Essense of Australia is a leading international bridal design house and wholesaler that creates and manufactures award-winning gowns for independent bridal retailers throughout the world. The Northern Hemisphere headquarters is in Lenexa, KS and the Southern Hemisphere headquarters is in Perth, Australia. Their designs are sold over 1,500 stores across the globe. Labels include: Stella York, Sorella VIta, All who Wander, Martina Liana, Martina Liana Luxe and Grace & Goddess

Merchandising Operations

As a Merchandising Operations Intern my work included functions within the Merchandising Operations team assisting in collections moving through the development process.

Some responsibilities of mine were to sample logistics within our gown development program, sample inventory management, weekly style reporting, product presentation session prep, and collection approval and review.

Factory & Store Shipments

Check in factory and store shipments
Ensure samples are prepped and shipped out, meeting deadlines to arrive at stores/photoshoots/influencers
Creating shipping labels, gown tags and barcodes
Assist in first sample check reviewing beading, color and accessory.

Style Reporting

Create spreadsheets and PDF's weekly to assist sales reps attending trunk shows each week
Deadline Oriented

Sample Inventory Management

Ensure the sample inventory is kept organized and always updated
Complete weekly inventory and inventory report to ensure all samples are accounted for
Follow-up on missing gowns or accessories and place orders for items as needed

Collection Approval and Launch Deliverables

Update image boards weekly as style updates were made
Create and assist in the reviews of selling season documentation working closely with other teams such as Marketing, Events and Sales
Daily meetings, 1-4 meetings daily

Product Presentation Session Preparation

Assist in steaming gowns, dressing mannequins or models for internal events
Internal Events such as: Company Tea, Showroom, Approval meetings and Kleinfeld Buy & Execution Day

Warehouse

Has over 24,000 gowns stored
Scanned inventory
Organize and track gowns from racks
Pull previous styles that goes active again
Fun Fact: the heaviest gown in warehouse is 26 pounds!

Events Involvement

Showroom: Spritz & Splash

Steamed and prepped over 100 gowns with the Design Development Intern
Assisted the Logistics coordinators with gown shipments for the event
Updated trackers and Excel Spreadsheets
Was a part of the Kleinfeld Buy & Execution planning meetings for their buy experience
Helped host showroom with Events Department