Category Manager Operations

Erik Miel

Lutz, FL *****

Cell: 919-***-****

Email: **********@*****.***

SUMMARY

Innovative and detail-oriented Category Manager with strong analytical, visual merchandising, and space planning skills. Extensive experience in category / space management, sales, retail, and merchandising with an emphasis in category growth, supplier relations and innovation. Focused on category results, growth, and developing strong business relationships. Adept at implementing new merchandising methods /procedures and offering corporate insight and assistance across all business entities.

Skills

Project Management MS Excel

Business Development and Generation Detail-oriented

Client Relationship Management Strategic thinker

JDA Space Management Sourcing Management

Category Space Analysis Performance & Process Improvement

Planogram Efficiency Analysis Extensive merchandising experience

Account Management Multi Store Category Development

CAREER HISTORY

Circle K, Tampa Fl 2/2020- 3/2022

Category Manager- Beer/ Wine/ Ice

• Determines annual sales growth by developing annual market plans and

coordinating implementation with the field; analyzes trends and results.

• Selects vendors, negotiates costs, and terms for products and develops schematics by applying

category management principles in accordance with the department’s strategic objectives.

• Maintains project schedule by monitoring project progress; coordinating activities; resolving

problems.

• Increases sales revenues by developing promotional concepts and overlay programs; develop category plans.

• Defrays cost of equipment, advertising, and promotional programs by negotiating allowances

and partnering with manufacturers.

• Serves market segments and specific product needs by responding to field requests for market or product specific materials.

• Projects and measures category sales and gross profit results by developing and maintaining

records of item cost, retail, and gross margin dollars.

• Maintains external vendor relations by providing direction, guidance and information.

resolving concerns.

• Recommends changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments.

• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Provides project management of single site and area franchise conversions to Circle K as well as NTI openings. Required to work closely with other departments and the franchisees for successful and timely completion of all projects.

•Must have strong interpersonal skills and be able to develop relationships with Franchisees based on trust and respect. Must be an experienced public speaker capable of addressing small and large groups with confidence on a frequent basis.

•Ensures consistent Circle K merchandising in all stores by working with store development on floor plans, equipment guidelines/specifications and franchisee communication.

•Provides Franchise Marketing support by facilitating the communication of both local and national Franchise marketing plans, programs, and promotions to franchisees and internal personnel.

•Provides Business Support by completing field rides with internal personnel. Purpose of rides include skill and knowledge transfer, setting expectations and standards.

Circle K, Tampa Fl 3/2019- 2/20

Category Analyst- Beer/ Wine/ Ice

•Work directly with the Category Manager to plan and coordinate activities necessary to successfully accomplish category business plans and results.

•Assists the Category Manager in managing product assortment, display, point-of-purchase, program execution, equipment rollouts and store communication.

•Researches, compiles and analyzes sales results, product/supplier performance, pricing analysis, competitive and trend information; make recommendations based on analysis.

•Works closely with supporting teams on pricing activity, item/vendor set-up, inventory/supply chain, monitoring allowances. Ensures accuracy of data entered by Price Book.

•Analyzes category productivity by developing financial analysis systems and creating monthly category management reports.

•Communicates with suppliers and distributors to coordinate product introduction, sample requests, issue resolution, and needed follow-up.

•Assist in the implementation of overall category/store strategies

Stone-Mart, Tampa FL 1/2017-11/2018

Territory Manager Georgia/South Carolina/NE Florida

•Setup product displays in stores for designated territories

•Created sales plans and quotas to support organizational objectives

•Monitor budgeted targets including sales and expenditures

•Ensure products and promotions knowledge of sales personnel selling to consumers

•Liaise between clients and product development to recommend product improvements

•Offered recommendations for new product lines concurrent with client business objectives

•Identify trends and business development opportunities within assigned territory.

•Building rapport with a foundation of integrity and knowledge as the first respondent to customer’s needs.

Advanced Auto Parts, Raleigh NC 9/2014-07/2016

Space Planning/ Planogram Analyst

•Responsible for the development of display standards that follow Category Management and Merchandising Strategies by engaging customers, stimulating sales and generating margins.

•In conjunction with the Category Management Analysts, develop POGs that follow fundamental retail strategies while challenging traditional methods. Constantly look for display methods that improve the model while maintaining the integrity of the POG set.

•Work cross functionally with Category Management, Merchandising, Retail Operations, and Fixture Team to ensure that the proper tools and training are developed to successfully support corporate initiatives.

•Collaborate with the Category Management Analysts to analyze the performance of changes made. Understand the impact of the change, what has driven and contributed to success and use that information to improve the store model.

•Utilize JDA Space Planning to develop POG reporting, highlights, tables and tools that provide the Category Analyst with POG productivity data that will support their category insights.

•Communication and understanding of how and why we merchandise to our Field Staff and internal partners. Uphold company standards as well as effectively communicate them to key stakeholders.

The Home Depot, Multiple Locations 11/1998 – 7/2013

Merchandising Manager Durham, NC 1/2013-7/2014

•Evaluates competition by visiting competing stores; gathering information such as style, quality, and prices of competitive merchandise.

•Purchases inventory by researching emerging products; anticipating buyer interest; negotiating volume price breaks; placing and expediting orders; verifying receipt

•Prepares sales and customer relations reports by analyzing and categorizing sales information; identifying and investigating customer complaints and service suggestions.

•Maintains inventory by checking merchandise to determine inventory levels; anticipating customer demand

•Prepares reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information.

•Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.

Operations Manager Cape Coral, FL 2/2012-1/2013

•Provides input into the Annual Operating Plan; manages the store to the Annual Operating Plan; monitors all appropriate business metrics including store balanced scorecard, profit and loss metrics, and asset metrics.

•Provides input into annual marketing and sales plan; develops and maintains business relationships with customers and develops new business partners and alliances for the store.

•Manages, develops, and motivates employees; completes, agrees to and monitors work plans and Individual Development Plans for direct reports.

•Overall store management, supervision, and policy implementation

•Effectively communicate information to store crew and supervisors in an open and timely manner.

•Support Store Manager with actions plans for operational and service improvement.

Merchandising Manager Cape Coral, FL 7/2007-2/2012

•Evaluates competition by visiting competing stores; gathering information such as style, quality, and prices of competitive merchandise.

•Purchases inventory by researching emerging products; anticipating buyer interest; negotiating volume price breaks; placing and expediting orders; verifying receipt

•Prepares sales and customer relations reports by analyzing and categorizing sales information; identifying and investigating customer complaints and service suggestions.

•Maintains inventory by checking merchandise to determine inventory levels; anticipating customer demand

•Prepares reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information.

•Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.

Education

Grand Rapids Community College Grand Rapids, MI 8/1996-5/1997

•Business Management

Central Michigan University Mt Pleasant, MI 8/1995-5/1996

•Business Management

Montabella High School Blanchard, MI 8/1991-5/1995

•College Prep Diploma

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