Business Development Retail Sales
Resume:
SHARI BLACK
**********@**********.***
PROFILE
Senior Retail, Marketing & Sales Executive known for her expertise in vision casting, strategic planning and team leadership that sets the stage for great performance and unprecedented revenue growth. Possesses a track record of focusing on driving growth with disruptive and innovative marketing, merchandising, retail and product strategies and solutions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Paladone Products Limited, El Segundo, CA 2022 – 2023
Head of North America Sales
Managed remote sales team for both the mass and specialty channels. Built strong relationships across all internal and external business stakeholders. Partnered with the Product Development, Design, Licensing, Marketing, and Supply Chain Teams to execute commercial sales strategies by season across the North American and LATAM markets.
HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Nashville, TN 2018 – 2022
Senior Marketing Director
In partnership with sales, retailers, marketing, editors, authors, agents and alliance partners, created the vision and strategies for innovative and progressive sales, product and marketing programs for all channels of business. Drove sales by leading and empowering the Marketing and Sales Teams in the development and execution of key merchandise, product, and promotional programs. Identified new acquisition, product development, sales channel opportunities and best practices. Evaluated and course-corrected past programs. Communicated the Sales and Marketing Teams’ strategies, successes, and opportunities to key stakeholders across all lines of business.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Burbank, CA 2003 – 2017
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP)
Senior Vice President, Retail Business Development, Global (January 2015 – June 2017)
Oversaw all aspects of Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ Global Retail Business Development Department. Set strategic vision and led the development and implementation of retail business plans that aligned with Warner Bros. Studio’s marketing, licensing and brand portfolio initiatives. Maximized retail growth opportunities across all retail channels and product categories. Led and inspired cross-divisional internal and external teams in the sell-in and execution of innovative retail programs for Warner Bros.’ theatrical, core, TV animation and live action property portfolios.
Generated over $700 million in key account retail sales by leading the development and negotiation of seven major promotions supporting the theatrical release of Batman v Superman. Increased product placement at Walmart by 20% as a result of landing a Walmart 3-Star corporate promotion and securing a 16’ front of store merchandise feature during the two-week film window.
Negotiated Batman v Superman theatrical global retail promotion with Toys “R” Us resulting in promotional activation in over 25 territories.
Led the global launch of WBCP’s first new intellectual property DC Super Hero Girls. Secured Target as the U.S. retail launch partner and successfully negotiated theatrical level marketing and product placement support for a core non-theatrical based program generating over $28 million in retail sales during the launch window.
Negotiated WBCP’s first direct-to-retail programs with Hot Topic generating over $7 million in incremental retail sales. Programs include DC Comics and Harry Potter core products as well as Suicide Squad and Fantastic Beasts theatricals. Overall business on these properties increased by 20%.
Senior Vice President, Retail Business Development, U.S. (2008 – 2014)
Generated over $55 million in incremental retail sales at Target as a result of developing and securing a DC Comics’ Justice League Tier-One 18-month program. Advertising and marketing support included national print, TV and Omni Channel campaigns. Received LIMA ‘Best Retailer of The Year’ program award nomination.
Drove over $200 million in retail sales as a result of landing a Walmart 3-Star corporate promotion and 12’ front of store merchandise feature in support of the Man of Steel theatrical release. Won Walmart’s “Promotional Performance Supplier of the Year” award.
Led development and execution of Safeway’s multi-million dollar “Eating Right” and Looney Tunes direct-to-retail co-branded private label program which established the global positioning of the Looney Tunes brand as one of the first licensed better-for-you children’s food brands. Received LIMA ‘Best Retailer of The Year’ program award nomination.
Increased retail sales at Walgreens by 200% by implementing a direct-to-retail program across all properties and product categories.
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Vice President, Retail Business Development, U.S. (2003 – 2007)
Generated over $500 million in key account retail sales by leading the development and negotiations of six major storewide promotions supporting Batman Begins and Superman Returns theatrical releases. Increased product placement on average by 25% at Walmart, Target, Kmart and Toys “R” Us as a result of securing storewide promotions and corporate marketing support.
Positioned Hot Topic as the specialty market share leader for the Harry Potter brand resulting in over $100 million in retail sales over the span of the film franchise.
The Walt Disney Company, Burbank, CA 1995 – 2002
Disney Consumer Products (DCP)
Director, Retail Business Development, Walmart and Kmart (2000 – 2002)
Led Walmart and Kmart’s strategic business planning, promotion and core program development and implementation to maximize sell-in and sell-through of all Disney Consumer Products’ properties and product categories.
Cultivated strong senior executive partnerships that led to the improvement of overall promotional support and merchandise placement. For example, at Kmart, negotiated and secured the industry’s first-ever exclusive licensed direct-to-retail apparel program between a major studio and a mass retailer increasing retail sales by 47% to $212 million during the program’s first year.
Senior Manager, Retail Business Development, Kmart (1999 – 2000)
Responsible for over $100 million in incremental retail sales across all product categories by developing storewide theatrical promotions for Toy Story 2, Tarzan, The Tigger Movie and 102 Dalmatians.
Senior Manager, Retail Business Development, Disney Publishing (1995 – 1999)
Secured product placement and promotional support for six Disney animated films. Results included securing 4-foot branded plan-o-gram sections in the Children’s Book Department (a first) at Walmart, Target and Toy “R” Us.
Increased overall revenues over a four-year period by 45%.
Health Valley Foods, Irwindale, CA 1993 – 1995
Key Account Sales Director, Walmart and Sam’s Club
Led Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club brokerage team as well as all planning, sales forecasting, marketing, product merchandising, and buyer sales presentations for largest U.S. natural health food company.
Developed and executed Health Valley Food’s first-ever national roll-out of a unified multiple product set for Sam’s Club that increased sales 238% in 12 months ($8 million to $27 million).
Intex Recreation, Long Beach, CA 1991 – 1993
Key Account Sales Manager, Walmart, Kmart, Target
Developed plans, sales forecasts, marketing, merchandising, and buyer sales presentations for world’s largest manufacturer of inflatable pool toys and airbeds. Increased key account sales 56% in 14 months ($32 million to $50 million).
Godwin Group Advertising, Jackson, MS 1989 – 1991
Retail Account Executive (Piccadilly Restaurant - largest U.S. cafeteria chain)
Contributed to development of branding strategy consistent with Piccadilly’s corporate strengths and goals. Researched, developed, and launched Piccadilly’s new store prototype, new products and menu item packaging.
Walmart, Bentonville, AR 1986 – 1989
Apparel Merchandising, Marketing and Promotions Manager
Initiated Apparel’s first-ever national TV, print and in-store marketing and advertising campaigns communicating a consistent branding strategy to the customer, resulting in increasing Apparel’s overall percent to total store sales.
Spearheaded development of Walmart’s Super Center Apparel prototype and presented it to Board of Directors. Oversaw the conversion of 1,200 stores to the new Super Center Apparel’s prototype.
EDUCATION
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, (BA, cum laude, Marketing and Journalism, 1984)
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