Sales Manager

JOEL C. GUSKIN

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**** ** *** *******, ******, Oklahoma 73012

Cell-Phone: {405} 323-4843 Residence: {405} 340-4456

Email: abnvuq@r.postjobfree.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Resourceful executive providing a proven track record in people management, product development, sourcing,

merchandising and marketing. A unique strong combination of management abilities from product ideation, to

development, production, scheduling, distribution, merchandising, marketing, sales and customer service.

Successful use of entrepreneurial environments from a small company to a Fortune 500 corporation in capitalizing

on new market opportunities and turning around mature businesses to drive growth in revenue and bottom line

profits.

Cross Culture Communications

Multi-Channel Sales, Marketing & Advertising

Staff Development, Motivation & Mentoring

Inventory Control

Forecasting

Budgeting & Expense Control

Crisis Management

Negotiations

Product Development

International Operations & Procurement

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

JASCO PRODUCTS, LLC, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

Manufactures and distributes consumer electronics and accessories under the GE brand, the #1 consumer

recognized brand. Sales channels include every major mass market retailer and home center, most regional

chains, food and drug, along with hundreds of independent stores encompassing wholesale revenue of over $180

million.

Vice President, Product Development 5/04 – 4/09

Responsible for developing a comprehensive strategic product line to optimize sales and profit. Supported sales

activity with unique products for high volume accounts. Included overall management along with P & L

responsibilities.

Provided company with two years of record setting sales and profits in managed categories, utilizing continual

new product creation along with current product updates.

Personally managed creation, adoption and production of the company’s highest dollar performing product.

Provided product selection, vastly expanded category offerings, costing, market insights and personal

participation for sales presentations to The Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Sears, Walmart and other major

retailers. Managed product creation and production for all product rollouts including The Home Depot which

was the largest account acquisition in the company’s history.

Provided consultation and direction for the establishment of a product evaluation office in Shenzhen, China to

meet the needs of a rapidly changing market and fulfill the company’s contractual obligations to GE.

Orchestrated expanded product line attractiveness to widen customer base.

Established Industrial Designer program to allow for unique and trendier product design.

Provided direct hands-on crisis management coverings vendors negotiations and relations, product issues,

rush projects, quality issues and recovery from supplier bankruptcy issues.

Reduced department expenditures by 25% by redefining staff responsibilities, implemented structured

process for business travel, utilization of amortization for molding/tooling projects and negotiating superior

rate structure for international package shipments.

Joel C. Guskin 2

INTERSTATE BATTERIES, DALLAS, TEXAS

Supplies the country’s #1 brand of replacement automotive batteries. Wholesale revenue of over $600 million

through 200 distributors marketing to 200,000+ retail dealers. Expanding business model into retail “Power

Centers” with independent franchise, company owned stores and nationwide telesales.

General Merchandise Manager / Director Marketing & Advertising 11/02 – 5/2004

Designed and implemented the creation of the company’s first merchandising department. Established a

marketing program utilizing direct mail, newspaper inserts and in-store P.O.P. signage.

Achieved 20% sales increase by sourcing and implemented new product lines to expand the original “all

battery” concept into a “power store” model of batteries, adapters, chargers, flashlights, accessories, etc.

Thereby improving store traffic and relevancy for the consumer.

Improved gross margin by 8% by envisioning and creating entirely new pricing models across the entire

division from straight formula calculation to market pricing over retail and 12 distinct commercial businesses.

Established commercial sales price structures replacing undisciplined environment.

Managed virtual team of internal resources to deliver in-store P.O.P. Implemented the creation and design of

new consumer friendly packaging program for Interstate branded products. New packaging was easier to

shop and allowed Interstate to pursue “store within a store” concept with other retailers.

Initialized critical review to identify obsolete products. Created a reserve and sales plan, thereby, releasing

valuable distribution center and store space while freeing up working capital for faster growing products.

Introduced product development techniques creating a process and flow for private label products.

RADIOSHACK CORPORATION, FORT WORTH, TEXAS

The nation’s largest retailer and manufacturer of consumer electronic products, with annual sales over $4.5 billion

and 7,200 locations.

