Luke Bera

About Luke Bera

From merchandising floor sets to global line planning, I’ve spent nearly a decade building up an unusually deep toolkit in product strategy, sourcing, and planning. With an MBA in Marketing, I’m focused on scaling that experience into more strategic leadership—whether that’s in merchandising, consulting, category management, or teaching.My career spans cross-functional collaboration with creative, sourcing, and planning teams at brands like Merrell and Bealls. I’ve negotiated with vendors across 20+ countries, implemented assortment strategies that moved regional metrics, built internal testing systems, and managed the product lifecycle from concept through delivery.What sets me apart is my ability to speak multiple “languages” fluently—data, design, sourcing, and strategy—and bring those worlds together to drive measurable outcomes.What I bring: End-to-end product ops expertise Strategic thinking shaped by real retail experience A leadership style rooted in empathy, curiosity, and getting the work doneLet’s connect if you’re hiring or collaborating in category growth, sourcing strategy, merchandising leadership, or business education.

Experience

1. Merchandising Financial Planner

   SpartanNash

   Dec 2025 — Present

   Lead weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales and margin forecasting at the category level to support P&L targetsBuild, manage, and implement annual budgets, long-range plans, and in-season forecasts aligned to company financial objectivesDevelop seasonal ladder plans and forecast clearance liability to optimize inventory flow and margin recoveryPartner with Category Managers to shape promotional strategies that maximize sales, margin, and market shareAnalyze sales, margin, and inventory trends to proactively identify risks and growth opportunitiesLead weekly and monthly business reviews with key stakeholders to evaluate performance and adjust strategyChampion the merchandise planning process and financial planning calendar across the organization

Education

• Central Michigan University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Marketing

• Rockford High School

  High School Diploma

• Central Michigan University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Fashion Merchandising and Marketing

  2014 — 2018