Karen Schechter

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenschechter

abhd7c@r.postjobfree.com

H: 916-***-****

C: 916-***-****

Marketing ~ Product Management ~ Sales Management ~ Human Resources ~ Training

Skills

--Marketing --Product Management

--Team Building --Training

--Inventory Control

--Customer Retention

Summary of Experience

Focused professional with extensive experience within multiple business models and skilled in marketing,

product management, and sales management. Over 7 years’ successful recruiting, training and team

development. Resourceful problem solver, communicator and relationship builder.

Professional History

Sales and Sales Management

• Provided leadership for outside sales team of commission sales people and provided effective

leadership in 10 studio district with reputation for quality and customer satisfaction.

• Recruited and trained a team of 22 decorators and 10 administrative staff. Conducted pre-

employment skills assessment testing for decorator candidates.

• Managed business with annual sales of $4 Million.

• Improved district closing rate from 65% to 75% and grew associate referral business segment

5.9% over prior year.

• Improved district position in one year from 14th place in to 4th position through effective hiring

and product/skills training.

• Reduced adjustments with a .06% to sales versus a goal of .12% or less.

• Managed and sold products of a $17M -$21M department via telephone and face to face contacts

with senior management, owners and buyers in various channels of distribution. Met or exceeded

sales quota annually by at least 3% and increased sales margins by 6% through the development

of low cost/high margin promotions.

• Negotiated with all levels of retail management to successfully implement new retail programs.

Marketing and Product Management

• Managed product brand with sales in excess of $120M. Wrote marketing plan and managed P&L.

Successfully managed $20 million department to 10 inventory turns per year.

• Directed the development and introduction of new products through teamwork with product

development and advertising associates. Successfully launched new product programs into mass

merchant and promotional markets.

• Coordinated product development efforts with vendors DuPont and Anso which resulted in 6 new

placements and first year sales of $1.5 million.

• Increased profit margins through implementation of new product promotion resulting in 15% sales

increase over prior year.

Karen Schechter – page 2

abhd7c@r.postjobfree.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karenschechter

Home: 916-***-****

Cell: 916-***-****

Human Resources and Training

• Sourced candidates through use of applicant pool, networking and in-person local store visits

• Performed all human resources functions for market including performance evaluations,

correctives and terminations.

• Designed product and training materials and instructed in successful selling techniques.

• Created product and skills training seminars from company provided materials; developed and

managed training cycle for internal and external vendor presentations

• Coached associates on use of proprietary AS400 software and intranet.

Employment History

Area Sales Manager, Custom Decorating

JC Penney Company, Sacramento, CA 6/2007 – 2/2011

Assistant Director

Huntington Learning Center, Folsom, CA 12/2005 – /2007

Assistant Store Manager

Walgreens, Sacramento, CA 10/2003 –12/2005

Design Salesperson

Sofa Express, Charlotte, NC 5/2003 – 10/2003

Design Salesperson

Bassett Furniture Direct, Concord, NC 9/2002 –4/2003

Interior Designer

Ethan Allen, Charlotte, NC 9/2000 – 9/2002

Business Manager

Pillowtex/Fieldcrest Cannon 10/1985 -1/1999

Professional Memberships and Volunteer Experience

Sacramento Professional Network (SacProNet)

Marketing Committee

Remembering Rebecca

KVIE (PBS)

Education & Professional Development

Bachelor of Arts, Sociology

Nathaniel Hawthorne College, Antrim, NH

Dean's List

GPA 3.65 out of 4.0

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