Sales Manager

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NORMAN LEVITHOL (c) 615-***-**** ********@******.***

Consumer Products Leader

Global Sourcing Product Development Purchasing Procurement CPG Retail Results-driven, brand-savvy Consumer Products Leader who has passionately dedicated the last 16+ years to strategizing, building and leading profitable companies and business units within the consumer-direct channels of distribution, including Internet, catalog and retail. Known for inspiring people to exceed their reach and achieve record-setting growth. Possessing the ability to listen intently and develop solutions that exceed all client expectations. Provides training and mentoring in support of continuous improvement while monitoring initiatives across all services and lines of business. A world-class merchandising, sourcing strategist and culture change agent with a reputation for successfully managing the P&L and taking on complex, collaborative and multi-faceted roles. CORE COMPETENCIES

Servant Leadership • Team Building • Coaching & Mentoring • Change Management • Collaboration Buying • Procurement Global Sourcing • Negotiations • Vendor Management • Pricing • Training • Product Design & Development • Quality Brand Positioning & Management • Category Management • Market Trend Analysis • Competitive Intelligence Product Design, Development & Launch • Merchandise Strategy • Sales & Marketing Planning • Visual Merchandising Financial Management • Ecommerce, Catalog & Retail Channels SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS

J & P PARK ACQUISITIONS

• Successfully switched from $1.00 discount items to live plants, garden accessories and garden décor.

• In 2018 added new garden tool and accessory product lines to make all 3 websites a 1 stop shopping experience.

• Was on the team to overhaul and implement a new online shopping experience to better service our customers. DOLLAR TREE

• In 2015 through assortment planning product placement and marketing increased winter ware sales 70.6% and summer ware sales by 27.5%.

• In 2015 obtained a 23% comp increase for all categories of responsibility. CR GIBSON

• Successfully switched from footwear and clothing accessories, to home goods products such as ceramic/porcelain cups, trivets, garden items, aprons, towels, potholders, woman’s accessories, bamboo book holders, and recipe boxes.

• Developed, sourced and delivered on time new line of woman’s kitchen aprons and ceramic kitchen items. JOHNSTON & MURPHY

• Championed, spearheaded and launched a small leather goods category that included items such as wallets, brief cases, money clips, luggage, portfolios, and overnight bags. Until that point, Johnston & Murphy, a 100+-year-old brand, had strictly sold high quality men’s shoes and a few shoe-care accessories. By balancing the quality of the materials, budget expectations, and price points – as well as carrying over the same design quality and DNA of the Johnston & Murphy footwear line into the leather goods, the new small leather goods line helped propel the non-footwear segment of the business from 5% of total sales to 30% of total sales.

• Developed and sourced line of men’s underwear; designed and sourced line of men’s socks.

• Set product specifications for all clothing items including shirts, socks, and outerwear. Worked directly with factories to ensure that all products were made to specifications. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP P&L MANAGEMENT

• Skilled at leading teams to analyze situations and develop strategic solutions to further the business goals.

• Helps to improve the organizations ability to think and act strategically, align processes and resources, engage the workforce and customers, and emphasize key results.

• Develops, analyzes, and interprets statistical and accounting information in order to appraise operating results in terms of profitability, performance against budget, and other matters bearing on the fiscal soundness and operating effectiveness of the company.

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E-COMMERCE MARKETING

• Leads digital business to deliver a growing profit stream through a company’s websites, mobile site and mobile apps, supporting the retail in-store experience, and expanding the customers’ positive experience with the Brand.

• Creates the strategy and oversees the execution of email, digital creative, mobile marketing, social marketing, content development and online community building.

• Accustomed to aggressively growing sales and profits in a retail environment, and demonstrating world-class knowledge of marketing trends, techniques, and tools.

• Partners to develop advertising strategies for this space that provide key insights, meaningful engagements and build the brand with the key consumer targets.

SOURCING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

• Possessing a passion for product: providing both strategic trend and daily direction to all product development and merchandising activities, driving product costs that meet target price points in diversified market segments.

• Highly experienced in overseeing project timelines, deliverables and approval processes while monitoring product releases, pricing and development calendar milestones. Successfully balances resources available with opportunities to optimize commercial success.

• Understands product specifications, product configurations, and design development.

• Works closely with overseas suppliers and internal teams to develop and exploit innovative business opportunities. MERCHANDISING MANAGEMENT CATEGORY MANAGEMENT

• Manages business segments to develop innovative solutions. Provides input to designers ensuring that creative design is aligned with licensing, sales and merchandising plans.

• Knowledgeable and successful in multi-channel sales via both wholesale and direct-to-consumer models to mass and "class" channels.

• Lead market & consumer research to gauge viability of new products, brands, categories and go to market strategies.

• Cultivates and strengthens brand, supplier and customer relationships to optimize results. Travel to customer and brand locations, overseas suppliers, trade shows, and other events. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

J & P Park Acquisitions 2018 – Present

Director of Merchandising, Jackson & Perkins, Wayside Gardens & Park Seed Responsible for developing strategic product plans to drive sales, margin and inventory turn on the Jackson & Perkins, Wayside Gardens and Park Seed websites and catalogs. Helped to develop and introduce new product designs and categories for a 1 stop shopping experience.