Vice President, Merchandising 1/01 - 7/02

Charged with developing a comprehensive strategic business model to optimize profit and return on investment

while meeting marketing, financial and corporate growth objectives. A stellar career rising from salesperson to

corporate officer.

Rejuvenated product line assortments by sourcing and implementation of new product line assortments in

core categories that had become stagnant while realigning growth areas not achieving optimum performance.

Created market research projects for the testing of consumer preferences. Implemented market testing of

various scenarios. Results were presented to top management with recommended action plan. Provided

hands-on realization of market strategy.

Turned around sales of high gross margin in the power products business from sales losses to high double-

digit sales gains within 4 months.

Created a new product strategy along company’s market strengths in alignment with market demand and

growth patterns. Reduced number of stock keeping units while implementing a plan for a 20% upturn in

sales.

Managed the creation of an entirely new subcategory of mini-radio control vehicles (ZipZaps) from concept,

through design, manufacturing, marketing, procurement and sales plan.

Created and sourced product for multi-channels. Provided unique items and marketing for e-tailing and

dealer distribution channels.

Selected and paginated assortment of multi-channel media for cost and result effectiveness.

Vice President, Product Development 1/97 - 12/00

Responsible for the departments charged with the creation and development of the entire line of RadioShack

products: Engineering, Evaluations, Publications, Regulatory Affairs, Product Management and Industrial Design.

Includes overall management along with P & L responsibilities.

Reduced time to market for new product development by 60% by streaming departmental procedures.

Joel C. Guskin 3

Created work team groups thereby improving overall collaboration within the various departments.

Ability to work with individuals of various disciplines from creative to analytical skill sets allowed blending of

departments composed of artistic to engineers thereby improving interdepartmental performance.

Automated tedious, repetitive and time consuming testing procedures, reducing strain on limited human

resources.

Reduced department expenditures by 20% while achieving more efficient and effective departments.

Built solid relations with upper management of supplying companies allowing quick resolution of product

development issues.

Tapped market trends shifting product designs to be in-line with consumer demand.

Established product evaluation office in Shenzhen, China creating efficiencies in testing and further improving

time to market while maintaining product quality.

Marketing/Merchandise Manager 4/92 - 12/96

Responsible for development and implementation of a comprehensive business plan to optimize profit and meet

marketing, financial and corporate growth objectives. Implemented by the purchasing, managing and

development of marketing, merchandising, product assortment and advertising plans.

Researched, compiled, and presented a comprehensive report on the company’s slipping sales in its basic

core competency product lines. The report’s recommendations were implemented, creating changes in

advertising format and initiated as a main focus for the retail stores.

Conceived and successfully implemented a 3-phase business plans to revamp and turn around RadioShack's

battery program. Increased sales of 70% gross margin battery business by 20% within 5 months.

Negotiated and implemented the first nationwide program of monitored security systems to be sold through a

retail channel. ADT for installed systems and Orca Systems for the do-it-yourself market.

Realigned business strategy of telecommunications products by increasing market share through expanded

promotional products line.

Developed marketing plans to maintain competitiveness and profitability of cellular phones.

With the success and growth of the Communications and Automotive product line, along with proven flexibility

to management and marketing changes, I was given the responsibility of revitalizing a second merchandising

group.

Sr. Buyer/Product Line Manager Telecommunications 1/88 - 3/92

Product development, planning and forecasting for telecommunications equipment, including facsimile machines,

pagers and cellular phones.

Negotiated and implemented the paging industry's first nationwide retail paging agreement to utilize a single

carrier's resources in conjunction with EDI purchasing and shipments.

Developed the most extensive and profitable line of telephone products in a national retail chain.

Received US Patent #4,787,012 on the Method and Apparatus for Illumination of a Camera Subject, for use

with videophones and intercoms.

Progress movement with RadioShack from salesman, to store manager, service manager, regional service

manager, buyer and up to corporate officer.

Education: Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York – B.S, Communications

Texas Christian University - Managing Managers - Certification

Various courses in management, negotiations, diversity, etc.

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