Sales Manager

JAMES GERONTZOS

***-** **** ***. #****, Oakland Gardens, NY 11364 ♦ 917-***-**** ♦ **********@***.***

MARKETING MANAGER

Advertising / Brand Awareness / CPG / Direct Mail / Events / Internet / Media Planning & Buying / PR e-Commerce / Launches / Promotions / Competitive Analysis / International / Merchandising / Multi-Channel

I have a strong track record of providing effective marketing strategies and product line development for mid-size and top-tier consumer products companies. I honed my skills at Hallmark while earning my MBA in Marketing and went on to significant revenue and market share gains with natural products and healthcare/pharmaceutical firms. I have led staffs of five. Fluent in Greek, conversational in Spanish/Italian languages. My skill set includes:

q Developing programs for brand awareness

q Strengthening distributor relationships

q Building marketing and product development teams

q Managing advertising and media buying

q Working within budget to improve product line performance

I am a graduate of St. John’s University, receiving an MBA and BS, both in Marketing. My reputation is as a team player who can analyze situations and get the job done effectively. I can work alone or as part of a team as I am a strong group communicator. I am known as a high achiever and quick thinker.

CAREER HISTORY WITH SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Brand Manager, NBTY, 2009 to 2010. Led developmental marketing strategy and trade programs, boosting sales 15% for #1 National Joint Care Product. Responsibilities include: develop strategies to gain market share and sales at accounts, looking to decrease competitive presence at accounts; ensuring all accounts are following national promotional plan and working with trade marketing managers on analyzing promotional frequency and effectiveness; develop ad campaigns (national TV, FSI’s), brand image, couponing, etc and readjust plan (staying within budget) throughout the year; spearhead initiatives, such as appearance, placement, positioning, pricing, advertising and promotional strategy; provide financial modeling for the brand.

· Developed winning strategy for #1 Joint Care product. Provided NBTY sku rationalization to increase account optimization. Created launch strategy for new joint care forms in order to increase breadth of delivery systems available that will increase demographic and range of customers. Gains in distribution and marketing strategy were implemented from inception until product reached the stores. Nielsen data shows brand grew 15% in 24 weeks.

Marketing Brand Manager, Health Care Products, 2007 to 2009. Recruited to create and manage marketing and promotional programs, boosting brand sales 20% on average. Develop strategies to build awareness and market share with distribution channels. Research key trends and analyze financial data to strengthen brand position and identity. Wrote marketing and advertising editorial content for all media. Revamped company website.

· Increased overall sales 20%. Health Care Products (HCP) desired increased unit sales for multi-vitamin line sold in retail diabetic sections. Developed and implemented aggressive promotional plan. Ran free-bate promotion with one major drug chain, giving mid-sized HCP more in-store presence than normal. Made sure manufacturer had raw materials to support anticipated surge. Promotion took-off. Parlayed its success and favorable sales data, driving this repeatable program elsewhere to boost overall sales.

· Boosted account sales 15%. Health Care Products needed cost-effective method of adding sales for newly acquired product that had existing one-chain distribution. Created idea for direct mail campaign, sending to database of health care professionals within proximity of these stores. Mailed promotional letter with samples and locations for patient purchase, including redeemable coupons. Received immediate upsurge in orders.

JAMES GERONTZOS PAGE TWO

220-38 73rd Ave. #24A2, Oakland Gardens, NY 11364 ♦ 917-***-**** ♦ **********@***.***

CAREER HISTORY WITH SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS – CONT.

Marketing Manager, Natural Organics, Inc., 2005 to 2007. Raised new product earnings 15%. Increased units sold on entire line 10% overall. Created promotions for line of 900+ manufactured goods in Nature’s Plus brand. Built campaigns for foreign/domestic media outlets. Led product learning programs to educate retailers and consumers.

· Expanded web traffic 167%. Natural Organics website needed updating to be more consumer-friendly and not just tailored to store accounts. Developed copy and worked with graphics and IT to get website changes up and running quickly. Added consumer educational materials and research request feature, building new customer database. Launched two additional websites, tailored to consumer for flagship protein powder and multi-vitamin.

· Built on regional SKU for US and UK. Discovered through rep networking that a small regional formulation had been flying off shelves. Researched and built support plan to go to market. Met with New Product Group and National Sales Director to lay foundation for speeding to market nationally and in the UK. New SKU was unveiled at next new product launch and rose to 2nd most successful unit in 25-SKU category.

Merchandising Supervisor, Hallmark, 2001 to 2005. Guiding staff of five, collaborated with 35+ retail outlets.

· Revamped merchandising for Hallmark. Corporate was always looking to increase sales. Developed strategy to schedule staff of merchandisers to actively seek re-orders when visiting shelves for restocking. Also designed and implemented training strategy to lay out product more effectively and maintain displays during peak buying periods. Gained steady 15% to 25% increases in additional annual sales with multiple outlets involved as program matured.

Earlier: Marketing Coordinator, Danny Frank Productions. Implemented special events marketing strategies for business radio shows, non-profit humanitarian foundations and financial institutions.

PERSONAL INTERESTS

Baseball, softball, football, handball, hiking and playing guitar.

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