Rack Room Shoes Appoints New Director Of Merchandising

Rack Room Shoes Appoints New Director Of Merchandising

Rack Room Shoes announced Melanie Ortlieb has succeeded industry veteran Dan Crawford as director of merchandising.

Crawford is retiring after two decades of service with Rack Room Shoes, and this hire ensures a seamless transition for the brand’s merchandising activities.

In her new position, Ortlieb will collaborate with category and brand leaders to create and execute strategic seasonal merchandise planning. Additionally, she will be responsible for the overall financial direction of the merchant category and identifying planning improvements to ensure profitability and maximize inventory productivity.

“Melanie embraces our belief that long term success is built on having a forward-thinking mindset, anticipating trends and developing strategies that allow us to continue to provide excellent customer service and a positive shopping experience in all our stores and online,” said Brian Burnett, vice president of merchandising. “We are extremely pleased she has joined our team to apply her extensive merchandising experience, along with an unrelenting focus on leadership and financial profitability, to benefit Rack Room Shoes.”

Ortlieb brings more than 15 years of experience of merchandise planning, team leadership and revenue forecasting. Most recently, she served as a merchandising planning manager in the apparel division for Family Dollar. She has also held merchandising positions with The Limited, DSW, Inc. and Lane Bryant brands. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and finance from The Ohio State University.