Michael Nold

About Michael Nold

Experienced retail leader with a strong track record of success in both national campus retail and big box environments. Currently serving as Director of Merchandise Execution and Strategy at Follett Higher Education, reporting to the President of Stores. I drive executional excellence, seasonal planning, and merchandise strategy across a national network of campus stores, with a focus on delivering measurable sales growth and brand consistency.Previously served as Regional Manager for North Carolina, overseeing a portfolio of stores and leading high-performing teams across operations, general merchandise, and course materials. Demonstrated history of success in trend analysis, planogram execution, sales development, and customer experience strategy.Skilled in buying, merchandising, logistics, operations, human resources, and leading leaders. Known for building strong cross-functional partnerships and driving results through innovation and consistency.Strong sales professional with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management of Information Systems from New York Institute of Technology.

Experience

1. Director of Merchandising Execution and Strategy

   Follett Higher Education

   Jul 2025 — Present

   Strategic Merchandising LeadershipDefine strategy and standards for merchandise execution across Follett’s largest campus stores.Develop merchandising plans aligned with product categories (e.g. apparel, course materials, convenience, tech, fan/shop items).Coordinate with Brand Partners and corporate planning teams to curate assortments that maximize sales and brand alignment.2. Execution Oversight & Store StandardsEnsure consistent in-store product placement, fixture setups, display visuals, and seasonal rollouts across the network.Provide merchandising guidelines and execution audits to ensure store compliance and on-brand presentation.Mentor and train regional, leads and store teams to execute the set standards.3. Performance AnalysisEstablish KPIs and financial dashboards to measure the success of merchandise execution (sales lift, conversion rates, inventory turnover).Analyze sales data, inventory trends, and regional performance to refine merchandising strategy.4. Cross-Functional CollaborationWork closely with Campus Store Operations, Marketing, Category/planning teams, and Brand Partners to synchronize promotions, events, and new product launches.Align merchandising programs to academic calendars and campus-specific initiatives.

Education

• New York Institute of Technology

  B.S., Business Administration and Information Technology

  1988 — 1992

Skills

• Loss Prevention
• Merchandising
• Cpfr
• Visual Merchandising
• Apparel
• Inventory Management
• Inventory Control
• Store Management
• Trend Analysis
• Profit
• Business Analysis
• Forecasting
• Retail
• Human Resources
• Customer Service
• Team Building
• Private Label
• Demand Planning
• Driving Results
• Talent Management
• Recruiting
• Fashion
• Strategic Planning