Sales Supply Chain

John Robins

Atlanta, GA P: 704-***-****

**********@*********.***

Summary

Over six years experience as a Sales Director. Consistently exceeded sales

goals by 5-10% and adept at improving revenue. Grew sales 25% in one key

sector. Adept at directing and leading sales teams in exceeding company

metrics. Primary strengths in the areas of:

Sales and Marketing Management History of Business & Sales

Optimization

Successful B2B Sales Experience Budget and Planning

Training/Communication/Coaching Supply Chain Logistics & DSD

Expertise Specialist

Professional Experience

Time Warner Retail Sales & Marketing (TWR) Jun 2003

- Aug 2009

Senior Director of Wholesale Sales

Managed 10 person TWR sales distribution team at The News Group (TNG)

Atlanta Corporate offices responsible for all sales/distribution activity

occurring within TNG Corporate service footprint in 25 states,

approximately 30% of North American business, over $137 million annually

. Led two-person team remotely (Tampa, FL) that was responsible for all

tertiary wholesale business throughout the United States and Puerto

Rico, growing that business by 25% in three years

. Served as primary TWR contact to key TNG executives and managed

implementation of key TWR initiatives across entire TNG geography

(Southeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, Rockies, California)

. Coordinated with TNG executives on new launches, discounts,

incentives, price increases, delivery concerns, special promotions for

chains including Walmart, Target, Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Walgreens,

Supervalu, CVS

. Effectively managed supply chain disruption Feb 2009. Served as

liaison between TWR and TNG, communicating and facilitating resolution

of concerns involving chain movement, service and merchandising

issues, store mapping, direct-store-delivery, and receiving of product

. Expert in supply chain logistics and speed-to-market best practices

for products with finite shelf life

. Assumed responsibilities as Director of Sales and successfully

improved communication between TWR and TNG at all levels which

ultimately improved productivity and grew sales more than 10%

. Facilitated sales growth as primary TWR conduit for Select Media,

specialty wholesaler that does business with The Home Depot, Best Buy,

Office Depot among others

. Led Southern Progress task force until late 2008 that was charged with

coming up with creative ways to grow sales including auxiliary

fixturing, wholesaler contests, retail promotions. Personally

organized task force consisting of cross-functional team members

including brand marketers, key account sales contacts, retail managers

and wholesale staff. Sales results exceeded national trends due to

efforts

. Effectively resolved and handled concerns of a varied list of clients

including Meredith, Source Interlink, Consumers Union, Ziff Davis,

Future, while also growing sales exceeding national trends

. Recipient of 2006 "Best in Class" award for Time Warner Retail. One of

only two in Eastern division

. Created and presented sales and wholesaler updates, company sales

initiatives, and new title launches to numerous Time Inc. title

groups, clients, TNG executives

. Delivered key speech at Aldipress (wholesaler/publisher) annual

meeting in Utrecht, Netherlands in March 2008 as only person from US

on the agenda. Provided an update on publishing climate in the US to

approximately 250 attendees, followed by Q&A session

John Robins Page

Two

Curtis Circulation

Mar 2003 - May 2003

Regional Sales Director

Supervised and managed five direct reports and nine wholesaler suppliers in

the Southeast and Midwest

. Managed day-to-day activities and assignment completion

. Handled all marketing-related items pertaining to Curtis for key

chains in the Mid-Atlantic region including Food Lion, Harris Teeter,

Kroger Roanoke, Ingles, Lowes Foods, Winn Dixie, and Ukrop's. Secured

new title authorizations, soliciting new launches, representing Curtis

clients for new check-out programs, and initiating special promotions

. Achieved winning results and favorable classifications by successfully

selling in to wholesalers' purchasing department for all Curtis new

title launches

. Solicited and coordinated all new title allotments for all wholesaler

locations throughout North America

Gruner + Jahr USA Publishing (G+J)

Nov 1998 - Oct 2002

Sales & Marketing Manager

Responsible for the distribution and marketing of all G+J-branded titles in

the Eastern U.S. Titles including Family Circle, McCall's, YM, Fitness,

Parents and the Special Interest Publications associated with those parent

brands

. Made calls to magazine wholesalers Anderson News, Hudson News, and The

News Group at the corporate level, as well as to their satellite

locations. Initiated promotions for G+J titles in all three groups

that resulted in incremental sales increases of approximately 10%.

These included in-and-out promotion displays for major supermarket

chains, placement in permanent promotional fixtures and end caps, and

putting special issues in rotational check-out pockets

. Frequently attended and negotiated favorable new check-out programs

for major retailers that included Giant, Stop & Shop, Hannaford,

Safeway, Pathmark, Shop Rite, Food Lion, Publix, and Harris Teeter

. Planned and accomplished annual sales calls to transportation vendors

HMS Host, WH Smith, and Paradies in order to book promotional programs

for the year ahead

. Successfully negotiated deal with Graceland in Memphis to provide them

non-returnable copies of the G+J special Elvis Then & Now,

commemorating the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death

The News Group/Piedmont News Apr 1990

- Nov 1998

Distribution Manager

Managed four-person team and oversaw the weekly distribution of magazines,

books, maps, and children's product for The News Group's Charlotte

location, an operation that had annual sales in excess of $30 million

. Instrumental in executing The News Group's category management program

for in-store magazine fixtures

. Worked with HMS Host to come up with product mix and merchandising

procedures when they opened up a Simply Books retail store at the

Charlotte airport

. Successfully negotiated exclusive deal with Universal Maps, enabling

TNG to purchase maps at that time at a higher discount than any

magazine wholesaler in the country

. Driving force in securing front-end placement of maps in Food Lion and

Harris Teeter

. Directly responsible for magazine distribution at three Piedmont News

sites in Winston-Salem, Asheville, and Elizabeth City, NC

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel

Hill, NC

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