Category Product Manager, Buyer

WALTER KOBILNYK

**** *** *** ****, ***********, PA 19335

Cell Phone 215-***-**** ~ Email ********@*******.***

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Senior-level retail and sales executive with expertise in Purchasing, Replenishment, Management, and Sales with a history of progression based on results. Hard-working and team-oriented; demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to motivate others to meet challenges and exceed objectives. Strengths in account relationships, multi-tasking, problem solving, analyzing sales, forecasting inventory requirements, and minimizing inventory shrinkage. Exceptional negotiation and visual skills; able to implement effective merchandising and advertising programs at corporate and store levels.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

01/2020 to 06/2022 PRODUCT MANAGER

IEH Automotive Inc, LLC dba Autoplus Autoparts. - Kennesaw, GA

Assisted in the successful separation of the Pep Boys retail and commercial parts business from the service line of business. Maintained assigned category responsibilities from the separation and acquired additional product lines due to the split. These included trailer and emergency lighting,

Tire repair, Air compressors, headlight and taillight assemblies.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Created new contracts and addendums to accommodate the business change. Negotiated and implemented best possible pricing and payment terms,

•Created retail and commercial marketing programs.

•Responsible for all product recommendations for assigned vendors and categories.

12/2002 to 01/2020 PRODUCT MANAGER

The PEP BOYS - MANNY, MOE, and JACK. - Phila., PA

Took over responsibility for various product categories with annual sales of over 52 million dollars. Diverse product category responsibilities include, Auto accessories, Paint and Body repair, Food, Candy & Snacks, Pepsi, Air Fresheners, Collectables, Refrigerators, Coolers, Car Covers, Towing Hitches and accessories, Cargo Management, Wheel Covers, and front of store Impulse items.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Negotiate and implement enhanced corporate initiatives including marketing programs, increase of payment terms, and new vendor contracts.

•Implement category updates to improve sales comps., reduce non-productive inventory to improve turns and GMROI, and review product pricing to increase margins.

•Seek out and add products to enhance category presentation and mix to increase sales and find products specifically utilized for promotional opportunities.

•Successfully represent company for responsible Categories at the annual AAIW Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week show, as well as other regional and local trade shows.

•Implemented changes and expansion of the Soda, candy and snack assortment that increased annual sales in these categories from 3.4 million to 6 million dollars.

06/2000 to 12/2002 SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

SRS Marketing Co., Inc.. - Horsham, PA

Took over account responsibility for over 40 established customers that included Retail Chains, smaller retailers, Warehouse Distributors, and Catalog retailers in the Mid-Atlantic territory for sales of products and services of more than 50 different automotive parts and accessories suppliers.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Increased sales to established accounts from 2.4 million to 2.7 million in first year with a shrinking customer base.

•Used prior retail experience to become one of the agency’s retail specialists.

•Worked with retail accounts with planograms, marketing ideas, product selection, and inventory management to obtain maximum product turns for each line represented.

•Handled line updates, stock changeovers, and the return of defective and overstock product to keep all customers inventories clean and up to date.

•Coordinated and accurately completed annual and bi-annual inventories for requesting accounts.

•Successfully represent company and product lines at the annual AAIW Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week show, as well as other regional and local trade shows.

01/1997 to 06/2000 SENIOR BUYER

Crown Industries, Inc. - Colmar, PA

Assisted new Ownership to grow an eight-store retail automotive chain into a fifteen-store chain, selling to the retail customers as well as implementing a plan to include sales to the wholesale and commercial segments of the business.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Directed purchasing and replenishment of a 20,000+ SKU inventory worth 2.5 - 3 million dollars utilizing an IBM AS400 inventory management/point of sale system.

•Worked with new sales staff to consider new items and stocking levels to support the new wholesale and commercial segment.

•Developed an advertising program to support new locations working with an ad agency to select items for ROP newspaper ads and four-page color tabloids using direct mail and ADVO distribution.

•Negotiated buys, initiated line changes, and developed pricing strategies which resulted in a 3% increase in mark-up percentage.

•Successfully represent company at the annual AAIW Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week trade show.

