Timothy M. Robinson **** Zion Road Fayetteville, AR 72703
********@*****.***
Senior Sourcing Director Areas of Expertise
Global Procurement • Product Development • Quality Assurance Supply Chain / Category
Management
Business Development
Superior leader with 20+ years of in-depth and diversified retail Strategies
expertise – taking products from conception to the sales floor for top Vendor Selection / Alliances
retailers and suppliers to include Walmart, Sam’s Club, Belk, and Product / Packaging Design
Warnaco. Multi-million dollar growth across multiple categories Manufacturing / Production
achieved through innovative sourcing strategies, collaborative internal Market / Trend / Gap Analysis
and external partnerships, and motivational team leadership. Training / Leadership /
Mentoring
Seasoned project manager and negotiator known for optimizing the value
Retail Marketing /
chain to build profitability – evaluating the business on a global scale to
Merchandising
enhance processes, product offerings, and retail programs while reducing
Cost / Price Negotiation
costs. Couple Bachelor’s degree in finance with strong analytical,
Overseas / Sourcing
problem-solving, and decision-making talents.
Partnerships
Licensed / Private Label
Programs
Project Management
Import / Export Regulatory
Compliance
Budget / P&L Management
Professional Experience
SAM’S CLUB, Bentonville, AR 2010–2012
US chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Walmart Stores, Inc.
Categories: Apparel, Outdoor / Indoor Living Furniture, Seasonal Foods, Seasonal Gifts, Accessories, Footwear,
Home / Bed / Bath, Electronics.
Senior Manager, Global Sourcing & Quality Assurance. Led 6-person cross-functional team to manage all facets of
global sourcing, product merchandising, and QA for categories accounting for $1B in annual sales. Aligned supplier
matrix with volume goals and business plan; steered seasonal trend direction; pinpointed new opportunities;
coordinated international shipments / deliveries; and managed product design, development, and packaging activities.
Nurtured relationships with overseas agent and suppliers to maximize profit and member / shareholder value; worked
in tandem with DMM, buyer, and management for project execution and mutual goal attainment; and negotiated costs.
Held full P&L and gross margin accountability.
Championed $30M seasonal inflationary cost reduction by exercising cost validation processes with multiple
vendors, verifying true costing and quality against retail industry data / comparative analysis.
Lifted product category GM 6% by propelling focused sourcing initiatives and leveraging volume with key suppliers.
Launched first private label program in men’s apparel and accessories, generating in incremental sales of $2.5M
with up to 42% GM.
Led substantial reduction in defective return rate by assessing and revamping QA / QC processes and procedures.
FAB, New York, NY 2008–2010
$200M wholesale bags importer / distributor.
Categories: Handbags, Backpacks, Accessories, Home.
Vice President, Product & Business Development. Leveraged prior category experience with Walmart and others to
build private-label business. Interpreted market and collaborated with cross-functional team to develop and source
quality product to capitalize on retail customer opportunities. Traveled across Asia and liaised with licensing partners to
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effectively manage intricacies of production process. Mentored and managed 17 staff across US and Hong Kong
offices. Administered margin goals, divisional budgets, and product / materials costing; reported to president.
Relocated all sourcing and production business from Southern to Northern China to counteract rising production
and labor costs, increasing company profit margin 18% as a direct result.
Devised collection of licensed bed and bath programs and secured placement with both major and mass retailers.
WALMART STORES, INC., Bentonville, AR 2006–2008
World’s largest retailer with $400B in revenue and 2M employees across the globe.
Categories: Handbags, Active Bags, Backpacks, Small Leather Goods, Belts, Cold Weather, Rainwear, Costume
Jewelry, Sunglases, Hard / Soft Home, Denim, T-shirts.
Senior Director, Global Sourcing & Quality Assurance. Hired to senior-level product management and placement
role for categories accruing $2.3B in revenue through domestic and direct import supply base. Played hands-on role in
design: provided seasonal, trend, and color direction across departments; participated in design reviews with cross-
functional category partners; and developed designers as part of corporate mentoring program. Allied senior manager
and merchant efforts and parleyed low material, trim, and production order costs with suppliers and manufacturers.
Proved instrumental to creation of winning seasonal direct import programs with Walmart’s international offices.
Increased margin 22% and realized $13M net profit gains through the development of off-peak production initiative for
cold weather, bed, and bath items.
Recognized need to strengthen pricing clout and cut vendor matrix 25%, yielding more business with fewer suppliers.
TR DESIGN / FASHION FOCUS MANUFACTURING LTD., Hong Kong; Charlotte, NC 2004–2006
$100M manufacturer of luxury handbags.
Categories: Handbags, Luggage, Small Leather Goods, Accessories.
Senior Director, Design, Product Development & Quality Assurance. Utilized current trend and historical data to
design, develop, and source products in line with consumer demands. Formed sold network of first-rate manufacturing
and raw materials partners, visiting all regions of Europe, Asia, and South America to monitor goods and production.
Developed products for major brands to include Land’s End, Kate Spade, Ruehl, Ann Taylor, John Varvatos, Coach,
and Anthropologie.
Fulfilled all time and action calendar dates for client concept deadlines, meeting sample delivery and production needs.
BELK STORE SERVICES, INC., Charlotte, NC 2002–2004
One of the nation’s largest privately held department stores.
Categories: Women’s Handbags, Luggage, Belts, Small Leather Goods, Cold Weather, Knits, Wovens.
Senior Manager, Private Brands – Design, Product Development, Sourcing & Quality Assurance. Primary
contact with vendors as well as sourcing partners / agents in India and Asia, managing daily workflow and
communication between team and external counterparts. Developed product to meet design aesthetic, merchandising,
and seasonal goals as well as corporate profit margin objectives.
Streamlined sourcing process, prompting 16% profit margin increase.
PRIOR CAREER EXPERIENCE
Director, Design, Product Development, Sourcing & Quality Assurance – Mossimo / Target Corp., Santa Monica, CA
VP, Design & Product Development – CK & Collection (Calvin Klein Division) – Warnaco, Inc., New York, NY
Design Director, Men’s & Women’s Accessories & Footwear – Cole Haan / Nike, Yarmouth, ME
Cultivated deep understanding of vertical retail process during early career engagements. Set creative tone and
managed products from design through development, production, materials / packaging sourcing, and approval for
various categories: Accessories (Men’s and Women’s), Apparel (Swimwear, Denim, Knits, Neckwear, Underwear),
Footwear, and more for offerings sold in US, Mexico, Australia, Japan, and Korean markets; traveled extensively.
Rolled out men’s hosiery collection that garnered $1M in incremental revenue within first year.
Key player in the launch of the Women’s retail Handbag division for Cole Haan / Nike at all store levels.
Educational Credentials
BA, Finance, UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI, Oxford, MS
Walton Institute, Business Ethics, Financial Management & Basic Mandarin Chinese, WALMART INC., Bentonville, AR
Personal Profile
Languages: Basic / Conversational Mandarin, French, Italian, and Spanish
Technology: Microsoft Publisher, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word