Wayne A. Walton

**** ****** ***** *****, **********, Virginia 630-***-**** • advpzi@r.postjobfree.com

PROCUREMENT AND MERCHANDISING PROFESSIONAL - RETAIL INDUSTRY

Proven Track Record of Achievement / Large and Small Corporate Environments

Highly motivated, creative and energetic retail professional with extensive buying and merchandising experience, resulting in the development of merchandising programs that consistently contributed to company goals. A true professional with excellent interpersonal skills, able to communicate with people across all organizational levels. Maintains high standards of integrity and ethical conduct, evaluation skills, sound technical and analytical ability.

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

P&L Management / Merchandising & Procurement / Planograming / Vendor Relations / Vendor Negotiations/ Inventory Management / Marketing / Hiring / Training / Leadership

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Increased sales and margin during the COVID 19 Outbreak. Sales increased to $550,000,000.

Developed exciting and creative merchandising programs that led to nine straight years of comp sales increases for Factory Card & Party Outlet’s core party category.

Increased sales for designated categories to $240MM for American Stores.

Negotiated national agreements and created merchandising planograms implemented in over 1450 retail outlets.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

FAMILY DOLLAR, Chesapeake, Virginia 2018-Current

Buyer-Pet Supplies (2018- Current)

Responsibilities include P/L accountability, budgeting, product selection/sku rationalization, sales, gross margin, inventory management, forecasting, planograms, contract negotiations, relationship building and

Advertising/marketing. Working to mitigate the challenges of shipping issues, cost increases, labor shortages and more due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

FRED’S PHARMACY, Memphis, Tennessee 2015-2018

Pet Merchant (2015—2018)

P&L responsibility for over 600 Fred’s Pharmacy stores with annual sales over 54 Million dollars. Developed a new Pet Planogram with new fixturing (Funded by Suppliers). Expanded dog treats/chews, Pet accessories and dog and cat dry food. Sales increased double digits over prior year.

BLAIN SUPPLY, Janesville, Wisconsin 2014 – 2015

Pet Buyer, (2014 – 2015)

Category Management for 36 Blain’s Farm and Fleet stores with annual sales over $50 million.

Farm Channel Industry that carried a selection of products only found at Pet Specialty Outlets. Managed associate buyer and replenishment buyer to maximize profitability and accomplish company goals.

MAYFLOWER DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, Mendota Heights, Minnesota 2011 - 2013

Director of Purchasing (2011 - 2013)

Over see the day to day buying functions of the purchasing department for a premier balloon distributor in the Midwest. Responsibilities include product assortment, vendor negotiations, pricing, inventory management, margin maintenance and management of import programs. Negotiated helium service agreements for over 2000 locations for a national retail drugstore chain.

FACTORY CARD & PARTY OUTLET, Naperville, Illinois 1999 - 2010

Merchandise Manager, Everyday Product (2005 - 2010)

Senior Buyer (1999 - 2005)

Successful 10-year career with specialty retailer of party supplies, balloons, social expressions including gift wrap and greeting cards with annual sales of $250MM, operating 161 stores in 30 states. P&L responsibility for assigned categories that included merchandise assortment, SKU rationalization, product margins, inventory control, planograming, contract negotiations and vendor relations. Oversaw buying functions of everyday merchandising group of nine associates.

Developed consistent pricing structure for party ensembles that provided a clear and consistent strategy more easily understood by customers. Annual Party Category sales increased 7.7%.

Restructured juvenile birthday planogram as part of company initiative that enhanced juvenile presentation. Annual Juvenile Birthday sales increased 33.4%.

Negotiated vendor terms that increased company average days payables from 34.6 to 54.4 days in one year.

Created value solid color tableware program as a price alternative to the premium solid color program. Sales increased 28.1%.

Received the 2001 President’s Award for excellence in merchandising.

AMERICAN STORES, Salt Lake City, Utah 1992 - 1999

National Product Manager/Category Merchant (1996 - 1999)

Managed annual sales in assigned categories of $240MM.

Negotiated national vendor agreement worth $20MM with an increase of $12.9MM over previous contracts.

Developed national merchandising programs implemented in all food and drug divisions, including negotiating marketing, placement and other co-op funding.

General Manager / Store Manager (1992 - 1996)

Managed overall operations of four Osco Drug Stores, including one in the company’s top ten with annual sales over $12MM. Selected as training manager, led a class of 20 candidates who successfully passed and entered management program. Recipient of senior management’s Excellence Award for Expense Control.

EDUCATION

Bachelors Degree in Management and Leadership

Judson University, Elgin, Illinois

Business Administration

Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois