Buckle exec retires with 40 years under her belt

Patricia Whisler played a key role in the success of The Buckle but now she is stepping down from a key role in the apparel and accessories retailer’s merchandising organization.



The Buckle, Inc. has announced that Whisler, senior VP of Women’s Merchandising, will retire from her position with the company later this spring.



Dennis H. Nelson, president and CEO, said: “We would like to thank Pat for her 40 years of commitment and dedication to Buckle. We appreciate Pat’s passion for the product, her talent and creativity in identifying trends, and her leadership in developing such an outstanding women’s merchandising team.”



Whisler joined the company in February 1976 as a part-time sales person and later became the manager of a Buckle store before returning to the corporate office in 1983 to work with the growing merchandising team. She was named Vice President of Women’s Merchandising in May 2001 and Senior Vice President of Women’s Merchandising in March 2014.



Whisler has been a part of the company’s success as she partnered with many branded vendors over the years to both market their brands and develop exclusive product for Buckle. Whisler also helped develop the company’s private label brands, which have been a complement to the selection of brands offered in the company’s stores, the company said.



Headquartered in Nebraska, Buckle currently operates 468 retail stores in 44 states, following the closing of one store this month in Holland, Michigan.