Lawrence Lifson

Email: abpc41@r.postjobfree.com

Address: *** **** ******

City: Downers Grove

State: IL

Zip: 60515

Country: USA

Phone: 630-***-****

Skill Level: Senior

Salary Range: $200,000

Primary Skills/Experience:

See Resume

Educational Background:

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Job History / Details:

Lawrence E. Lifson

abpc41@r.postjobfree.com - 630-***-**** - 405 36th Street - Downers Grove, IL 60515

Vice President, Business Development

Consummate executive and business-development leader successful in envisioning and swiftly executing opportunities from concept to multimillion-dollar sales and/or operations. Capture and close exclusive deals, implementing unique market-entry strategies and managing complex business relationships. Leverage 20+ years of defining real-time business strategy and translating into high-impact actions, operations, and financial results. Proactive leader and charismatic team builder who empowers teams to exceed aggressive goals. Key areas of expertise include:

High-Growth Corporations - International Sourcing/Supply Chain - Competitive Positioning - Market Expansion

Double-Digit Revenue & Profit Performance - Negotiations - New-Market Identification - Account Management

Professional Experience

Personalization Mall, Inc. " Burr Ridge, IL 2010 to 2012

Offers personalized gifts for all events and occasions.

Vice President, Business Development

Established B2B division to leverage capabilities in a different channel. Key customers included Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Ritz-Carlton, U.S. State Department, Estee Lauder, Time Warner, United Way, Sara Lee, Merrill Lynch, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Avon, McDonalds, and United Airlines.

- Added licensed items to product assortment. Signed agreements with Marvel, NBCUniversal, Classic Media, Live Nation, Elvis Presley Enterprises, SmileyWorld, National Geographic, Precious Moments, and the NBA.

- Increased number of countries shipped to, lowered shipping costs, and provided customers a guaranteed landed cost in the shopping cart through the implementation of an international-shipping program.

- Established a direct-import program to significantly reduce cost of goods.

- Led the implementation of a corporate compliance program to address product safety, testing, and social-compliance issues.

- Placed products on a major U.S. corporations Intranet, resulting in additional business and customer acquisition.

- Built customer-referral program as customer-incentive and customer-acquisition vehicle. Established fundraising program.

- Secured PR firm to elevate brand awareness, resulting in national TV and print exposure. Implemented a PMall in the News section on companys website to highlight press coverage.

- Managed the Customer Relations Department, increasing customer conversion/satisfaction and reducing costs.

ACCO Brands Corp. " Lincolnshire, IL 2008 to 2010

One of the world's largest suppliers of branded office products to large corporations such as Walmart, Office Depot, Staples, OfficeMax, and Target.

Consultant / Project Manager

Contributed greatly to the aggressive turnaround and return to profitability of company plagued with declining sales and the threat of the loss of major customers. Positioned company to win Supplier of the Year, Most Improved Supplier, and additional awards.

- Significantly contributed to the improvement of on-time delivery statistics for Fortune 500 customers, impacting corporate culture and strengthening customer and supplier relationships.

- Instrumental in positioning the company to secure additional multimillion-dollar business programs due to improved delivery performance.

- Integrated improved metrics for measuring supplier performance, creating a mutually beneficial tool for both suppliers and the company.

- Shaped the strategy, obtained buy-in, and implemented new event-management function that played major role in keeping new programs on track.

- Established process to manage excess and overstock merchandise, positively impacting cash flow/warehouse-space usage.

- Introduced spend-management program, saving millions of dollars and altering the categorization and analysis of spend.

- Formed lead-time reduction initiative, positively impacting cash flow and inventory turn, reducing amount of excess merchandise, and enhancing customer service.

- Spearheaded various projects, including airfreight-analysis report, supplier-spend report, raw-material handling procedures, supplier-payment issues, customer direct-import options, Mexican sourcing-market investigation, price-quote strategies, global-sourcing conference calls, and customer collaboration on forecasts and private-label purchases.

Lawrence E. Lifson - abpc41@r.postjobfree.com - 630-***-**** - Page 2

Corporate Image Group " Des Plaines, IL 2006 to 2007

Promotional products and marketing company, working with large corporations such as Sara Lee, Hanesbrands, BlueCross BlueShield, and UPS.

Vice President, Business Development

Held responsibility for business development, overseas sourcing, client management, customer service, and client programs.

- Designed and managed new VIP and employee program for Sara Lees CEO.

- Nurtured relationships with Fortune 500 clients, enabling partnerships to continue in a competitive environment.

Crystal Gifts and More, Inc. " Downers Grove, IL 2000 to 2006

Exclusive U.S. distributor for the gift line of one of the worlds largest crystal manufacturers.

Chief Executive Officer

Introduced new product line to the market and wholesaling to gift stores, jewelry stores, catalogs, TV shopping channels, and retail chain stores.

- Drove growth rates of +35%.

- Established the corporate division, providing custom items for Girl Scouts, National Park Service, Jaguar, and Harrahs.

- Executed the launch of a website for direct-to-consumer sales.

- Presented strategic marketing plan for global distribution of product line to parent company.

Personal Creations " Burr Ridge, IL 1996 to 2000

Personalized-gift consumer catalog, retail stores, and website.

Vice President, Business Development

Built the wholesale division and established the direct-import program. Oversaw new-business development, syndication, electronic media, inventory management, and drop-ship program. Supervised the direct-selling division and customer service.

- Syndicated the catalog, established web links, and forged wholesale relationships with major catalog, web, direct selling, and TV retail partners such as Disney, J.C. Penney, Sears, and Home Shopping Network.

- Launched the companys e-commerce website.

- Played key role in driving the company to achieve 100% growth, while reducing costs through direct importing.

Additional Professional Experience

J. Crew Group, Inc. " New York, NY

Vice President, Imports

- Defined proposal that saved the company millions of dollars, while enhancing efficiencies and service.

Spiegel, Inc. " Downers Grove, IL

Import / Travel Manager

- Opened new international sourcing markets; saved millions of dollars on duty and airfreight.

- Created in-house corporate travel department, reducing costs by $250K annually and producing $200K+ in annual revenue.

- Founding member/board member/officer of a major industry trade association.

Merchandise Liaison Manager

- $19M+ in annual cost savings through implementation of merchandise-reconditioning program and return-rate reduction.

Buyer - Womenswear

- Generated 125% sales increase, resulting in the largest merchandising department in the company valued at $45M.

Associate Buyer / Assistant Buyer / Control Buyer

- Developed an automated forecasting system, simplifying the purchasing process.

Education

MBA " Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University " Evanston, IL

BA, Psychology " University of Pennsylvania " Philadelphia, PA

Professional Affiliations

Member " Kellogg Innovation Network " Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

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