Bozena Van Dike

**** ******** **** ******* *******, IL 60169

847-***-**** adkq5y@r.postjobfree.com

Result-oriented and creative professional with over nineteen years of experience in B2B and Retail environments.

Extensive experience in cost improvement analysis, product offerings, and pricing strategies to maximize profitability assessments.

Motivated individual that works well within team environments as well as independently and with all levels of personnel.

Self-starter, quick learner, and hard worker. Consistently sees assignments through to successful completion.

Core Business Competencies Include:

Pricing Analyst

Profitable pricing strategies

Retail Merchandising

Private Label/ Imports

B2B Merchandising

Margin Specialist and Product Pricing

Catalog Production

Planning and Forecasting

Preprint Specialist

Consumer Promotions/Advertising

Training & Development

Vendor funding

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST – Essendant, Deerfield 2017-2019

Responsible for providing high level merchandising support to the merchandising team and other internal partners. Key responsibilities include content management, SKU management, supplier allowance monitoring & tracking, coordination of instant rebate and promotional programs, process documentation, merchandise follow-up & coordination with vendors and category reporting analysis.

Acquired new item information from vendors and validated that the appropriate information has been obtained for all required categories; assessed to ensure item details are accurate and applicable according to company requirements. Worked specifically for HP supplies and hardware.

Managed the content process for new items to fully leverage the monthly syndication cycle by adhering to appropriate deadlines; liaisons with content team to coordinate various stages of syndication and influence vendor appropriately to ensure timeliness of product introductions.

Analyzed and managed vendor price changes (increase/decreases), discontinued items, available replacement, and evaluating their impact on the company.

Assisted Product Managers with submitting product assortments to the various marketing vehicles; like RebatesZone,Tech On Spotlight, Target BOGO promotions. Ensures timelines are met and provided supporting details gathered via reporting and analysis to assist the Product Manager with decision making.

Utilized internal reporting tools to effectively create and analyze vendor or product needs (ad hoc reports, aging reports, Hyperion sales report, POL Target weekly and monthly reports). Utilized key financial metrics such as margin, year over year comparisons, etc.

Provided reporting and analysis to identify overstock items. Provided recommendations on product returns to the Product Manager and Inventory Management.

ASSOCIATE PRICING ANALYST – OFFICE DEPOT, Itasca, IL 2014-2017

Responsible for executing and approving pricing tactics as well as developing new pricing strategies to increase sales and profitability. Identified opportunities to effectively advance pricing management associates through managing multiple tasks, seeing deliverables through to their end, prioritizing the workload effectively, and thriving in a dynamic environment.

Provided the sales field with a competitive pricing analysis by generating approximately 120 reports per year that include product pricing, stock status, and suggested alternate products to lower costs for both existing and potential customers.

Maintained the alternate supplier and competitive product database containing about 15 different vendors, ensuring accuracy and integrity of data.

Communicate with the field sales Reps on inquiries regarding product specifications.

Managed roughly 200 margin enhancement requests from the field.

Gathered and Analyzed data to support strategic pricing opportunities against market relevant benchmarks and/or competitor pricing.

Performed price change impact analysis, including overall account/segment profitability assessments.

Analyzed pricing performance and made pricing recommendations to the sales field.

Taught/trained with the sales representatives, educated new members on system operations, price updates, and proper pricing techniques.

MERCHANDISING ASSISTANT - OFFICEMAX, Naperville, IL 2009-2014

Assisted in developing the marketing strategy including merchandise selection, forecasting, inventory management, pricing, revenue, margin, vendor relationships. Assisted in financial analysis of categories and develop reports on sales, pricing, and funding. Coordinated the forecasting of sales by category and SKU count and procure inventory required to support demand and forecasts.

Managed Sku E-commerce expansion of 3,928 items that resulted in sales of over $74k a year.

Coordinate online activities including banner ads, promotions, text links, and social media.

Evaluated vendor performance by establishing key vendor performance metrics including: on time delivery, quality, adequate shelf life and fulfillment levels.

Drove cost reduction and value enhancement strategies in product cost, payment terms; negotiated maximum marketing and business development funds including: rebates, free samples. Negotiated and processed around $150K in incremental promotional funds in 2012, and $250K in 2013.

Identified private label opportunities to enhance current product offering at price points and quality that fits within product offering; qualifying potential domestic and import suppliers for quality, price, and ability to maintain fulfillment schedule.

Execution of 12 new POG’s for new test stores, as well as the stocking, facing, and rotating of the product. Ensuring that a proper level of stock is maintained, that the merchandise is displayed appropriately with correct signage.

Worked with Sales and Marketing for new product development and strategic vision to source new products with innovative packaging. Lunching two new OMX bands in 2011 – DiVoga and InPlace

ASSISTANT CATEGORY MANAGER (B2B) - OFFICEMAX / BOISE, Itasca, IL 2002-2009

Responsible for supporting all business channels from conceptual layout to final proofed pages while producing customer friendly layouts that support strategies, improve sales and profitability. This includes working with the vendor teams on product selection, product positioning and features/benefit copy that improved page productivity for all catalogs.

Responsible for all aspects of catalog assortment and financial planning.

Provided analysis and interpret sales history, customer feedback, market trends to identify items and category opportunities for all catalogs.

Secured promotional deals with vendors to support the media strategy.

Identified product assortment gaps and any opportunities that exist by competitive shopping.

Communicated new product introductions, private label transitions, product promotions, sales incentives, etc. to the contract organization.

Ensured all catalog production timelines for over 32 different types of media.

PRE-PRINT COORDINATOR - RELIABLE/ BOISE, Schaumburg, IL 1998-2002

Managed production schedules for Reliable/Boise specialty catalogs and keep projects on track.

Collaborated with internal clients, designers and external vendors like Quad Graphics and World Color. Offered alternate methods of production to increase quality or decrease cost when necessary.

Released projects to our print vendor and provided clear and comprehensive instructions on final job specs/delivery information.

Ensured that all proofs are reviewed and approved internally for quarterly and monthly media production.

Generated purchase orders and print specification including print quantity for each media.

Responsible for production of 48 catalogs per year.

EDUCATION

Warsaw University - Poland, BA Elementary Education

William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, IL – Majored in Advertising and Marketing,

William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, IL Licensed Real Estate Agent

References:

Available upon request.

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