Sales Manager

PETER DIVIETRO

** ***** ***** ***** • Sloatsburg, New York 10974 • 845-***-**** • **************@*****.***

ACCOMPLISHED CATEGORY MANAGER AND BUYER

Skilled purchaser with a history of success in exceeding sales, margin, turn and ROI objectives. Experienced in identifying new trends and selecting the appropriate product, categories, and suppliers to strengthen market position. Successful negotiator in building solid vendor relations. Expert in domestic and foreign buying and opportunity close out purchases for product and complete categories. Strong expertise in risk management, competitive analysis, opportunity recognition, store support and internal department relations.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING. Costello’s Ace Hardware, Deer Park, NY. 2012-4/2018

30 store Hardware chain focused on National Brands, Seasonal & Decorative Housewares.

• Responsible for purchasing all categories for domestic, import buys, supplier item and program negotiation.

• A liaison between advertising, marketing, distribution, purchasing and store operations.

• Developed decorative housewares and table top programs in lamps, mirrors, art, dinnerware, glassware, etc.

• Introduced multiple closeouts and opportunity purchases to create traffic, increase sales and enhance GM% and GM$.

OFF PRICE/CLOSE OUT BUYER. JR Tobacco/MC Management, Whippany, NJ. 2011-2011

One of the largest discount retail operation for Cigars and related smoking merchandise.

• Purchasing for the entire chain: Fragrances, Cosmetics, Hair Care, Bath & Beauty products.

• Additional responsibilities include for the two New Jersey locations, all general merchandise: Gifts, Housewares,

Tabletop, Home, Seasonal, Pets, Toys, Food, Candy, Men’s and Women’s Accessories, and Apparel.

CATEGORY MANAGER, KITCHENWARE. Lifetime Brands, Inc. Garden City, NY. 2010 - 2010

Leading import supplier of nonelectric housewares, personal responsibility for Private Label Programs.

• Responsible for the design, development, execution and delivery of over 400 successful kitchen tools and gadget items.

• Successfully managing, and improving sales, gross margin, inventory levels, suppliers, and sales team.

GIFT, TABLETOP, HOME, OFF PRICE BUYER. National Wholesale Liquidators, West Hempstead, NY. 2007 - 2009

Regional full line 52 store discount chain with a personal annual responsibility for a $20 million sales volume.

• Established new Home Décor programs consisting of coordinated accent furniture, lamps, wall decor, vases, and accessories.

• Rapid successful increase of responsibility with the addition of Home Decor, Decorative Housewares, Party, and Pet categories.

• Increased penetration of opportunity/close-out buys from 20% to 50% of purchases, resulting in a 15% comp store sales growth.

• Within four months introduced over 75 new vendors with over 1,000 new items during a difficult internal financial environment.

MEMORY, PHOTO FRAME, FINE ART SUPPLY BUYER. Rag Shops, Hawthorne, NJ. 2003 - 2007

Regional 61 store craft and fabric chain with a personal annual responsibility for a $25 million sales volume.

• Recognized, expanded and maintained the trend of Scrapbooking/ Memory resulting in a 40% sustained annual increase.

• Secured a competitive retail sales edge as a result of introducing close-out purchases in advertisements in multiple categories.

• Created and introduced Decorative art and Mirror departments resulting in a profitable $2.5 million in additional annual sales.

• Assisted in the development and was selected as the lead for the newly created buyer/mentor program for new associate buyers.

EVERYDAY BASICS AND PARTY BUYER, Party City, Rockaway, NJ. 2001 - 2003

Leading national 500 store party retailer with a personal annual responsibility of $145 million sales volume.

• Successfully introduced warehouse club “large value pack” programs in multiple categories for a 20% comp store increase.

• Developed and resourced extensive direct import program, resulting in an annual gross margin increase of $2 million dollars.

GIFT AND HOME DÉCOR OFF PRICE BUYER, Loehmann’s, Bronx, NY. 1998 - 2001 National 68 store high-end women’s specialty discount chain with a personal annual responsibility of $15 million sales volume.

• Spearheaded the creation of a full line Off Price Gift and Home Department with first year sales of over $10 million.

• Introduced housewares consisting of dinnerware, serveware, drinkware, flatware, table linens, catering and bakeware.

• Established a full line gift program consisting of crystal, glassware, frames, ceramics, clocks, stationery, candy and food.

SYSTEM SKILLS

Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint Outlook Express, Eagle, AS400, JDA, SAP, EPICOR.

EDUCATION

City University of New York, Bachelor of Science, Baccalaureate Program Marketing and Management.

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