Sales Marketing

Steven Cohen

** ********* *****

San Ramon, CA **582

Cell: 415-***-****

Email: *********@***.***

Summary – Professional Organizational & Marketing Executive with experience in design, product development, strategic

planning, manufacturing, Asian sourcing and manufacturing, business development and mass merchandising. Mass-market

account experience Wal Mart, Kmart, Target, Toys R Us, KB Toys, Costco, Sam’s, etc. International experience Europe,

Australia, South America, Mexico, Canada

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

2007 – Present: Founder / Partner – ZinkoTek Inc.

Conceptualized new juvenile large scale construction system with design engineering partner, raised venture funding, marketed and

distributed to educational and consumer market globally.

Head of marketing utilizing educational specialists as well as current toy industry marketing experience

Oversee all global sales including setup of international marketing group

Creation of Internet interactive software concept currently being installed to allow consumers to build online

Coordination of engineering grad student building contest

Spearhead company sale in progress

2003 – Present: VP North American Sales and Marketing - Lissi Dolls & Toys Hong Kong Ltd.

Responsibilities include all aspects of product development, marketing and sales to North American mass- market, club, food, drug,

department & wholesale distributors. Included is overall financial responsibility for the company’s North American business.

Assumed complete North American responsibility for re-introduction into market after a six-year hiatus.

Increased volume from less than $250K to over $4M in 2003 (first full year) with bottom line in excess of 22%. Yearly

increases for both 2004 & 2005 exceed 50%.

Increased volume to over $15M in 2007 directly related to strategic alliances with Wal Mart & Toys R Us.

Created additional strategic alliances with Kmart, Target & KB Toys in 2008, including branded and private label programs

entailing special promotions and seasonal marketing plans.

Revamped general North American product line and packaging. Developed private label packaging for Kmart.

Report: Direct to CEO/Chairman

2001 – 2003: VP Global Sales & Marketing - Lucky Industrial Holdings HK Ltd.

Assumed overall product development and packaging revamp with global marketing and sales responsibility for declining family owned

30 yr. old China based toy factory. Volume was less than $1M in 2001, reporting net loss for the year.

Created alternative customer base with the introduction of key OEM toy companies utilizing existing factory capabilities.

Developed successful business model with four key OEM customers, accounting for $12M sales resulting in $1.3M net profit

in 2003.

Reintroduced mass market, club, dollar, drug and food North American customer base to new and improved product line

resulting in $16M sales exceeding targeted 12% net profit.

Developed new international customer base, managing marketing and sales for large International specialty sales company.

Report: Direct to Owner/Chairman

1996 – 2001: VP North American Sales & Marketing – Zapf Creation HK Ltd.

Assumed general management position, in addition to sales and marketing function, for newly created German owned US subsidiary.

Directed sales through independent reps, in house sales and wholesale distribution channels.

Gained 100% distribution throughout North American mass, club, drug, food and large regional chains.

Developed strategic alliances resulting in preferred shelf space, store promotions and general brand awareness.

Set up entire US logistics, including warehouse and delivery system for $15M “top 5” branded product.

Creation of strategic marketing plan, including overseeing TV ad origination, $3M media plan, focus testing, strategic

alliances with all major mass-market toy outlets and test marketing on behalf of product launch, resulting in top 5 toy volume

status 3 years running.

Total volume exceeded plan by more than 15% five years in a row. $6M volume in 1996 increased to over $35M in 2001.

Served on transition team when company was taken public on the German market in 2000. IPO price was $17 US, rising to

over $60 US by mid 2000, based largely on successful marketing plan and product launch in North America.

Report: Executive VP Marketing, Zapf Creation, Germany

1988 – 1996: Director of Sales – The Original San Francisco Toymakers

Managed 20 North American and 12 International sales team.

Liaison between US based company and Hong Kong based manufacturing office.

Responsible for identifying and procuring toy license that resulted in $1.3M profit in 1995.

Concept group responsible for several items in various categories sold to major toy companies & house sales and distribution:

(Scope of work included conceptual, product development, tooling, manufacturing, toy safety testing, marketing, sales)

o Hot Wheels extension (Mechanics) sold to Tyco/Mattel

o Barbie extension (Kitchen Littles) sold to Tyco/Mattel

o Sesame Street Art & Activity licensed line sold to Fisher Price

o Military Musclemen created for in house sales and distribution

o WCW licensed figures, rings, belts for in house sales and distribution

o Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling licensed figures and accessories for global sales and distribution

o Talking Stories story book with Berenstein Bears, Lamb Chop, Thomas the Tank, Clifford licenses

o Power Rangers mega figures for global sales and distribution

Complete responsibility for all aspects of company representation of Zapf Creations dolls (see above) products from 1994 –

1996.

