Customer Service Sales

Derek Gene Nichols

***** **** ***** ****, ******** NC 28036

*************@*****.*** - 704-***-****

Professional Summary

Sales - Merchandising - Operations

Accomplished professional with diverse experience in customer service,

merchandising, logistics and operations. Qualified to grow in the

corporate business world by employing my experience as a Merchandising

Specialist, Inventory Fulfillment Specialist, Competitive Intelligence

Pricing Specialist and Store Support Associate.

Areas of Expertise

. Developing, Analyzing and Maintaining merchandising programs

. Main point of contact for vendors and support teams

. Increasing Market Share

. Expert with Lowe's systems.

. Strong customer service focus

. Mentoring

Professional Experience

Lowes Companies Inc. 2005 - Present

Merchandising Specialist - Seasonal Heating and Cooling

. Supporting MD and three MMs in managing Seasonal Heating and Cooling

categories.

. Responsible for running sales numbers and analysis every other week.

. Primary contact for stores and support teams for all product concerns.

. Offered suggestions and implemented many corrections to programs that

had previously been neglected.

. Responsible for setting up multiple vendors with Lowes.

. Participated in and lead vendor meeting during line reviews.

. Initiated research into other competitors besides Home Depot to better

differentiate ourselves with more contemporary heating options (fire

pits, fireplaces etc.)

Merchandising Specialist - Interior, Exterior Lighting and Lamps 2013 -

Present

. Supporting MD and two MMs in managing Indoor D cor and Outdoor Wall

lighting categories.

. Maintain program matrices and MPs to ensure accuracy.

. Responsible for daily analysis and communication of sales numbers.

. Main point of contact for store concerns on vendor and product issues.

. Acting Merchandising Specialist subject matter expert for PO Direct.

. Experience includes product research, product marketing, line reviews,

soliciting support from internal business units and executing

programs.

. Responsible for setting up and maintaining over 5,000 stock and SOS

items.

. Mentored multiple Merchandising Specialists in Training.

Inventory Fulfillment Specialist - Outdoor Power Equipment 2012 -

2013

. Managed the Inventory Fulfillment Programs for over 25 handheld

outdoor power equipment vendors.

. Placed vendor orders to ensure DCs and Stores maintained proper

inventory.

. Handled special demand requests for contractors and the Emergency

Command Center.

. Tracked purchase orders to ensure vendors were meeting on-time

demands.

Merchandising Specialist - Building Materials 2008 - 2012

. Solely managed the Mobile Home Skirting Product Group 12.09% Comp and

beat plan by 11.62% for fiscal year 2011.

. Created store specific layouts for planograms/blueprints.

. Main point of contact for store concerns on vendor and product issues.

. Responsible for setting up and maintaining over 7,000 stock and SOS

items.

. Designed and manager of the Building Materials homepage for stores.

. Coached 5 Merchandising Specialists In Training.

Merchandising Assistant In Training 2008 - 2008

. Successfully completed the 8 week Merchandising Assistant Training

Program.

Competitive Intelligence Pricing Specialist 2006 - 2008

. Maintain the MPM spreadsheet (includes MPM, captain store, patch area,

District Managers, Back-ups and RVPs).

. Administer for the Price Management Mailbox and Phone line.

. Responsible for running benchmark shops and maintaining MPM report

cards.

. Communicated with CSC and field teams results from competitive price

shops.

. Cross-trained with Pricing Analysts.

. Facilitation of the P-Card process for MPMs.

. Managing travel arrangement for MPMs.

. Performed research on key competitors and searched for National

Disaster Price Suspensions.

Store Support Associate 2005 - 2006

. Received five 100% Quality awards in a seven month time frame.

. Mentored others both one-on-one and in group settings.

. Learned the basics of many areas such as merchandising, logistics,

store accounting and IT.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies 2005 - Lees McRae College -

Banner Elk, NC

. Minor in Business Administration

. 3.5 GPA

. Member of Order of the Tower (President's club)

. Phi Beta Lamda business Fraternity (2 years as President, 1 year as

Vice-President)

. Placed 1st place on state test on Business Principles exam at 2006 NC

Phi Beta Lambda Conference and represented NC at the 2006 National

Conference.

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