Nicole L. Houston MBA

Partner closely with the New York Buying Office to plan for future product, seasonal unit planning, capacity, presentation and location of merchandise.
Partner with business partners such as Store Planning and Fixture Purchasing and Design to develop and coordinate new and existing Fixture inventory to rollout to stores.

Oversaw store planning for new stores including coordinating with Store Design on back of house layout, partnering with Merchandising for product flow, Signage for perimeter signs placement, and Loss Prevention for line of sight visibility. The team utilized a Stat sheet for capacity and available units on hand to determine department layouts and quantity of fixtures. Worked closely with Construction to coordinate timeliness for early permit stores and other key business partners to ensure the timeline was met.

Key Achievements
Implemented a program that monitored new stores for one year after opening to provide any additional fixture elements needed based on units on hand product receipts (e.g. as the store started to take off, merchandise plans are often adjusted to met sales which leads to additional fixture requirements to hold more inventory.)

Managed the New Store Planning team which included working closely with Store Design to create functional back of house layouts, partnered with Construction to review Construction Documents, RFI's, and ASI's as necessary, worked with the Merchandise team to ensure product flow and department layout met vendor criteria for all New Stores.

To create an experience for consumers that provides a safe, visually aesthetic shopping environment. Through space planning, coordinating with visual managers of product placement, producing construction documents and graphic placement plans are all part of the process that goes into remodeling or creating a new space.

Coordinated various on-going projects from concept to completion; coordinated consultants and vendors to meet client and project requirements in a timely effective manner; established design orientated goals for clients to ensure satisfaction with end results; effectively responded to RFPs, RFI's, and other construction related items to General Contractor; managed drawing files, graphic design requests, 3D renderings, and the finish material library;worked closely with manufacturer's representatives to build close relationships for future projects; incorporated new company design standards as well to clients.

Key Achievements:
Established new drawing file and layer standards to a nationally known client to be used internally and to their satellite companies.
Provided 3D renderings of the final project design for property management firm to display in their new marketing campaigns
Designed and managed a new furniture/art display with aesthetic water fountain details
Served on a "Sustainable" committee within the community
Building key relationships with clients, vendors, consultants, and contractors.

Coordinated and managed multiple projects within the financial industry from concept to completion; engaged in client/ contractor meetings both on-site and off-site for project progression; managed furniture installs and coordinated finish materials per project. Coordinated vendors, consultants, and contractors to ensure deadlines were meet and within budget.

Key Achievements:
Discovered and designed a concept utilizing existing architectural features with graphic representations
Building key relationships with the clients, vendors, consultants and contractors.