1974 – 1988: House of Sobel, San Francisco, CA

Began career in wine and spirits industry with wholesale distributor covering Northern California. Continually promoted based on

exceeding quotas and plans. Highlights include the following:

1974 – 1980 Territory sales positions starting in predominately ethnic area of Oakland, CA. Increased volume from $90K -

$160K in 2 years.

Transferred to predominant on sale territory in San Francisco, opening several new accounts. Responsibilities included wine

list origination and conducting restaurant staff educational seminars. Increased territory volume from $210K - $350K in 2

years.

Transferred to house account off sale division, responsible for Liquor Barn (Safeway), Price Club (Costco) and several large

independent retail stores in San Francisco Bay Area. Territory sales exceeded quota each quarter by 15 – 20% based upon

service and product range.

1980 – 1984 Promoted to supervisor position, Wine Division. Responsibilities included working with on sale customers

developing wine selections, wine list creation, staff training, sales management of territory sales staff, off sale wine selections

including tasting, tours and educational seminars. Exceeded divisional plan by 20%.

1984 – 1986 Promoted to VP Wine Division. Responsibilities included sales management of 6 wine supervisors, 80 sales staff

and 4 house account specialists. Carried out marketing plans developed by suppliers as well as developing new supplier

relationships keeping company on cutting edge of wine growth in California. Sales volume exceeded plan by over 40% from

$9mm - $15mm.

1986 – 1988 Promoted to President Wine Division. Responsible for divisional P&L, growing from $15mm - $29mm. Daily

supplier interface including sales and marketing agendas, sales management, educational training, new brand evaluation and

member of company board of directors. Was recruited into Council of Young Executives, national wine & spirits industry up

and coming executives under 40. Received several supplier incentive and gratis awards including Industry Wine Management

Award of Excellence 1986 from Buckingham Corp., Wine Wholesaler of the Year, Kobrand Corp. 1987.

EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIPS:

Sales agent (apprentice) – Dale & Company Ltd., Farnham Common, England

Worked as a sales agent for English wine merchant, predominately selling Bordeaux futures to customers in the US.

Cellar worker (apprentice) – Maison Louis Jadot, Beaune, France

Worked all aspects of the production of the 1972 vintage as well as the barreling of the 1971 vintage. Responsibilities included

harvest, fermentation, racking, barrel cleaning and general learning.

Attended Lysee Viticole (advanced school of Viticulture & Enology), outside Beaune during this time. Classes included both

Enology and Viticulture. Gained insight as to the more technical aspects of wine production and vineyard management.

Cellar worker (apprentice) Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France

Worked on all aspects of the 1971 vintage, from harvest to fermentation to barrel. Also worked on the bottling line during the

bottling of the 1969 vintage.

Guided tours for English speaking visitors through the Chateau museum and grounds.

Enology and Viticulture – Lycee Viticole, Beaune, France

Marketing and Finance major - Golden Gate University, San Francisco, CA

CONSUMER PRODUCT RELATED EXPERIENCE

Marketing: (North American & Global)

Strategic Planning - origination, modification, execution

Brand, product, project management

Trend and Data Analysis

R&D coordination, Focus testing, Sales coordination

Consumer targeting, Brand positioning, Market research

Single & Multiple brand building

License procurement & management

Multi discipline media planning & procurement (Print, Promotional, TV)

Trade Show planning, design, execution

Package development, refreshment

In-Store Merchandising & Outside agency management

Global multi level brand development

P&L

Product Development:

Concept

Prototyping

Costing

Legal

Scheduling

Trend analysis, Focus testing

Branding & Private Label

Line Extension / business building

Packaging design, refreshment

P&L

Manufacturing & Sourcing:

Asian / Mexican factory sourcing and liaison

QA/QC Systems

Product Testing oversight

Strategic factory / customer audit & alliance

Production P&L / Product Costing all levels

Financial: (North American & Global)

Business plan development

Venture Capital fund raising

Operational, R&D, Marketing, Sales budgeting

Corporate, divisional, category P&L responsibility

Sales: (North American & Global)

Direct mass market chain responsibility (Wal Mart, Kmart, Target, Sears, JC Penney Toys R Us, KB Toys, Costco, Sam’s

Club, BJ’s Wholesale, Dollar General, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid)

Multi Channel experience – multi tier, distributor, domestic manufacturer, direct FOB

Experienced in licensed, promotional, branded, basic and private label consumer goods

Independent & house sales representative group management

Global cultural diversity experience

Strategic alliance building, including private label, promotional & incentives

Brand building, line extension, growth management

Full P&L responsibility

Sales & Marketing Sr. Management: (North American & International)

Wine & Spirits - VP Sales, Wine & Spirits Wholesaler, Northern California (4 yrs)

President – Wine Division, Wine & Spirits Wholesaler, Northern California (4 yrs)

Toys – VP Sales & Marketing North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Australia (12 yrs)

General Management: (Financial, Logistics, Planning, HR, Marketing, Sales)

Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distributor - North America

Toy Manufacturer – North American Division

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