Sales Manager

JIM KNAPP Mobile: 612-***-****

**** ******** ***., #*** *******@*****.***

Minneapolis, MN 55423

SUMMARY

I am a top-performing business executive with a track record of producing exceptional revenue and profit growth, building teams and maximizing product value. I am recognized for strong leadership skills, business acumen, creativity and a goal-oriented operational style. I thrive in fast- growth or turnaround situations where individual initiative and entrepreneurial risk-taking is expected and rewarded. I have held profit and loss along with full budgetary responsibilities in all of my positions over the last 10 years.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PUBLISHING SOLUTIONS, LLC, and THE PROVIISIONS BOOK CO., Minneapolis, MN President, Owner - 1999 to Present

Direct-mail promotional campaigns, book packager, publisher and sales/marketing consultancy.

• Launched five-times a year promotional book for East Metro market fall of 2014.

• Consulting projects completed for multiple publishers that focused upon entering/expanding sales/marketing focus, organizational development, and product expansion into new categories.

• Published category-dominant books in woodworking, outdoor sports and arts & crafts.

• Working as a consultant to 15 different publishers, generated sales to special market accounts with a retail value in excess of $5 million dollars 2000 to 2003. FRANCISCAN INSTITUTE PUBLICATIONS, St. Bonaventure, NY Executive Director/Consultant - 2010 to 2013

Academic press of The Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure University, a publisher of books and journals promoting the study of Franciscan and medieval sources, history and theology.

• Hired for short-term assignment to turn around or close an academic press that was suffering from declining revenues, negative profit contributions and a declining customer base.

• Doubled revenues in first full year by expanding online/electronic sales, expanding customer base, maximizing royalty income, launching low-cost marketing initiatives including intensive e-marketing, and discovering value in underperforming assets.

• Led and directed the rebuilding and re-launch of web site resulting in 20%+ of all revenue coming from online sales.

• Expanded product offerings to include e-books, e-journals and non-academic books.

• Systemic processes put in place for product development, publishing processes, inventory management, and print optimization.

ARCADIA PUBLISHING, Charleston, SC

Vice President – Sales and Marketing - 2008 to 2009 Publisher of local and regional history books. Directed all aspects of the sales and marketing of Arcadia’s book and related products to all trade channels including Book Trade, Mass Market, Drug & Supermarket retailers, Library/School and Special Markets.

• Achieved highest monthly sales results in company history.

• Directed the research, development and introduction of two new product lines.

• Led, directed and implemented a restructuring of the Sales and Marketing Departments leading to more sales resources focused on customers, improved back office support and a streamlined management structure.

CREATIVE HOMEOWNER, Upper Saddle River, NJ

Sr. Vice President – Sales and Marketing - 2003 to 2007B Book publisher and distributor with special focus on home décor, home improvement, gardening/landscaping, and arts & crafts markets

• Increased revenues over four years by 111%.

• Initiated and co-led creation of a long-term Strategic Plan which refocused firm on growth of publishing portfolio yielding significant revenue and profit improvement.

• Led changes within Marketing Department focusing on trade advertising, publicity and data analysis resulting in a category-leading share of market growth with Book Trade.

• Led, directed and executed turn-around of distribution business, which had been losing market share, generating a 150% increase in store count. LANDAUER CORPORATION, Des Moines, IA

Sr. Vice President – Sales and Marketing - 2000 to 2003 Start-up book publishing operation focused on gift, craft and home improvement publishing.

• Part of three-person management team that launched Landauer Corporation as a book publishing operation.

• Established business relationships (new) with key retailers, wholesalers/distributors and special markets accounts.

• Recruited, trained and supervised external sales representatives in each trade channel.

• Negotiated rights and managed creation of two book titles, one of which was the #1 title in its category for two consecutive years in the US book trade channel.

• Built gross revenue to multi-million dollar level. COWLES/CREATIVE PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL, Minnetonka, MN Vice President, Retail Sales and Marketing - 1997 to 1999 Book publisher focused on enthusiast publishing in the home improvement, arts & crafts children’s and outdoor categories. Today, part of The Quarto/Quayside Publishing Group.

• Directed, managed and led rapid revenue growth resulting in department’s increase from 35% to 65% of firm’s total revenue.

• Directed company into new retail markets, expanded international sales – both export and rights, re-design of core products, and built first-class sales and marketing organization.

IDG BOOKS (JOHN WILEY & SONS, Inc), Foster City, CA Vice President, Sales & Marketing - 1996 to 1997

Computer book publisher best known for its’ for Dummies” series of technology and trade books.

• Revenue growth at 50% annualized rate two consecutive years.

• Directed restructuring of sales and marketing departments to meet demands of explosive growth.

MEREDITH CORPORATION (Better Homes & Gardens), Des Moines, Iowa Director of Sales and Marketing - 1986 - 1996

Publisher of home & shelter books and magazines.

• Over 6-year period, led revenue growth of 300% and growth in profitability of 800%. GENERAL FOODS CORPORATION (KRAFT FOODS), White Plains, NY Regional Sales Manager, Associate Product Manager, Associates Sales Planning Manager, Territory Sales Manager, Key Account Sales Manager, Sales Representative – 1975 to 1986

Leading US manufacturer of consumer food products. EDUCATION/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MBA, Business Management, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

Contact this candidate