Debbie Samra 525 East 72nd Street #4C New York, New York 10021 501.626.5200 * ds13ce020@westpost.

net SENIOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MERCHANDISING, BUYING, MANAGEMENT Experienced in all aspects of managing, merchandising, product development, and brand building for Specialty, Department, and Mass Retailers. Successful in iden tifying and anticipating fashion trends, key-items, customer needs and market tr ends. Excels in managing teams through all stages of product development. Works well in ever changing and fast-paced environment. * Multiple Categories of Product Development * Competitive Sales Trend Analysis * Strategic Sales and Market Planning * Marketing and Packaging * Management and Associate Development * Trend, Print and Color Direction * Merchandising Focused Assortments * Negotiations PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Russell Newman Brands, LTD. New York, NY 2010-Present Director of Merchandising & Design (Sleepwear/Robes/Pre-Production Approvals for Specialty, Department, Mid-Tier, Mass, and Clubs) Directing and managing merchandising, technical design, and graphic design for p roducts that produce high volume sales and high internal margins through the ent ire product lifecycle. * Teaming with CEO to expedite overall strategy for several national brands and private label partnerships * Partnering with VP of Sales and Sourcing to expedite expected gross margin s * Negotiating directly with factories on good, better, best product strategy * * * ct * Facilitating graphic design direction for clear product presentations Providing overall management for a new product development process Travelling overseas to work with factories to provide the best value produ Designing a time and action product development and merchandising calendar

Age Group, LTD. New York, NY 2009-2010 Merchandising/ Manager (Disney Sleepwear, Intimates-Mass Markets) Managed and executed the overall development for Disney product assortments for mass retailers. Responsible for the overall set up of corporate product developm ent process to ensure on time deliveries at the best possible value. * Managed both internal and contract graphic designers to narrow and focus p roduct assortments * Drove sales of key-item assortments * Designed first product launch of bras for Disney for spring 2010 Vanity Fair Brands, LP. New York, NY 2006-2008 Director of Merchandising (Missy, Plus, Active-Mass Markets) Managed and coordinated design, merchandising, sourcing, and marketing in develo pment and lifecycle of intimate products that produce high volume sales and high internal margins. * Planned with sales to expedite product assortments with high internal marg ins * Updated trend, color, and print direction for mass retailer's national bra nds

* Negotiated pricing for good, better, and best product strategy for nationa l brands * Facilitated graphic design for clear product presentation * Increased sales by 15% by developing current key-items in Missy and Plus m arkets * Launched Russell brand sport bras in specialty store format * Managed contract designer in developing plus-sized active line with specia l emphasis on features to enhance body appearance Walmart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, AR 2001-2005 Senior Product Development Manager (Sleepwear, Intimates) Set up, managed, and trained a team in product development methods for Lingerie. Streamlined supplier selection in Asia for private brand labels. Updated mercha ndise with trend right styling, print, color, fit, and great quality. Executed low cost strategy with factories. Traveled internationally extensively. * Developed and managed product assortments for internal and national brands * Created time and action calendar for trend, design, quality, price negotia tions, testing, and delivery * Upgraded quality and design of product assortments. * Instituted worldwide knit and woven fabric core standards for better quali ty * Executed overall department strategy with GMM, DMM, and Buyers * Introduced basic core style-out process to elimination duplication in asso rtments * Created and published a worldwide quality manual for intimates and sleepwe ar * Managed a team in the development of a 3 pc. key-item for Black Friday whi ch achieved the highest ever sales volume for such an item in Walmart history Senior Product Development Manager (Sportswear) * Managed Bobby Brooks Missy and Plus product development * Created a time and action calendar which ensured on time deliveries * Developed pricing strategy for key-items with GMMS, DMMS and Buyers Senior Product Development Manager (Active) * Internally managed the development of brands with exceptional integrity * Administered time and action calendar for on-time deliveries, design, tren d, color, fit and packaging * Teamed with GMM, DMM, and Buyer to execute overall marketing strategy for key-items and completed a product lifecycle for those items Dillard's, Inc., Little Rock, AR 1995-2001 Product Coordinator (Sleepwear) Executed overall corporate marketing strategy. Coordinated and managed with buye rs the financial plans of five buying divisions resulting in a 20% increase in s ales. Traveled internationally extensively. * Provided direction in trend, color, design, technical fit, and packaging c oncepts to all divisions * Executed corporate marketing strategy of overall merchandise assortments, pricing, financial plans, markdowns, and advertising concepts * Established profitable, well focused key-item assortments of great quality Product Coordinator (Intimates) * Coordinated seven buying divisions in product assortments for internal and national bridge brands * Established ongoing education program and trained merchandisers to be inte rnal store fit specialists * Created intimates style-out process for core merchandise assortments which eliminated product duplication and resulted in a higher sales to stock results (higher inve ntory turns) * Promoted from intimates to sleepwear

California Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 1990-1995 Merchandise Specialist Carole Little (Sportswear, Dresses - Missy, Petites and P lus) Teamed with the GMM and Buyers of five divisions at Dillard's Department Stores to drive business and select product assortments. * Increased sales by 50% for all Carole Little product divisions * Selected to train internal Carole Little merchandisers and selling special ists for five product divisions * Executed successful customer in-store special events Dillard's Store Services, Inc., Ft. Worth, TX 1989-1990 Area Sales Manager (Women's Sportswear, Petites, Plus, and Dresses) MM Cohn, Inc., Little Rock, AR Buyer (Intimates) 1987-1989

Barbara Graves, Little Rock, AR 1981-1987 Store Manager and Buyer (Sleepwear, Intimates, Swimwear, Mastectomy) CHARITIES Past-Board Member -Youth Home, Inc., AR Diabetics, AR Cancer Research Center Aux iliary EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BA Marketing-University of Arkansas Walton Institute, Leadership 1 and 11, Management 1 and 11, Presentation Skills