Theresa M. Sterman 10863 Blackhawk Street Plantation, FL 33324 TSterman@bellsouth.net Cell: (917) 575-2842 OBJECTIVE To be a Silver Bullet and shining star on your management team to help lead our company through the highly competitive and challenging g years ahead. SUMMARY & STRENGTHS Held key executive positions in both retail and wholesale for over twenty years in the fashion industry. Conceptualized and implemented strategies and programs that increased long-term sales and profits. Excelled in implementing new Brand concepts and reinventing existing Brands that include many industry leaders (Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, The Limited, Ann Taylor Loft and Tommy Hilfiger). Specialties are merchandising, design direction, sales, seasonal color and trend forecasting. Outside-the-box approaches to problem solving that turns lemons into lemonade.
TATE INC Miami, FL and New York, NY 2005-2008 2008 Merchandising/Product development/color/design/trends Assortment Planning/Sales Launched, designed merchandised and sold a women s sportswear collection to US, Mexico and Puerto Rico under the licensed name Weatherproof. Generated over $12 million dollars in sales the first year, $18 million in 2007 with projection of $23 million for 2008.
MARTIN STUART LTD. Miami, FL and New York, NY 2003-2005 Vice President Responsible for the design direction, merchandise assortment, color, trend, fabric, and costing for a $100 million active sportswear line, New York Laundry. Launched, merchandised, and supervised design teams for additional collections: NYL At Home, NYL Jeans, and X-treme Moves, which generated an additional $40 million in sales. Merchandised and sold for all accounts: Kohl s, Sears, Penny s, May Company, Federated, Costco and Sam s Club.
FINISH LINE INC. Indianapolis, IN 2001-20032003 Merchandising/Product development/color/design/trends/assortment Planning Initiated brand positioning and marketing to establish a new Finish Line Apparel collection for the youth market. Launched a new active sportswear collection for young men and women, which contributed to a growth in overall business from $84 million to over $200 million. Responsible for merchandise planning, trend forecasting and assortment for young men and women s active sportswear. Directed color, fabric, and trends for the sportswear collection, which redefined Finish Line s place in the Athletic market
TOMMY HILFIGER Secaucus, NJ 1998-2001 Vice President DMM Tommy Hilfiger Company Stores - Retail Division Reinvented the Tommy Hilfiger retail stores, adding women s, juniors, and children s to the assortment. Increased sales from $192 million to $265 million, exceeding budget by 18%. Supervised design, merchandising and buying teams for women s, juniors and children s. Responsible for seasonal trend and color forecasting for men s, young men s, women s, juniors, children s and accessories.
REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD. Stoughton, Ma. 1997-1998 Design Director and Merchandiser Conceptualized and executed a new men s and women s sportswear division that fused street fashion with sport for a Conceptualized and executed a new men s and women s sportswear division that fused street fashion with sport for a lifestyle brand that included apparel, accessories and footwear. Directed color, trends and merchandised the fashion assortment for the men s and women s youthful collection named Reebok ID.
ANN TAYLOR New York, NY 1994-1996 1996 Vice President Design and Development Establish a design team for the $140.0 million Ann Taylor LOFT division. Positioned the product offering that launched the brand, featuring a career front of the store and casual back of the store concept. Responsible for seasonal colors, fashion direction and design for career sportswear, casual sportswear, footwear and accessories. Orchestrated and directed two designers and eight merchants. Developed marketing strategies and concepts to develop the brand for the Ann Taylor Loft stores. Achieved a 13% comp store increase for fiscal 1994, Increased dollars per square foot to $644.
LIMITED INC. Columbus, OH and New York, NY 1989-1994 HENRI BENDEL Buyer-Product Development - Henri Bendel Collection Directed color, styling, fabrication and design for the Henri Bendel women s woven collection. Developed driving key item separates within the sportswear collection to increase profitability by 20%. Initiated a seasonal fashion Look Book which set Henri Bendel as a store with a directional fashion statement. THE LIMITED Merchandise Manager Dresses Launch a dress department within The Limited sportswear stores. Developed key item dresses within a fashion assortment. Expanded stores from 300 to 800, dress volume to $70 million. Through seasonal floor sets, generated additional volume growth from 3% to 6.5% of company total.
NEIMAN MARCUS Dallas, TX 1986-1989 Merchandiser Manager RTW Opened Tyson store, first Neiman Marcus store to open in eight years, volume exceeded $24 million. Recruited and staffed positions for store opening, all women s collections and children s. Buyer- Better, Designer and Moderate Sleepwear and all private label silk Implemented a private label program in silk that generated volume growth of 25%.
Theresa M. Sterman 10863 Blackhawk Street Plantation, FL 33324 TSterman@bellsouth.net Cell: (917) 575-2842 SAKS FIFTH AVENUE New York, NY 1983-1986 Buyer - Junior Collections Buyer for the largest volume area in Junior Sportswear, which included Esprit and Generra. Previewed seasonal collections and developed exclusive product for Saks, increasing the department s gross margin. Increased sales volume 30% by opening Esprit and Generra shops within shops in all Saks Fifth Avenue stores. SANGER HARRIS Dallas, TX 1978-1983 Buyer - Girls 7-14 and Preteen Buyer - Boys 8-20 Dress Up and Dallas Cowboy Football shop Department Manager - Juniors Assistant Buyer - Juniors Executive Training Program KIM DAWSON AGENCY Dallas, TX 1968-1977 DALLAS APPAREL MART Runway and Showroom Model COMPUTER SKILLS Microsoft Word Excel Adobe Illustrator PowerPoint Production EDUCATION Bachelor of Science Texas Tech University Southern Methodist University