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Leslie A. Weir

global merchant leader | omni-channel brand strategist | merchandise maven

  • Projects
  • Resume
  • Contact

RESUME

LESLIE A. WEIR

GLOBAL OMNI-CHANNEL MERCHANT LEADER

BRAND STRATEGIST & MERCHANDISE ARCHITECT

DISCERNING PRODUCT CURATOR WITH A STRONG SENSE OF AESTHETIC

CULTIVATOR OF TOP PERFORMING TALENT

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDER & CONNECTOR

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

HEAD OF OMNI-CHANNEL BUYING (Maternity Cover) | SKIP HOP | 2022-2023

  • Principal Buyer for store & eCommerce channels at Skip Hop with oversight of all categories (Playtime, Bath, Kids Bags, Mealtime, Diaper Bags, On the Go, & Home Gear)

  • Analyze and present business findings & strategy shifts to leadership & cross-functional partners in key company meetings.

  • Leveraged diverse retail experience to refresh and optimize cross-functional processes and reporting to improve workflow, efficiency, and results

  • Architect pricing and promotional plans that exceeded volume & margin targets by 15% YOY

  • One of only 3 areas of Carter’s Inc. to exceed budget for Q1 2023

OMNI-CHANNEL BUYING, PLANNING, & OPERATIONS CONSULTANT | At Land | 2021 - PRESENT

Womens Apparel, Footwear, Accessories, Beauty, Apothecary, Home

  • Working Directly with the Owner/Founder of a women's lifestyle retailer across multiple business functions to drive profitability and reach strategic goals during critical reorganization for the brand.

  • Responsibilities Including (but not limited to): Seasonal Buying Strategies, Sales Forecasting, Promotional & EOS Sale Planning, Inventory Management + Optimization, Liquidation Strategies, Digital Merchandising (Shopify), Flagship & eCommerce Operations, Social & Email Marketing, Relocation Support, Pop-up Shops, Developing & Implementing Operational Efficiencies

HEAD OF MEN’S WOVENS MERCHANDISING | J.Crew | 2016 - 2017

Shirts, Pants, Shorts, Suiting, Jackets, and Ties

  • Global Omni-Channel merchant responsible for creating and executing assortment strategy which constitutes $400M and 60% of J.Crew Men’s annual sales

  •  Crafted seasonal merchandise plan by identifying emerging category trends balanced with measured levels of annuity items to ensure a competitive and relevant product line 

  • Established inaugural wholesale relationship with Nordstrom to build suiting business which resulted in an initial 10-store capsule collection with significant future revenue upside for Men’s division and J.Crew business as a whole

  • Partnered with teams to communicate key product category emphasis for outlets such as digital, web, catalog, social media, stores, etc.

  • Direct report to SVP of Men’s merchandising with 2 Senior Merchant direct reports and 7 indirect reports

  • Coached and empowered team of merchants to cultivate leadership depth within the organization, resulting in four team member promotions in 2016

HEAD OF MERCHANDISING, INTERNATIONAL | J.Crew | 2014 - 2016

Women’s, Men’s, Non-Apparel and crewcuts® 

  • Principal Omni-channel merchant for the entire J.Crew brand encompassing all markets outside of North America

  • Key member of the international leadership team which advised and executed global expansion plans within a significant growth area for the brand

  • Created and implemented new omni channel international product strategy aligning and positioning product benefit the business and build the J.Crew brand across channels and geographies

  • Built International Merchandising Team processes, objectives, and cross-functional operations for new division of J.Crew 

  • Curated unique assortments in 12 wholly-owned J.Crew stores in London, Paris, and Hong Kong as well as concession shop-in-shops in Harrods and Le Bon Marché

  • Owner of J.Crew wholesale division fostering account relationships with NET-A-PORTER, MR PORTER, Lane Crawford, and Zalando

  • Lead merchant on capsule collection between NET-A-Porter and J.Crew debuting NYFW 2016

  • Dual reporting structure to EVP of Women’s & crewcuts Merchandising and EVP of Men’s Merchandising

DIVISIONAL MERCHANDISE MANAGER | Madewell | 2012 - 2014

Led divisional merchandising across two facets of women’s apparel division during rapid expansion phase for the brand.  Additional responsibility as buyer of third party branded apparel and director of wholesale operations for national department store accounts and boutique clientele.

  • Head Merchant for Madewell woven apparel division accounting for 60% of the brand’s annual revenue exceeding Omni-sales and margin target for fiscal year 2013 by 25% 

  • Demonstrated strategic and influential leadership in aligning assortments in congruence with company’s new creative direction during a critical phase for the brand.

  • Partnered closely with Design, Marketing, and Brand Creative teams on brand repositioning to create new aesthetic, product strategies and target custom

  • Led highly successful relaunch of Madewell denim delivering 70% year-over-year growth 

  • Refreshed and optimized processes and reporting to improve workflow, efficiency, and results

  • Direct report to SVP of Madewell Merchandising with 3 Senior Merchant direct reports

MERCHANDISING |  J.Crew Factory Outlets | 2004 - 2012

Launched career as an Assistant Merchant and progressed through the organization holding positions in Women’s Apparel, Footwear and Accessories, and Men’s Merchandising, ultimately rising to DMM level after eight-year tenue

  • Developed and designed merchandise, built robust assortment plans, strategized seasonal product flow and chase 

  • Cultivated investment strategies for stores and e-commerce, determined pricing, promotional strategies, and marketing to support financial objectives

DIVISIONAL MERCHANDISE MANAGER | WOMENS KNITS, SWEATERS, LOUNGE, FOOTWEAR & ACCESSORIES 2011 - 2012 

SENIOR MERCHANT | WOMENS KNITS, SWEATERS, LOUNGE 2009 - 2011

 MERCHANT | WOMENS KNITS, SWEATERS, LOUNGE | 2008 - 2009

ASSOCIATE MERCHANT | MENS ACCESSORIES | 2006 – 2008

ASSISTANT MERCHANT | MENS APPAREL | 2004 - 2006           

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science - Apparel Merchandising Major | Business Minor

Indiana University - Bloomington, IN

Study Abroad Program - American Intercontinental University

London, United Kingdom

 

 

 

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