Meredith Bell, Director of Merchandise Planning
Professional Overview
Meredith Bell is an accomplished retail planning and inventory management professional with over a decade of experience driving strategic merchandising and operational excellence. As the Director of Merchandise Planning at Vuori, she leverages her deep expertise in demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to unlock growth and profitability for premium activewear and lifestyle brands.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Director of Merchandise Planning at Vuori, Meredith is responsible for leading the merchandise planning team and aligning inventory strategies across the organization. In this role, she develops and implements data-driven planning processes to ensure the right products are available at the right time to meet evolving customer demand. Meredith's strategic initiatives have resulted in significant inventory optimization, improved gross margins, and enhanced the overall customer experience.
Career Progression
Prior to joining Vuori, Meredith served as the Global Planning - Technical, Trail, and Surf Teams lead at Patagonia, where she spearheaded inventory planning strategies for the company's high-performance outdoor gear lines. She also held roles as an Inventory Planning Manager and Inventory Manager at Patagonia and Williams-Sonoma, respectively, honing her expertise in inventory optimization and demand forecasting. Earlier in her career, Meredith was an Associate and Senior Associate at Triage Consulting Group, where she provided strategic advisory services to clients in the retail and consumer products sectors.
Academic Background
Meredith holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, with a concentration in Operations and Supply Chain Management.
Areas of Expertise
- Merchandise planning and inventory management
- Demand forecasting and supply chain optimization
- Cross-functional collaboration and project management
- Data analysis and strategic decision-making
- Retail operations and omnichannel strategy
Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Meredith has demonstrated a track record of driving measurable business impact. At Patagonia, she led the implementation of a new forecasting model that resulted in a 15% reduction in inventory levels while maintaining service levels. At Williams-Sonoma, Meredith's inventory planning strategies contributed to a 12% increase in gross margins for the company's direct-to-consumer cookware and bakeware lines.
Conclusion
Meredith Bell is a strategic and results-oriented planning professional with a passion for optimizing retail operations and enhancing the customer experience. In her current role at Vuori, she is poised to continue her trajectory of success, leveraging her deep industry expertise and analytical acumen to propel the brand's growth and profitability.
