ROBERT C.WILSON, JR.

***** *** ***** ****** ? Bradenton, FL 34212 ? C:785-***-****

E-MAIL: acodnx@r.postjobfree.com

PROFILE

Performance driven purchasing professional with retail experience in brick

and mortar as well as online retail. Strong business acumen in buying,

merchandise manager, and store management having never failed to make and

in most cases far exceed sales and financial plans. Turnaround specialist

taking underperforming businesses and making them into a top five

performer.

Exceptional financial performance of Merchandise management

volumes to 400M

Domestic/International Sourcing Vendor relations

Inventory management Store layout experience

Advertising planning and co-op Branded and unbranded buying experience

procurement

Multi store buying up to 5000 stores Product development

Excel, Microsoft Word Online retail management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Independent Business Consultant, Bradenton, Florida 2012 - Present

Independent Consultant contracted to review business practices and to make

them more profitable and efficient

Consultant

Responsible for reviewing business practices and find efficiencies that

result in better profits and more effective ways of conducting business. I

also review to make sure that a business is in full compliance with laws

and regulations to avoid costly penalties. In the last year, my clients

have saved over 3.2 million dollars.

BEALLS OUTLET STORES, Bradenton, Florida 2009 - 2012

Regional discount chain with 468 stores in 16 states located in the

Southeast region

Buyer, Domestics

Responsible for all aspects of purchasing, advertising, assortment

selection and partnering with planning and distribution team for 468 stores

in the Southern portion of the United States. I had full responsibility

for an $18M department in annual volume

. Completed fiscal 2011 at the end of July by beating sales plan by

7.9% with a 1.1% lower inventory than plan and a 6.3% improvement in

gross margin dollars. This was one of the top four performances in the

entire company with 3 awards for buyer of the month.

. Brought brands to the company that had refused to sell an off price

retailer.

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY, Burlington, NJ 2007 - 2009

National off Priced Chain with 475 stores in 38 states

Buyer, Domestics

Responsible for all aspects of purchasing, advertising, assortment

selection and partnering with distribution team for 475 stores in 38 states

and Puerto Rico. I had full responsibility

for a $21M department in annual volume.

. Improved sales over plan by 4.2% and reduced inventory to improve

turn.

. Created a beach towel department that went from 67K in the year prior

to my arrival to 1.1 million in sales two years later

Robert C. Wilson, Jr. Page Two

PAMIDA STORES LLC., Omaha, Nebraska 2005 - 2007

Regional discount chain with 224 stores in 16 states located in the upper

Midwest region

Buyer, Domestics

Responsible for all aspects of purchasing, advertising, assortment

selection and store presentation direction for 224 stores. Total volume

responsibility is $19M

PAYLESS SHOE SOURCE, Topeka, Kansas 2003 - 2004

Leading retailer of footwear products for United States and 13 countries in

Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands

Buyer, Ladies Dress Shoes

Responsible for all aspects of purchasing, advertising, assortment

selection and partnering with planning and distribution team for 4800

stores in both the domestic market as well as for 14 other countries. I

had full responsibility for a $400M department.

. Increased dyeable shoe sales 53.81% and women's dress shoe sales

6.38% over plan. Accomplished by closely monitoring fashion trends,

utilizing effective negotiation skills with vendors, and revising the

merchandise mix to better fit the customers' needs.

. Sourced and imported product from China and Brazil. Importing was

100% of the total departmental mix.

AMMAR'S INC. (dba MAGIC Mart Stores), Bluefield, Virginia 1997 - 2003

Regional Discount Chain - Branded apparel and footwear

Divisional Merchandise Manager, (Ladies, Men's, and Children's Apparel /

Lingerie / Shoes / Domestics/ Accessories)

Responsible for purchasing, advertising, distribution and assortment

selection for seven departments. Total division volume was $42.2M.

. Increased gross margin by 1.1% over the year prior, a significant

achievement based upon a poor retail economic environment. Achieved by

incorporating Nike, Levi, Sag Harbor, Alfred Dunner, Mudd, and L.E.I.

brands in a discount store setting.

. Changed departmental mix to a branded assortment, allowing buying

staff to pursue a more desirable and competitive assortment for the

customer. Achieved a 29% increase in sales during first year as a

merchandise manager, leading to record sales year in four consecutive

years.

HILLS DEPARTMENT STORE, Charleston, West Virginia 1994 - 1997

Regional discount store chain

Manager

Responsible for merchandising, operations, payroll control, and expense

control with an annual volume of $13.5M

. Increased total store volume from $10.2M to $12.8M in two years by

improving customer service and more timely stock to floor programs.

Robert C. Wilson, Jr. Page Three

MONTGOMERY WARD, Charleston, West Virginia 1990 - 1994

Mid tier department store chain

Manager / Operations Manager

Responsible for all aspects of budgeting, expense control, merchandising,

and planning with an annual volume of $18M.

. Increased total store volume from 15.4 million dollars to 18 million

by utilizing better customer service procedure, worked towards getting

improved inventory levels to support additional business opportunities,

and implemented more customer service friendly scheduling to insure

proper staffing during key selling times of the day.

HECKS, Charleston, West Virginia 1983 - 1990

Regional Discount Chain with 145 stores

Buyer, Housewares & Giftware/Toys & Sporting Goods May 1985 - January 1990

Responsible for planning, purchasing, planograming (the rack layout of

product) and advertising planning of the department with annual volume of

$600M.

. Achieved 272% over plan in calendar year 1989, while the company was

in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Accomplished through positive vendor

negotiations, improving the product mix to more closely align with the

customers' desires, and implemented a layout change to make department

more shopping friendly.

Assistant Manager June 1984 - May 1985

All aspects of merchandising, payroll, and expense control related to

business ranging from $3-6M in annual volume.

Held various hourly positions in first year with the company.

EDUCATION

West Virginia State College, Institute, West Virginia, 1983 - 1985

Attended and completed 72 hours towards a business management degree

VOLUNTEER WORK

Treasurer Parent Involvement Committee Imagine Charter School

President of Imagine School North Manatee and Lakewood Ranch Campuses

School Governance Board

Bible Quiz Team Coach, Sunday school Teacher, and Drummer for Journey

Assembly of God

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