Fashion and apparel
10 apparel inventory planning experts
These ten professionals have led inventory planning, merchandise planning or allocation at apparel brands and clothing retailers. A reader can learn from them how apparel brands and retailers plan and allocate inventory.
Professionals to explore
01—10Allison Chute
LinkedInExperience: Director, Americas DTC Inventory Planning, Allocation & Sizing · Under Armour
Former Director, Americas DTC Inventory Planning, Allocation & Sizing at Under Armour (2024–2026), and Director, Regional Merchandise Planning there since January 2026. Other Under Armour roles include Director, Americas DTC Allocation & Sizing (2021–2024) and Senior Manager, Allocation (2019–2021). Former Senior Manager of Allocation - Janie & Jack and Crazy8 brands at Gymboree (2016–2019).
Angie Caldwell
LinkedInExperience: Head of Planning, Allocation, Operations & Marketplace · Urban Outfitters
Head of Planning, Allocation, Operations & Marketplace at Urban Outfitters since May 2024. At Nordstrom the roles were VP Allocation, Replenishment & Forecasting (2018–2022), VP Merchandise Planning (2014–2018) and Merchandise Planning & Inventory Director (2010–2014), and the profile also lists AKMA LLC Corporate Retail Consulting Founder (2023–2024).
Courtney Schoenfeld
LinkedInExperience: Director Inventory Planning & Planning Operations · Carhartt
Director Inventory Planning & Planning Operations at Carhartt since April 2024. Other Carhartt roles include Director of Planning Operations (2022–2024), Director Merchandise Planning & Supply Planning (2019–2022) and Sr. Merchandise Planning Manager (2018–2019). Former Sr. Merchandise Planning & Inventory Manager at Ulta Beauty (2017–2018).
Elizabeth Pereira
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Planning and Allocation · KnitWell Group
Senior Vice President, Planning and Allocation at KnitWell Group since July 2024; the profile describes leading merchandise planning and allocation for a $2B omni-channel business across three brands and turning strategy into operating plans that optimize assortment, inventory and margin. At Chico's FAS, Inc. the roles include Vice President, Omni Planning and Allocation (2023–2024), Senior Director, Brand Planning & Business Master Data (2021–2023) and Director, Merchandise Planning (Chico's Brand) (2018–2020).
Lauren Fuchs
LinkedInExperience: Director of Planning & Allocation · Faherty Brand
Director of Planning & Allocation at Faherty Brand, a maker of clothing for men and women, since April 2024. Other roles include Director of Planning at ONE Jeanswear Group (2023–2024), and Sr. Manager of Omni Merchandise Planning - Gap Specialty (2018–2023) and Manager of Store Planning - Gap North America (2016–2018) at Gap.
Lena Whisenant
LinkedInExperience: Director of Inventory Planning · Lulus
Director of Inventory Planning at Lulus, an online platform for women's dresses, tops, shoes and accessories, since March 2025. Former Merchandise Planning Manager at Forever 21 (2021–2025) and Senior Merchandise Planner at Windsor Fashions (2019–2021); at Torrid the roles were Senior Merchandise Planner (2017–2019) and Merchandise Planner (2015–2017).
Melissa McCartney
LinkedInExperience: Director of Planning And Allocation · Joseph Ribkoff Inc.
Director of Planning And Allocation at Joseph Ribkoff Inc., a women's fashion company, since June 2025, alongside a Director of Planning role there since January 2024. Other roles include Sr. Manager of Demand Planning at Joseph Ribkoff Inc. (2023–2024), Manager of Forecasting and Planning at Vans (2019–2023) and Manager, Online Planning and Allocation at OVE DECORS (2017–2019).
Melissa Umbrianna
LinkedInExperience: Director of Inventory Planning and Analysis B2B · VENUS Fashion Inc.
Former Director of Inventory Planning and Analysis B2B at VENUS Fashion Inc., a women's clothing and swim company (2019–2022). Other roles include Director of Inventory Management at J. Jill (2011–2015), Director of Pricing and Promotions-Retail and Direct at J Jill (2015–2017) and Retail Consulting at Melissa Umbrianna Consultant since November 2022.
Reva Luftman
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Planning and Allocation · Hot Topic
Vice President of Planning and Allocation at Hot Topic since May 2022. At Janie and Jack the roles include VP of Planning, Allocation, and Strategy (2021–2022), Head of Company Planning and Strategic Initiatives (2019–2021), Senior Director of Merchandise Planning and Allocation (2018–2021) and Director of Merchandise Planning and Company Planning (2016–2021).
Sui Chan
LinkedInExperience: VP DTC Planning and Allocation - Retail Stores, E-Commerce, Outlet and Wholesale · TORY BURCH
Former VP DTC Planning and Allocation - Retail Stores, E-Commerce, Outlet and Wholesale at TORY BURCH (2017–2018). Other roles include Sr Director Planning at Chico's FAS, Inc. (2019–2023), Sr Director, North American Market Merchandise Planning, Kids and Baby at Gap (2016–2017), and VP Company Planning (2014–2015) and VP Direct Planning (2012–2014) at J.Crew.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's channel mix to your own, since planning for a store fleet, an e-commerce business and a wholesale account book call for different methods and data. Also consider the company's size and product type, since a fast-fashion online retailer, a workwear brand and a children's chain plan depth, sizing and replenishment differently.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you set an open-to-buy plan for a new season when demand for new styles is hard to predict?
- 02How do you split and allocate inventory across stores, e-commerce and wholesale?
- 03What signals tell you early that a style needs to be chased or marked down?
Reaching apparel inventory planning experts
How can I contact one of these apparel inventory planning experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Under Armour, Urban Outfitters and Carhartt, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach apparel inventory planning experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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