Samantha Holze

• Built an appealing and productive e-commerce-focused assortment that leverages the company's strengths in event-driven merchandising. Resulted in 28% growth in Gross Margin dollars in 2017 with a 15% increase in sku productivity.

• Undergoing a full-scale site re-design that includes improved taxonomy, categorization, and mobile responsiveness. Projected incremental growth for 2017 over $3m based on third party agency ROI analysis.

• Streamlined reporting and brought on improved analytics and merchandising tools to enhance and accelerate informed, efficient decision-making and strategy.

• Rebranded and integrated the digital and catalog business to create comprehensive marketing plans supported by paid search, social media, email, lead generation, and print.

• Drove growth in both businesses through implementation of several key assortment, pricing, and replenishment strategies: $1M increase in top line and $500K increase in gross margin dollars.

• Created new shopping destinations for Plants and Gifts, utilizing landing page best practices to promote a more organized and compelling shopping experience. Conversion increased by 20%.

• Rigorous sku rationalization in both business have resulted in consistent 10-15% increases in sku productivity over the last 8 fiscal quarters.

• Created successful strategies for several enterprise-wide initiatives including the Launch of a new brand called Personalization Universe. Devised Merchandising strategy curated product assortment under a tight 8-week timeline.

• Pulled the business out of a double-digit YoY decline through the development implementation of several new strategies.

• Performed rigorous analysis to identify key consumer trends as well as subcategories with potential for growth. The result is a more narrow and deep core assortment that suited the needs of an occasion-driven business.

• Created executed a new upsell pricing strategy which resulted in a significant increase in gross margin dollars and average order value as well as a stronger point of differentiation from the competition.

• Created a complete upsell and add-on strategy that offered the customer a choice of sizes, planters, and gifts. This helped us maximize limited web real estate, sku productivity, and AOV.

• Formed great relationships with cross-functional marketing partners to create and implement a cohesive marketing strategy which included radio, email, television, and on-site paid search optimization.

• Led the reconciliation and redevelopment of obsolete hard goods, utilizing products which had already been written off for new products and promotions.

Start-up Site Manager, Greatfood.com:

• Merchandising: Sourced new and unique gourmet products through attending trade shows and meetings with existing industry contacts. Collaborated with Marketing and PR managers to promote merchandise.

• Marketing: Created, designed, and executed the Email Calendar. Managed Greatfood.com relationship with ESP Cheetahmail.

• Sourcing and Vendor Relations: Drove the product selection, product development, and packaging process through weekly conference calls and meetings with gourmet food companies.

• Customer Service: Managed employees in the call center. Diffused escalated customer service issues. Provided training and daily communication on new products and promotions.

Store level: Managed 40+ employees and all store operations in a $4M location.

• Performed all Human Resources functions including interviewing, hiring, on-boarding, developing, and coaching associates. Fostered a collaborative and fun work environment based on building relationships and encouraging growth. Focused heavily on promoting talent from within the store.

• Responsible for creating and achieving store budget, sales, and managing brand marketing processes in collaboration with the District Manager.

• Lead Visual Merchant- Managed execution of brand merchandising strategy, making necessary adjustments based on local demographic and unique customer needs and traffic patterns.

District Region:

• Effectively improved the NYC Region weekly recap process, which provided a detailed overview of how brand strategy ultimately succeeded or failed when executed at the store level. Communicated key customer feedback and suggestions back to corporate office.

• Managed District Welcome Program for new employees, providing necessary training on brand policies, customer service, sales, products, and competitors.

• District Community Chair- lead district stores in volunteer work and other community events including Meals on Wheels, AIDS Walk NY, and Flushing Meadows Park restoration.