Magdalen Hertel

Degree:    Bachelor of Science
Major:      Retail Merchandising

Years in the Field:   2
Current Job Title:     Planner
Organization:           Fresh Produce

How did you find this job?
After graduation, I accepted a position as a Business Analyst for Marshall Fields. About a year later, after Marshall Field's was purchased by Federated Department Stores and announced it would be changing its name to Macy's, the merchandising floor of the company went through a complete re-organization and I became an Assistant Planner. In the spring of 2007 I made the decision to move to Boulder, CO, and recently accepted a planning position at Fresh Produce.

Previous job titles and organizations:
Assistant Planner, Macy's North
Business Analyst, Marshall Field’s

Please describe your job:
I manage inventory levels at every store, ensure that the assortment is complete and not over or under assorted, and discover new opportunities to edit unproductive SKUs and/or roll out a new style/color/size/etc. that we are missing. I also plan for peaks and valleys in sales by analyzing current trends and sales history, and affect stock levels accordingly. Finally, I consult buyers in the selection of assortment and forecast sales, receipts, and markdowns.

What from your undergraduate educational experience was most helpful in preparing you for this career?
I was very involved in Orientation & First Year Programs where I gained many valuable skills that I continue to use every day in my professional career: public speaking, handling conflict, managing in ambiguous situations, (to name a few). I think involvement in any organization or extra-curricular activity will ultimately help you succeed after graduation, no matter how unrelated to retail it may seem. Time management and interpersonal skills are a must.

What is the biggest misconception about this occupation or field?
The BIGGEST misconception, I believe, about the retail merchandising major is that the only option after graduation is to become a buyer, AND that a career in buying is basically a glorified career in shopping—endless fashion shows, fancy dinners, and travel. First of all, I had never even heard about merchandise planning as an option, or any other career choice for that matter, other than being a buyer. And yes, there are some great perks to buying (and all retail positions): you usually get a discount, and traveling does happen down the road, but about 90% of the job is crunching numbers and working in Excel, typing away on your calculator and then analyzing the numbers you just ran. It is a huge amount of math, so you have to like numbers in addition to fashion and trends.

What advice do you have for current students?
Take advantage of every connection you make: professors, bosses, co-workers, etc. Keep in touch with them and let them know what you're up to—you never know who will be able to help you down the road. The University’s Alumni Association mentor connection has been a major benefit to me personally. My mentor and I still keep in touch and she has continuously provided me with resume/cover letter advice, career insight, and unconditional support.

Is there anything else you would like to add that we didn’t ask you?
Never be afraid to ask questions. Challenge what you think you know and ask “what if?” It shows that you are thinking outside the box and willing to take some risks by putting yourself out there.