PRODUCT/SOURCING MANAGER
QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE
Multifaceted, results-driven, and goal-focused professional with broad-based experience in product development, merchandising, and sourcing with willingness to relocate to other states to seek new opportunities. Equipped with strong business acumen in creating marketing plans, sales opportunities, and retail space strategies and designs. Effective in marketing, budgeting, forecasting, and cross-functional teams and staff supervision toward the attainment of organizational goals and objectives. Articulate negotiator and communicator; capable of establishing relationships with vendors and all levels of individuals.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Product Development
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Buying and Planning
Shipment and Delivery Management
Brand Marketing
Product Placement
Business Process Execution
Market Research and Analysis
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
The Bon-Ton Stores Milwaukee, WI
Product Manager • 2017–Present
Oversee all aspects of operations, including sourcing, costing, production, packaging, and delivery management
Evaluate new and existing products through in-depth market research and cost analysis
Facilitate training for direct reports regarding all facets of the product development process
Provided expert management to full product life cycle on children’s and accessories’ private label brands with more than $20M annual sales
Drove effort in achieving annual gross markup plan for 2016 and 2017
Associate Product Manager • 2015–2017
Conducted negotiations of vendor support with over 15 vendors to obtain company’s gross margin goal on a quarterly basis
Supported the product management full life cycle of all three of the boy and baby private label brands
Fostered positive working relationships with domestic and international partners
Played a key role in the re-launching of a private label baby line, including visual, collateral, vendor sourcing, and margin agreement within a six-month period
Assistant Product Manager • 2014–2015
Closely coordinated with the Design and Technical Design teams to calculate cost of elements of products
Developed planograms to present creative layout for boy/baby private label brands
Worked on providing advertising needs of merchants for digital and paper advertisements
Reviewed weekly style selling to identify what style performed to react to in-season business and what to grow for future seasons
Merchandise Assistant • 2012–2013
Strategically led more than 12 moderate sportswear vendors which generated over $94M in sales
Sendik’s Fine Foods Brookfield, WI
Wine and Spirits Consultant • 2011–2012
Actively communicated with customers to consult regarding their beverage choices
Offered hands-on assistance to buyer in purchasing of wine and spirits accessories
Coordinated with owners to provide advertisement on various social networking sites
Took charge of encoding purchase order data into spreadsheets
Kohl’s Corporate Office Menomonee Falls, WI
Web Merchandise Coordinator Specialist • 2011
Contributed key input in the creation of new web page, in conjunction with the E-commerce Team
Collaborated with team members to schedule deadlines and ensure the accuracy and efficiency of completed tasks
Recorded and retrieved related data from the company software
Driveline Retail Merchandising Milwaukee, WI
Area Coordinator • 2010
Visited store locations across Milwaukee and Chicago areas to outline planograms to effectively and creative display merchandise
Arranged jewelry and men’s clothing displays to present and promote products for Macy’s
Offered assistance to numerous retailers in setting up visual displays and identifying new product lines
Target Oak Creek, WI
Team Lead • 2007–2008
Interfaced with multiple departments to assist customers on merchandise purchasing
Built visual displays onto sales floor and classified merchandise
Carried out staff training and evaluation to enhance their management skills
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, 2012
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, 2010
Milwaukee Area Technical College
ACTIVITIES
Board of Directors, Officer for Courage Milwaukee
Chairman, Bonton Give Back Committee/Bonton Culture Committee
Advocate, Hunger Task Force/GCC/United Way
Executive Volunteer and Coordinator, PrideFest Milwaukee
TECHNICAL ACUMEN
Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Adobe (Illustrator and Photoshop) PLM MicroStrategy