Brooke Freire: in Chicago, IL

Promoted to guide overall store experience from conceptual design stages to in-store merchandising strategy and execution. Led pre-season conceptual teams and large-scale initiatives for girls' domestic stores and Gilly Hicks lingerie. Identified marketing campaigns and visual merchandising strategy each season to strategize and conduct programs in 12 markets. • Relaunched Gilly Hicks brand including store design, fixture rollout and budget management. Worked cross-functionally on fixture capacities, marketing and navigation, assortment planning and sku counts for the space. • Guided pre-season coordination process working with design and merchants to create store concepts for each season 6-8 months out. Advised on capacities, store layout, marketing concepts and assortment counts. • Managed all visual communication including brand guide and brand standards. Increased payroll efficiency by +12% through focus on streamlined communication and efficiencies when implementing floorsets. • Continually focused on must win/grow categories to leverage best merchandise placement strategies, utilizing Tableau to analyze year-to-year departmental AUR, UPC, and achieve category growth and positive comps. • Led in-store walk throughs of prototype floorsets with senior leadership and cross-functional teams for "sign-off". • Led team of individuals to produce floorsets for tier 3 stores domestically as well as new store design programs. • Launched multiple assortment channels including warm-weather, growing business +10 in warm-weather markets.

Devised visual strategies for Hollister flagships to create volume driving floorsets and elevated brand experience. Formulated long-term brand vision and evaluated product positioning, including pricing, marketing strategy and styling. • Led brand guide and floorsets for Hollister flagship stores in London and on 5th Ave with volume of $30 million. • Instrumental in remodel of 5th Ave. store to elevate customer experience, implement process changes and new store design. Remodel increased profitability of store space by +16% and rolled out to over 150 stores. • Committed to keeping current with area trends and competitor activity, visiting key regions monthly and participating in overnight support to teach strong problem-solving skills and develop the in-store visual leaders. • Partnered with store managers weekly to communicate visual merchandising changes and collaborate together on success of strategy changes and influence new strategic plans delivering sales growth.

Created floorsets and visual merchandising strategies for A&F flagship stores internationally driving business +9%. • Responsible for all store communication and documentation provided to stores to implement floorsets. • Work with cross-functional partners on conceptual floorsets 6-9 months before season implementation. • Completed monthly international travel to follow merchandising trends and implement with the A&F brand identity.

Partnered with store leadership to understand retail management, retail strategy and departmental interconnectivity. • Drove volume via compelling displays based on customer insights and in-store promotions.