JULIE BANKHEAD SMALL3711 SW Prescott PL Seattle, WA. 98126 206734-7122 ● Julie.b.small@gmail.com

Director, Visual Merchandising Customer-Focused Initiatives |Business Strategy & Process Development

Dedicated, skilled Visual Merchandising and Project Management Director with more than a career’s worth of large-scale project management. Experience in delivering comprehensive customer-focused marketing strategies, multidisciplinary team leadership, process development, smart business analysis, and the positive engagement of key market vendors. Proven record of success in effectively utilizing the latest project management methodologies and principles to address and resolve organizational problems. Dynamic leader focused on improving execution by collaborating interactively and providing constructive feedback to motivate and engage team members.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Project Management ● Resource Planning & Allocation ● Cross-Functional LeadershipManagement Development ● Executive Reporting

Team Engagement & Mentorship ● Brand Development● Complex Problem Solving

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ben Bridge Jeweler, Seattle, WA February 3, 2003 – September 27, 2015Director Visual Merchandising– September 2008 – September 27, 2015

Responsible for establishing effective communication processes, creating long range capital and annual budget, and quarterly vendor co-op reimbursement plan.

Managed 2 corporate visual direct reports, 60 store visual specialists, consisting of staffing, performance management, and personnel issues.

Oversee comprehensive visual prep pack execution and compliance, including responsibility for marketing directives, key vendor display execution, and marketing implementation.

Presented monthly performance reports to executive leadership. Led collaboration with VP of Merchandise, Senior buyers, Marketing, and operations to ensure

positive departmental employee relations to ensure deadline and budget adherence. Negotiate national luxury brand placement and execution of corporate designs to ensure

efficiency and cost control to maximize ROI [Rolex, Pandora, Forevermark Diamonds, Tag Heuer, Breitling,]

Excellence, blending corporate strategies and objectives maintaining consistency throughout marketing mediums.

Establishing timelines, aligning objectives, enhancing presentation to support company's sales and margin growth plan.

Execution of creative content to ensure brands integrity and cultural commitment to service is communicated effectively and efficiently

Key Contributions Developed and implemented the business and operational plan for 60 store visual specialists. Developed and deployed critical performance indicators to improve sell through, new

merchandise test results, and customer satisfaction. Created field visual merchandisers to ensure consistency throughout multiple regions, which

resulted in store seamless execution of concept and validation of brand messaging.

Visual merchandising Manager – Ben Bridge Jeweler 2003-2007 Created, implemented, and maintained standard processes while looking for efficiency

improvements across store visual standards for more than 60 stores Dedicated to the supervision and development of stores visual standards.

Communicated requirements including monthly performance management, weekly telecoms with store visual specialists, and working sessions with merchandising team.

Key Contributions Developed and implemented an integrated process for merchandise categories based on regional

sell through. Established simple suite of metrics that provided key vendors and merchandising with desired

visibility.

JULIE BANKHEAD SMALL (206) 734-7122 ● Julie.b.small@comcast.net

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (CONTINUED)

Kenneth Cole Productions, Seattle, WA August 1999 - October 2002

Store women’s manager Effectively directed store associates on sale strategy and performance based commission sales,

which included presenting monthly performance reports. Ensured that department sales, performance reporting, and customer service and market share

development were properly maintained. Key Contributions

Coordinated monthly merchandise performance reviews, maintained inventory with senior buyers to ensure profit margin was met and payroll was within budget.

Revealed strong efficiencies within personal performance, and subsequently guided team to expand upon and execute improvements.

Williams Sonoma Feb. 1995 to August 1999 Store Manager

Responsible for Sales projections and Operational Support for 4-million-dollar store. Re-organized group to align processes with specific sales objectives and strategies. Re-staffed sales organization to acquire necessary skill sets to achieve business objectives.

Key Contributions Created a more effective sales and support team that contributed to significant revenue growth. Developed improved training processes that responded to corporate merchandisers product

issues. Developed consistent customer services standards that addressed theft, credit card fraud,

inventory loss based on feedback from the product and operation managers.

Previous Positions:Store Visual Manager Gap, University VillageStore Manager Ann Taylor, City Center

EDUCATION

Washington State University 1987-89, Communications Bellevue College 1985-87, Marketing Management

References upon request