SUSAN HOLLIMAN CARTER, Visual Merchandising, Store Design and Brand Manager in Atlanta, GA

About

Accomplished, energetic leader with a track record of delivering results and inspiring teams seeks a strategic leadership position to maximize skills and talents

Executive Profile

• Over 20 years of success in retail industry in a multi-unit capacity with both field and corporate experience

• Drive Results Like Crazy—Focused leader driven to deliver results, achieve strategic goals and foster a selling culture

• Trend Right—Ability to anticipate trends early and bring them to life

• Builds Strong Relationships—Energetic and empathic personality easily leads and influences others

• Committed To Coaching—Personal passion to coach, mentor and develop young leaders to fuel the talent pipeline

• Train The Trainer—On top of the latest tools and trends in facilitating and developing training materials for all levels of leaders

• Concise Communicator—Effectively communicates brand vision and financial objectives

• Don’t Sweat The Small Things—Ability to creatively remove hurdles and stay focused on the goals

Brand Development Strengths

• Visual Merchandising-Expert visual merchandiser with the ability to bring the brand vision to life

• In Store Experience- Clear understanding of how to create and execute a brand appropriate customer experience strategy

• Store Design- Astute in all facets of store/ fixture design and construction/ remodel needs

Education

Bachelor of Science Apparel Design

Iowa State University

Experience

Manager Visual Merchandising & Store Design

Ballard Designs

* Lead a team of 4 responsible for all aspects of visual merchandising, branding, store design and construction for brick and mortar expansion plan * Primary brand contact with architect, landlord and general contractor through the opening of 9 locations in multiple states * Opened 9 stores ranging from 12K-20K square feet * Full understanding of open to buy, P&L, margins and their impact to related budgets * Develop all seasonal merchandising plans including promotions and product impacts for stores in alignment with other channels for cohesive brand approach * Developed all fixtures within the stores to highlight the product * Worked with our sourcing department to have the fixtures made over seas and reduce costs * Test and measure visual strategies for effectiveness * Create product presentation stories 9-15 months in advance due to all items sourced internationally * Effectively shift plans as product arrives late while still delivering on brand presentations * Acting retail merchant creating assortment plans, sku analysis, open to buy budgets and P&L
Puerto Rico and Canada

* Created and implemented merchandise training and tools such as DVDs, skill builders, standards cards and classes for District and Regional Management targeted at driving a consistent execution of merchandising strategies * Communicated with field to provide clear concise direction to minimize workload Zone Visual Manager, Old Navy, Gap Inc.
Southeast Region

* Supervised 115 stores for the Southeastern Region in 13 states with sales volume in excess of $385 million * Directly responsible for all areas of merchandise presentation and brand initiatives for the Southeast Region
Director of Merchandise Presentation

Western Division

Belk Department Stores * Awarded "Pacesetter" for 6 years - awarded to the top 10% of all employees * Supervised 56 department stores in 10 states with sales in excess of $500 million * Supervised and directed 9 regional visual merchandise managers and 56 store teams
Manager Visual Merchandising

The Home Depot

* Responsible all aspects of visual merchandising from concept to execution for paint, kitchen and appliance and décor departments * Strategize with cross functional teams including merchants, marketing, operations and trend/ design teams to achieve company objectives * Built strong relationships with key vendors to achieve sales goals and maintain brand standards * Develop and manage all campaigns as it relates to seasonality and asset creation * Responsible for all aspects of fixture design, store design and merchandise placement strategy * Designed the new paint center with a budget of $90 mil with goal of a cohesive look between all 3 vendors creating a unified paint department while reducing fixture costs Regional Visual Manager, Old Navy, Gap Inc.
Southern Puerto Rico and Texas Regions

* Supported 300+ stores in 15 states with sales in excess of $200 million * Created and implemented visual strategies with key product focuses and placement while supporting brand vision. * Worked cross functionally to evaluated effectiveness of visual strategies as it related to sales, customer experience and on trend positioning * Partnered with store design on the initial prototype store design presented to the Board of Directors for long term strategic growth * Created new visual standards for fleet driven off the development of the prototype store * Coordinated 45 remodels and new store openings over the past 2 � years in 15 states * Opened the first Brand Defining store in Texas for the fleet and presented to Board of Directors * Lead the presentation of stores to the Board of Directors Walk Thru in Canada Fall 2011 * Assessed and optimized store layouts to drive dollars per square foot and margin dollars * Coached and trained DMs and RDs to drive sales through merchandise presentation * Full understanding of P&L and behaviors that drive top line sales while maximizing margin and dollars per square foot
Field Brand Manager

Eddie Bauer

Industries

Skills

On Coroflot

@scarter106, member since 2015

Susan Holliman Carter

Assistant Professor - Educator, Industrial Design, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design

Assistant Professor, Graphic Design