Jessica Pray
Assistant Category Manager · REI (Recreational Equipment Inc)
Seattle, WA
In My Own Words
Hi, I'm Jess! Born and raised in Southern California I am a creative and enthusiastic advocate for getting people into the outdoors, with 7+ years in the outdoor industry. I've held roles that span retail management to merchandising and buying spaces, and have developed a passion for bringing teams together and thinking creatively to achieve success. Currently in the PNW, I have learned to understand the need for bike fenders and Gore-tex backpacking boots but still maintain that any highway name should be prefaced with the prefix "the."
Work Experience
Assistant Category Manager
REI (Recreational Equipment Inc)2018 – Present
Assist category manager to plan and build the bike assortment for REI. Role entails building extensive cross-divisional and vendor relationships, managing a complex business during volatile industry conditions, and partnering with team to create workflow efficiencies and creative solutions to hurdles. I use data analysis to inform long and short term assortment and inventory strategies, and provide weekly reporting and insight on strategy performance.
