{"id":31958,"date":"2022-09-30T12:13:30","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T16:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/?p=31958"},"modified":"2023-10-19T14:19:32","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T18:19:32","slug":"kalyn-parker-13-is-using-her-fashion-background-and-business-savvy-to-forecast-anthropologies-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2022\/09\/kalyn-parker-13-is-using-her-fashion-background-and-business-savvy-to-forecast-anthropologies-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Kalyn Parker \u201913 Uses Her Fashion Background and Business Savvy To Forecast Anthropologie\u2019s Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Think about the last time you visited your favorite clothing store and after searching for 15 minutes, you came across the perfect pair of shoes. The color, design and materials were exactly what you were looking for. But, your size wasn\u2019t in stock.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson College of Textiles alumna Kalyn Parker \u201913 makes sure that doesn\u2019t happen when you enter Anthropologie\u2019s brick-and-mortar stores or order online. In her role as the brand\u2019s senior merchandise planner for footwear, Parker works closely with the buying team to ensure that they have the right product, in the right quantity and at the right time to meet customer demands and maximize the company\u2019s sales and profits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout four years ago, I decided to pursue an opportunity with Anthropologie, which is part of URBN Inc., in Philadelphia,\u201d she says. \u201cI jumped at the chance to work for a brand that I love as well as experience a new city and state.\u201d

Parker is focused on maximizing opportunities to grow Anthropologie\u2019s footwear business. She is responsible for forecasting sales and managing receipts and inventory for the company\u2019s stores and e-commerce business. She partners with buyers to build an eye-catching variety of products in the right quantities while taking trends and sales history into consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn my role, I determine how much of each style to buy and when,\u201d she explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to joining Anthropologie, Parker was a merchandise planner for Belk in the shoes and handbags divisions. She credits her education from the Wilson College of Textiles<\/a> and the college\u2019s frequent career fairs for getting her foot in the door at Belk and snagging her a spot in the company\u2019s executive training program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I first started the executive training program at Belk, I remember my peers asking me many times to explain the difference between a knit and a woven,\u201d Parker says. \u201cMy education from the Wilson College truly set me apart and gave me the tools I needed to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kalyna
Kalyn Parker ’13 proudly represents NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles in her new city: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about Parker\u2019s path to success and her advice for students interested in merchandise planning, read her Q&A below.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Degree <\/strong>B.S. Fashion and Textile Management, 2013 (Concentration: Brand Management and Marketing)
Job Title <\/strong>Senior Merchandise Planner, Anthropologie
Current City <\/strong>Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hometown <\/strong>Lillington, North Carolina<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did you choose NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I grew up cheering on the Wolfpack and always knew I wanted to go to NC State. However, I originally applied to study business. I first learned about the Wilson College of Textiles when recruiters from the college visited my high school during my senior year. One of my friends actually called me out of another class to hear them speak, knowing it would be perfect for me. I quickly switched my major to fashion and textile management (FTM) with a concentration in brand management and marketing<\/a>. FTM was the perfect fit for me, and it combined my love for fashion with math and business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What activities were you involved in as an NC State student and how did they impact your experience?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As a student, I was a member of the Sigma Tau Sigma Textile Honors Society<\/a> and held several leadership roles in the Phi Psi Professional Textile Fraternity<\/a>. I also assisted with NC State Fashion Week in 2012 and 2013. I made great friendships through Phi Psi and also had the opportunity to travel to Auburn and Philadelphia for annual textile conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your fondest memory of being at NC State and the Wilson College of Textiles?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I have so many great memories! Some of my favorites include studying abroad<\/a> in Florence, Italy and winning the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund<\/a>. As a YMA Fashion Scholarship recipient, I had the opportunity to travel to New York City for the first time ever! While there, we visited different companies including J.Crew and Ralph Lauren. I also represented NC State at the Fashion Scholarship Fund awards dinner, alongside the other winners from the Wilson College.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who influenced you most during your time at the Wilson College of Textiles? And why or how? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fay Gibson, who is now retired, was a great mentor to me during my time at the Wilson College of Textiles. I was able to work closely with her during NC State Fashion Week, and she advised me on my case studies for the YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund. As an alumna, I\u2019ve spoken to her classes a few times about my experiences as a planner in corporate retail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did your education at the Wilson College of Textiles prepare you for what you are doing today?<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I gained valuable hands-on experience at the Wilson College of Textiles, which prepared me for a career in corporate retail. I learned about buying, retail math and how to manage an open-to-buy plan. These are concepts I use daily in my current role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In what ways are you currently involved with the Wilson College of Textiles and NC State?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

I am currently a member of the Dean\u2019s Young Alumni Leadership Council<\/a>. For the past two years, I served as the chair of the council\u2019s recruitment committee. Serving on the DYALC and helping the North Carolina Textile Foundation<\/a> has been an excellent way for me to stay involved and give back to the college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n