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Kathleen Reilly
Retail Buyer at Color Inc
Professional Background
Kathleen Kiang is a highly skilled retail professional with extensive experience in buying general gift and specialty apparel merchandise, notably including Sports Licensed items. Her background encompasses a wealth of knowledge in planning, managing, and maintaining diverse categories across multiple regions, making her an asset in the retail industry.
In her role as a Retail Buyer at Color Inc, Kathleen has demonstrated her ability to effectively increase sales and margins while simultaneously reducing inventory commitments. She possesses excellent communication skills, which have resulted in the development of positive and beneficial relationships with vendors. Kathleen's expertise includes evaluating vendor cost analyses and negotiating optimal prices and terms, ensuring that she secures the best possible deals for her company.
Kathleen is also an experienced trade show buyer, adept at sourcing on-trend merchandise to implement across various store locations. Her capacity to communicate consistently and positively with all internal departments and remote store management has further solidified her reputation as a collaborative team player. Kathleen’s competency in establishing clear merchandising standards for multiple stores underscores her dedication to maintaining high retail standards and delivering quality products to customers.
With a strong ability to apply tact, diplomacy, and sound decision-making skills in resolving store and vendor issues, Kathleen excels in her role as a buyer. She consistently displays an energetic and enthusiastic attitude, demonstrating her commitment to seeing projects through to successful completion.
In addition to her retail prowess, Kathleen is computer literate, with extensive knowledge of Windows Operating Systems, the Microsoft Office Suite, and Linux-based ICM merchandising systems, as well as proficiency in various banking and medical software applications.
Education and Achievements
Kathleen Kiang began her educational journey at Dover Sherborn Regional High School, where she laid the foundation for her future pursuits. She continued her studies at Gordon College, where she gained valuable knowledge and skills that would serve her throughout her career in retail and beyond.
Notable Organizations
Kathleen has held several key positions within Color Inc, beginning her career as a Sales Associate before advancing to the roles of Assistant Store Manager and Retail Store Manager. In these positions, she showcased her leadership capabilities and her ability to drive sales and manage store operations effectively. Her journey culminated in her role as a Retail Buyer, where she currently plays an integral part in the company's success by sourcing high-quality merchandise and optimizing vendor partnerships.
Before her retail career, Kathleen also held several notable positions that honed her administrative and operational skills. As a Medical Receptionist at Judith Devine MD and Southboro Medical Group, she developed strong customer service skills, which have translated well into her retail career. Further, she expanded her operational knowledge as part of the team at Avidia Bank, and worked as a Database Analyst at National Grid, adding to her diverse experience and skill set that continues to benefit her career at Color Inc.
Achievements
- Successfully increased sales and margins while reducing inventory commitments at Color Inc.
- Established strong vendor relationships that contributed to the company’s profitability and efficiency.
- Developed and implemented merchandising standards across multiple store locations, enhancing the customer shopping experience.
- Recognized for her ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including vendors and internal departments.
- Contributed to team success in sourcing and procuring trend-setting merchandise that speaks to customer preferences.
- Maintained an enthusiastic and proactive approach to retail management and project completion.