01/1990 to 01/1997 SENIOR BUYER

Royal Distributors, Inc. - Colmar, PA

Report directly to Owner and Vice-President procuring and purchasing products from approximately 150 vendors for retail locations and assorted wholesale accounts. Supervise buying staff and coordinate meetings with factory and manufacturer representatives to negotiate deals, new lines, line updates/changes, terms, advertising programs, special order programs, and pricing. Work with vendors to minimize out-of-stocks, improve order fill, and reduce shipping delays. Maintain control of a 10,000 item in-stock inventory valued at up to $3 million. Analyze new and existing lines to increase profitability and performance. Establish forced distribution items and competitive pricing strategies to ensure optimum product mix at the store level. Establish merchandise feeder agreements and associated discount structures. Design customized reports to maximize management and micro-marketing potential of automated purchasing, replenishment, inventory control, and point of sale system.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Negotiated buys, initiated line changes, and developed pricing strategies which resulted in a 2% increase in mark-up percentage.

•Assisted in defining system specifications, initial vendor and parts data entry, and the successful implementation of a corporate-wide IBM AS-400 inventory management/point-of-sale system.

•Utilize strong visual skills, background in retail management, and knowledge of merchandising techniques to execute sales floor planograms and on-site set-up work for new store openings.

•Successfully represent company at the annual APAA, SEMA, and ASIA Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week Show.

01/1986-01/1990 BUYER

Royal Distributors, Inc. - Colmar, PA

Performed purchasing of all types of automotive parts and accessories for a growing organization. Specific functions included analyzing historical sales data, forecasting seasonal and promotional inventory requirements, writing orders, resolving receiving problems, and administering returns of recalled and defective merchandise. Interfaced with store management to recommend merchandising strategies, resolve inventory problems, and maximize sales potential in assigned category.

01/1980-01/1986 STORE MANAGER

Royal Distributors, Inc. - Colmar, PA

Directed daily operation of stores with annual sales of $1+ million. Hired, trained, scheduled, and evaluated staff. Responsible for customer service/relations, merchandising, inventory control, and special orders.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Recognized as company’s troubleshooter based on ability to turn store operations around; demonstrated flexibility and dedication by transferring to four locations in five years.

•Improved inventory positioning and store appearances, resulting in sales increases of 4 - 8%.

•Relocated Rising Sun Plaza store and increased sales by 15% during first year in new location.

•Consistently exceeded objectives regarding sales, labor hours, and inventory shrinkage.

01/1977-01/1980 AREA MANAGER /

NEW RELEASE BUYER E.J. Korvettes - New York, NY

Performed new release buying for Philadelphia market of the nation’s leading retailer of records and tapes. Maintained knowledge of demographic preferences to effectively manage $2 million annual purchasing budget.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Assumed responsibility for new release buying while maintaining management accountability for the regions #1 Records/Tapes department.

•Successfully and ethically managed Billboard Magazine reporting.

01/1973-01/1977 AREA MANAGER

E.J. Korvettes - New York, NY

Transferred to three stores in a four-year period. Exercised responsibility for managing staff, merchandising, customer relations, and inventory control functions for Record/Tapes, Books, and Photography departments. Trained, scheduled, and evaluated staff. Maintained accountability for cash and inventory control within departments.

Selected Accomplishments:

•Promoted from initial part-time sales position in the Automotive/Hardware department after successful completion of company’s management training program.

EDUCATION

1973 E.J. Korvettes - New York, NY

•Completed a comprehensive executive training program encompassing hands-on and classroom instruction in all areas of retail management.

1971-1973 Temple University - Philadelphia, PA

•Education / Communications Major

SKILLS

Excel, Word, Powerpoint, V-lookup

Workfront marketing database.

DOMO – Sales reporting

Epicor Data file creation

BRIO

SBC -Pricing and inventory file maker

Negotiation

Category Management

Contracts

Inventory control

Purchasing

Replenishment

Sales

Merchandising

REFERENCES

Available upon request

SALARY HISTORY

Product Manager - $92,000

Sales Account Executive - $62,500.00

Senior Buyer - $55,000.00

SALARY REQUIREMENTS

Negotiable

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