“I never knew there was such a thing as a retail buyer!”

In fact, I always thought I would be a fashion designer. As a small child, I was fascinated with everything from fashion to stationery and wanted to create a line of my own. During the summer of my junior year in high school, I decided to take on a summer job as a sales associate at the GAP and it was truly an eye-opening experience. I had the opportunity to learn the process of how products come to life in the retail marketplace and what makes people buy. When I was ready to apply to college, I was asked to write an essay about a person who inspired me, and I ended up writing a children’s book about Mickey Drexler, who was the CEO of the Gap at the time (he’s now at J.Crew). And, I got accepted to Cornell! I started off in their Textiles & Apparel Design program but ended up graduating with a Business Management and Marketing degree. My love for design and creativity didn’t change but I was determined to learn everything there was to know about having the right recipe for retail success. I had no idea at that time the extent of how tremendously this one decision would tremendously impact my success as a retail buyer in collaborating with emerging designers to grow their businesses.

After college, I was accepted into the Bloomingdale’s Buying Training Program, and I guess you can say the rest is history. As I said, I never knew that there was such a thing as a buying office or people who were “buyers.” Being part of this extensive training program opened up another side of the retail business that I had no idea existed. I honestly thought that products magically appeared in stores for people to buy. Who knew there were such complex thought processes and strategies involved with the buying process.

Since the day I became an assistant buyer for Bloomingdale’s, I’ve been a sponge. I was determined to learn everything there was to know about the “business” side of how products came to life and catered to the needs of the customer. I learned that buying the right product at the right time is an art in itself. Over the years, I worked my way up the ladder and became a successful buyer for Bloomingdale’s, Saks and Barney’s, and operated multimillion-dollar business. From when I was in college, I always knew I would have my own business, and that day came in 2007 when I opened up my first retail boutique in NYC. I now operate two specialty stores in NYC called Pink Olive where I’ve been able to turn my love and passion for retail into a successful business.  Pink Olive was voted Best Children’s Clothing and Toys in 2009 by Best of Citysearch New York!

What I’ve discovered through all my experiences in working with designers is my unique ability to help and nurture emerging designers and store owners how to figure out that BIG opportunity that will take their business to unexpected levels.

So the journey begins.

Are you still wondering how to get your product into retail stores or open your own retail boutique? Don’t play the guessing game of wondering what retail buyers are looking for. I can help you save time and money by using my 13 years of experience in the retail industry to guide you every step of the way. Your creative product idea deserves a jump start.  Your product deserves to be on the “right” retail shelves around the country.

Besides my PASSION for retail, here are some FUN things you may not know about me:

1. I am a big FOODIE and love taking pictures of my food.
2. I can dance all day long…. and into the night!
3. My favorite number is 3. I do everything in threes.
4. I had a puppy name Olive for one week.
5. My dream is to live by the water. Aahhh…
6. I was named after Grace Kelly.
7. I love a good flea market to discover that unusual find!
8. When I was a baby, my head was too big for my body.
9. I am grateful to be a part of the Redeemer community and hear Tim Keller speak every Sunday.
10. The best gift I ever got came from the two men in my life. My father gave me a perfectly wrapped gift box (which had the most adorable strawberry-shaped bag in it) for my kindergarten graduation. My husband surprised me with a cupcake on our first date. It’s those unexpected surprises that make the gift so memorable!

One more… I got married on October 23, 2010 to a wonderful man and it’s been quite an adventure.