Sam Bender

About Sam Bender

Hi, I’m Sam Bender. Following my internship at Helzberg, I’m building my career in merchandising and analytics, applying skills in data-driven decision-making, planning, and cross-functional collaboration. I’ve gained experience in marketing operations, digital strategy, and content creation through internships and professional roles, along with strong communication, adaptability, and teamwork skills. I’m excited to continue growing in merchandising while exploring opportunities to expand into marketing and ecommerce initiatives over time.

Experience

1. Merchandising Planning Analyst

   Helzberg Diamonds

   Sep 2025 — Present

   Part of the Engagement Department, driving revenue, customer demand alignment, and cross-channel strategy across engagement, wedding/anniversary, and specialty products (e.g, loose diamonds, ear piercing, pre-owned handbags)- Category Ownership (Buyer – Ear Piercing): Manage end-to-end performance, including assortment, vendor partnerships, pricing, and inventory to drive sales and meet customer demand- Replenishment & Distribution: Oversee weekly replenishment across the Engagement Department, including loose diamonds and specialty categories, based on sales trends to ensure product availability and support store performance- Vendor Management: Lead vendor communication for ear piercing and support other categories, including product selection, performance reviews, and sales reporting- Cross-Functional Leadership: Led ear piercing relaunch with eCommerce, social, brand, creative, event marketing, and store operations to align digital, in-store, and brand execution- Customer & Data Insights: Analyze SKU performance, purchasing trends, and sell-through to guide assortment, promotional strategy, and category growth- Omnichannel Execution: Collaborate across merchandising, marketing, and operations to align product availability, digital presence, and in-store experience- Forecasting & Financial Planning: Develop forecasts and support financial planning for engagement and specialty categories to optimize inventory and revenue- Reporting & Performance Analysis: Deliver recurring sales reporting and actionable insights to cross-functional partners to improve conversion, inventory efficiency, and customer engagement.Tools: Excel, Tableau, Oracle Retail, and merchandising/planning systems

Education

• Shawnee Mission Northwest High School

  High School Diploma

• The University of Kansas

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Marketing