerce Merchandise Planner,pioneeredsalesof plus-sizelingerie,drivingrevenuesandstarting
popularretail trend.
As Financial Merchandiser,successfullyexceededfinancial goalsfor$230M businessdespite havingno
financial productknowledge upontakingonrole.
As InterimMulti-Channel Buyer, successfullyattractedmore youthful marketforsleepwearsaleswithin
six months.
As AssistantBuyer,developedteamtrainingtool adoptedbycorporationtoenhance processesand
relationshipsbetweencross-functional teams.
As Regional MerchandiseManager,delivered21% salesincrease andoversaw fournew store openings
inBoston area.
As Retail Manager,directed upto25 directreportsand promotedsix tomanagementpositions.
AlwaysopentonewopportunitiesinBrandStrategy,ProductManagement,Marketing,and
Merchandising.
Experience
Major Dept. Store, 2015-2016
Ecommerce Merchandiser

2. Drove online businessforthree separate categorieswithvolumeexceeding$400 millionbydeveloping
newbusinessopportunitiesandestablishingcategoryprioritiesfor online business.
Fosteredunderstandingof ecommerce amongthree buyingteamsof 24merchants,includingcustomer,
productcategories,andcompetitors.
PartneredwithSite MerchandisingandMarketingteamstoincrease traffic,productviewsandcustomer
experience.
2016 YTD 4% increase withinareaof responsibility,exceeding2015 salestarget, while otherdivisions
struggled.
Providedexecutive teamwithauthoritative ecommerce adviceandanalysis,productselection,and
financial decisions.
Major Department Store
Ecommerce Merchandise Planner,2013-2015
Expanded online business by developing strategies and assortment plans for fast paced, complex
category.Optimizedinventory,content and price within assortment to enhance customer experience.
Continuallymonitoredmarkettrendsandcompetitorswhile also sourcing new suppliers and products.
Mentored team of nine Assistant Buyers, Assistant Buy Planners, and Replenishment Buyers.
Femmy Intimates Industry Honor for Retailer of the Year for innovative business approaches.
Instrumental in pioneering plus-size lingerie sales, later adopted throughout retail industry.
Drove business growth by 56%, (increasing $14M), by identifying opportunities.
Expanded breadth of offer 43% by collaborating with over 80 suppliers on product strategies, pricing,
and innovation.
Delivered double digit sales increases both years, from $20Mto $50M.
Grew drop-ship business by 250% gaining incremental volume over $2M.
Major Department Store
Financial Merchandise Planner,2011-2013

3. Createdandmanagedfinancial plansfor$230 millionbusiness. Plannedcategoryandlocationsalesand
receipt actual vs. plan including online demand. Recommended actions on sales and inventory to
mitigate risks and maximize profits by location.
Learnedfinance businessconceptswithoutpriorfinancial industry knowledge and later taught them to
buyers.
Selected for role based on previously demonstrated leadership and performance.
Exceeded financial goals for 118 stores and online business.
Major Department Store
Multichannel Buyer(Interim),April-Sept.2012
Chosen for interim position to set customer and merchandise strategies for $50 million product
category.
Led team that selected product and manage inventory for 118 stores and online.
Oversaw supplier performance expectations, negotiated gross margin, exclusivity and Co-op.
Taught and mentored new assistant buyers.
Changed product strategy and gained new, younger customers for category.
Improved sales trend by 8% in 6 months.
Leveragedreplenishmentsystem to manage product flow to location resulting in $1 million sales gain.
Major DepartmentStore
Assistant Buyer,2010-2011
Drove in-seasonmanagementfor$48M businessbymanaginginventoryandnegotiatingwithsuppliers.
Analyzed and managed online and stores assortment, inventory and exit strategies.
Developedteamtrainingtool,adopted corporate-wide, enhancing processes and relationships among
cross-functional teams.
Exceptional Leadership Divisional Award.
Increasedonline salesby7%by identifying opportunities in product, pricing and customer experience.

4. PartneredwithMarketingandexecutedcategory'slargestonline campaign,resulting in 21% increase in
sales.
Major DepartmentStore,NERegion
Regional MerchandisingManager, 2008-2010
Trained and developed 12 managers in the North East stores. Improved selling capabilities, product
training, merchandising skills and product mix in each store. Grew relationships with merchant team,
store team, visual team and vendors.
Exceptional Leadership Regional Award.
Corporate Anniversary Cup Winner.
Regional Merchandiser of the month.
Delivered #1 sales increase corporately within category in 2009 and 2010.
Delivered 21% sales increase for $22Mbusiness.
Oversaw four new store openings in Boston area.
Major Department Store, CARegion
Retail Manager,2004-2008
Hands-onbusinessmanagerforseveraldifferentproductcategories.
Hiredand managedsalesteamsupto 25 directreportsand successfullypromotedsix employeesto
management.
Merchandisedandmanagedvisual aestheticsof the salesfloor.
Receivedcashawardsfortop salesincreases.
Movedstore rank in salesvolume fromtop10 to top 3 corporatelywithincategory.
Education

5. University of Phoenix
Master of Business Administration
California State University
Bachelor of Science, Marketing,
Institut De Francais
French Immersion Language Course
SkillsandExpertise
As currentlylisted