• Supervised a team of 6, 4 brand managers and 2 merchandise assistants. I led the team in merchandise assortments, buy plans, sales budgets, promotions and new product introductions.

• Held weekly meetings to make sure all tasks were being completed on time and correctly.

• Mentored trained and help the team to be there best and achieve goals. DOLLAR TREE, Chesapeake, VA 2011 – 2018

Category Manager, Dollar Tree Direct

Responsible for developing strategic product plans to drive sales and inventory turn on the Dollar Tree website and Dollar Tree catalog. Help to develop and introduce new product designs and categories for web exclusive marketing.

• Selects merchandise and creates assortment plans based on sales and inventory budget for assigned merchandise categories stationary, toys, party goods, soft lines, seasonal products and closeouts. Selects merchandise for monthly marketing calendar to be placed on Internet category landing pages. Selects merchandise for all weekly emails.

• Requests samples from buyers and buyer’s assistants for web and catalog photography. Approves all email, web page and catalog copy. Turns over all new merchandise with specification sheet to marketing for photography and copy to be placed on web site and catalog. Attends art meetings for packaging and weekly team meetings. Assures a collaborative environment between merchandise, allocation team and marketing to insure timely delivery of merchandise and information. Sets up and creates new categories on web site in line with marketing plan.

• Adds and deletes merchandise on web page as new product is delivered and older product is sold through. A-lines product on web pages by category and type of product within category. 3

CR GIBSON, Nashville, TN 2009 – 2011

Senior Buyer

Responsible for developing strategic product plans to drive the development of new home goods products, hard and soft, such as ceramic / porcelain cups, trivets, garden items, aprons, towels, potholders, woman’s accessories, bamboo book holders, recipe boxes, and coasters.

• Ensured new product initiatives deliver added value to merchandise lines. Sourced new factories and purchased product for stationary, hard & soft kitchen items and women’s accessories.

• Worked with brand manager on product development activities on a tactical level and ensured the development of new products for home goods.

• Interfaced between marketing, sales, product development, operations and suppliers to ensure that products are introduced on time, on budget and meet specifications.

• Collaborated with and drove the product team to execute line planning goals.

• Managed the development and 18-month production schedule to ensure timely completion against the product development and company calendar.

• Effectively managed home goods product, stationary, and accessories product lifecycles from concept to launch. JOHNSON & MURPHY, Nashville, TN 1993 – 2009

Global Sourcing Manager (2006 – 2009)

Responsible for all sourcing operations for men’s and women’s footwear for retail stores, catalog, Internet and wholesale accounts out of India, China, Brazil, Italy, Mexico and Indonesia. Previous to footwear was responsible for sourcing all non- footwear products, hard and soft, including outerwear, shirts, belts, hosiery, accessories, small leather goods, brief cases and luggage.

• Assured effective change to reach functional and organizational goals through business strategy, development of Intra Company and vendor relationships / partnerships. Build trust by communicating honestly and directly. Evaluated long-range business impact.

• Demonstrated a passion for meeting and exceeding customer needs and expectations.

• Ensured product lines were brand-appropriate, innovative, high quality and exceeded standards.

• Collaborated with product and sales teams to execute quality and delivery expectations.

• Negotiated pricing and delivery terms with vendors. Attended trade shows to keep abreast of product trends.

• Traveled to factories to insure quality, timely delivery and compliance of ethical business practices. Merchandise Manager Buyer Product Development (1999 – 2006) Assured a collaborative environment that fostered values, partnerships, diversity and trust with vendors and coworkers. Accountable for purchasing, planning, inventory assortment plans, inventory turns for footwear, belts, leather coats, outerwear, hosiery, small leather goods, luggage and shirts within 115 retail stores and 35 factory outlet and direct mail order catalog locations.

• Demonstrated creativity by trying new models and generating ideas. Evaluated and developed long range business plans. Replicated successful endeavors and instituted successful practices.

• Crafted seasonal merchandise plans, including sampling requirements and selling information; coordinated design review for concepts and samples to be presented to sales and marketing teams.

• Developed and executed strategic seasonal assortment strategies based on lifestyle, fashion analysis and trends. Set color pallet and new materials for product design; and negotiated best pricing and delivery terms with vendors.

• Planned current and forecast future business based on historical analysis. Attended trade shows to keep abreast of product trends. Researched and observed competition from design, pricing, presentation and marketing as to consistently stay ahead of the competition.

• Managed in-season merchandise performance for retail, e-commerce and catalog. Area Supervisor Store Manager (1993 – 1999)

Managed highest volume store on the west coast (Costa Mesa, CA), successfully increasing sales and operating profits. Supervised 5 geographically dispersed Southern California store locations.

• Designed and deployed successful sales and marketing plans for individual stores. Recruited, trained, motivated, and supervised a team of 20 associates.

• Drafted budgets and sales projections and created visual merchandising displays. EDUCATION

SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, San Jose, CA, BS Bachelor of Science, Business (Pursued) www.linkedin.com/in/norman-levithol

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