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Highly versatile and innovative professional with a wealth of experience in buying, procurement, product development, and retail management

which has produced substantial revenue and profit increases. Successful in building consensus and solidifying relationships across departments as a visionary leader and mentor bringing decisive leadership skills and a team-oriented management style. Strategic sourcing proficiency with the ability to translate plans into clear and actionable objectives. Proven ability to deliver significant bottom line improvements. Skilled at leveraging market trends to create thriving multi-million dollar retail businesses. More than a decade of product development expertise. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ACCOMPLISHMENT HIGHLIGHTS * Substantially exceeded sales objectives by more than 40% in a declining retail economy while generating high gross margins averaging in the mid-60as. a" CBR Specialty Retail, Inc. * Inspired, developed, supported and trained more than fifteen individuals to become buyers or higher. Superior staff retention and promotional ratios. a" Younkers/AMC/Daytonas Hudsonas Marshall Fieldas * Condensed active skuas by nearly 50%, which accelerated turns, improved sales, and produced higher margins for three unique markets with 59 diverse locations. Minimized markdown liability and achieved a historically high gross margin. a" Daytonas Hudsonas Marshall Fieldas * Elevated gross margin from 29.0% to 44.9% over a five-year period. a" Gantos * Accomplished double-digit sales increases that resulted in annual intimate apparel sales exceeding $200MM. a" Associated Merchandising Corporation * Extensive offshore product development trips to create new and exciting product for private label use in a variety of departments. a" Younkers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EXPERIENCE CBR SPECIALTY RETAIL, INC., Minneapolis, MN 2007-2008 BUYER, RADIO ROAD, FLY BABIES, SPIRIT OF THE RED HORSE, AND FIELD & STREAM Successfully created and executed a plan to provide a continuous flow of new, exciting fashion apparel and accessories for four distinctive shop concepts in 19 unique airport markets. Dedicated communicator with a passion for building strong internal teams, as well as exceptional

vendor partnerships. Tenacious, yet ethical negotiator. Strong influencing skills. * Implemented planning and procurement of four unique hardlines concept shops; including Native American gifts, Department 56, Creative Kidstuff, and BowWowMeow. Earned a rapid promotion from hardlines to apparel concepts based on innovative leadership and results. * Substantially exceeded sales objectives by more than 40% in a declining retail economy while generating high gross margins averaging in the mid-60s * Continuously analyzed and adjusted over 30 product classifications in multiple departments; creating a distinctive, trendy, fashion forward collection of must buys focused on captivating a transient shopper. DAYTONaS HUDSONaS MARSHALL FIELDaS, Minneapolis, MM 1997-1999 SENIOR BUYER, LEGWEAR Re-designed and implemented new strategy for sheer hosiery, casual socks and slippers. Drove annual sales to exceed more than $42MM. Directed, trained and mentored a fiveperson team. Utilized cross-functional relationships to enhance and maximize product and team development. * Condensed number of active vendors by nearly half, eliminating extraneous skuas, strengthening relations with the largest vendors, and maximizing strategic partnerships: yielded historically highest departmental GM. * Launched footwear for athletes a" emphasizing ventilation, wicking and durability in products. * Negotiated and launched exclusive products (Tommy vendor award). Strengthened vendor relations. GANTOS, Grand Rapids, Michigan 1992-1997 BUYER, BOUTIQUE (OUTLET) Designed and executed strategic plan to reposition former liquidation stores into highly profitable, price driven fashion boutiques while managing corporate markdowns and transfers for 120 doors; encompassing all apparel and accessories. Seasoned multi-tasker. Strong relationship builder, incorporating all levels of management and buying as a direct report to the owner/CEO. Transitioned boutique gross margins from lowest in the corporation to the highest in my last two years. * Directed corporate markdowns and transfers for the $190MM chain

* Simultaneously responsible for twice-monthly market trips to New York City to acquire immediate stock for 15 diverse boutique departments. * Advanced annual sales, profitably liquidated corporate inventory, and minimized corporate markdown liability. ASSOCIATED MERCHANDISING CORPORATION (AMC), New York, NY 1986-1990 DIRECTOR, INTIMATE APPAREL DIVISION Spearheaded the successful development, marketing, and expansion of international sales and sourcing, companion domestic marketing and consulting services for this $1B corporation with categories including daywear, sleepwear, robes, loungewear, and intimate accessories. Managed a ten-person staff that included buying and product development professionals. Maintained exceptional cross-functional relationships. * Developed and delivered highly innovative and compelling sales proposals to over 40 major department store buying staff and management teams each market week, driving sales increases. * Outstanding communicator. Led private product development presentations, influential with DMM and GMM partners in stores. Sales surpassed $200MM. MERCHANDISER, U.S. EXPORT DIVISION Represented and orchestrated market visits on behalf of 13 diverse overseas shareholder stores throughout various New York City apparel and fashion accessory markets. Previewed vendors, accompanied buyers into market, supervised a support staff of six. Traveled overseas to work with buyers in their stores, analyzing opportunities, obtaining advertising support, and noting each stores specific market position. * Facilitated product placements in showcase overseas stores such as Harrods, Galleries Lafayette, De Bijenkorf, and Nordiska Kompaniet, serving as a liaison to company presidents. * Generated a 35% increase in shipments during a flat market, underscored by a 53% expansion at Harrods. * Earned a rapid promotion based on surpassing the plan, relationships developed with buyers and suppliers, and the dramatic escalation of cross-functional relationships across the corporation. YOUNKER BROTHERS, INC., Des Moines, Iowa 1975-1986

REGIONAL, OMAHA, NE Provided assertive leadership of regional sales, exceeding $60MM while driving merchandising functions across six branch stores in three states, leading a team of seven direct reports. Broadened and reinforced cross-functional corporate partnerships. P & L oversight. Managed all corporate categories a" hardlines, softlines, and home. * Leadership role on the companyas first Executive Planning Committee which created the initial five-year business plan. * Influenced buyers, upgrading assortments in specific stores to take business from local competition. * Regional representative for all advertising, space bids, construction recommendations. * Orchestrated team training to increase dollar sales and items per transaction in each store. BUYER, CORPORATE SENIOR BUYER, DES MOINES, IOWA Cultivated expertise in strategic sourcing and marketing; while crafting innovative buying strategies. Demonstrated strong negotiation abilities and leveraged continuous management and performance analysis techniques. Drove merchandise procurement for a wide range of departments domestically. Concurrently designed and orchestrated an extensive offshore program throughout Asia. Extensive sourcing expertise. Specification and communication liaison for all offshore goods (all hanging areas of the store). Recognized for on target forecasting skills, focused trend management and an entrepreneurial style. * Outdistanced department objectives in sales, turn, and gross margin (GM). * Expanded sales of Missy Coordinates by more than 75% with a gross margin increase from 38% to 45%. * Achieved a 45% improvement in sweaters and knits sales and delivered a gross margin that progressed from 47% to 49.5%. * Outstanding negotiator who excels at relationship building; evaluating products without bias, making logical business driven choices based on analysis, replacing suppliers when necessary. * Strong creative and design ability/technical sketching expertise. High taste level. Extensive product expertise. * Initiated and utilized research and analysis to identify and execute trends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EDUCATION

THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, Iowa City, Iowa Bacheloras Degree UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, Minneapolis, Minnesota Mini MBA Program ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OTHER www.linkedin.com/in/judithstarr

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