Experienced Purchasing Manager

BRETT K. ELLIOTT

**** ******** *****

Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44143

Res. phone: 440-***-****

E-mail: ************@*********.***

Results-oriented supply chain executive with demonstrated achievement in team management/purchasing/ operations/inventory control/customer service/global sourcing. Expertise in procurement of product mix through vendor negotiations at the middle and senior management levels to achieve sales and all components of gross margin and turnover. Strengths include successful merging of product mix from the acquisition of five companies, contracts, planning, analysis, communication, negotiation, forecasting, people management, and technical skills.

Experience: LESCO/John Deere Landscapes (April, 2006 – Present)

Cleveland, Ohio

Purchasing Manager (April, 2006 – Present)

• Directed, managed and implemented purchasing functions for a $ 700,000,000 company. Responsible for global sourcing with foreign travel. Successfully implemented company’s first import program that generated over $2 million in additional gross margin dollars the first year. Designed and developed purchasing strategies and tactics to meet the needs of the organization, i.e. SKU rationalization. Responsible for developing and maintaining key supplier relationships and evaluating supplier performance. Responsible for managing and negotiating all hard goods and Ice Melt sourcing, pricing and logistics. Company liaison to primary vendors for all soft goods purchasing/pricing. Executed a sourcing plan to support the various raw material requirements in a timely and cost effective manner. Responsible for all vendors annual rebate programs and exceeded all budget goals with timely payments.

Independent Sales Representative (October, 2004 -April, 2006)

• Consumer goods sales to major retailers. Successful new product placement at major retailer resulting in incremental $3,000,000 in annual sales. Negotiated transitional product reduction and saved company $100,000 in transition fees. Industrial lighting sales to all industries. Met/exceeded sales goals each month. Promoted to Regional Sales Manager. Expert in inventory control and knowledge of replenishment systems.

OfficeMax (A Boise Company) (1989 to 2004)

Shaker Heights, Ohio

Director of Merchandise Operations (2002 to October, 2004)

• Extensive experience in Product Management from conception to ultimate consumer. Identified product need (concept), created specs with potential manufacturers, package design, negotiated pricing with potential manufacturers (foreign & domestic), forecasts, distribution, and advertising. Responsible for $5.5 Billion in annual sales.

• Identifying and providing specific, cohesive, and accurate financial plans for plan-o-grams and offshelf presentation, from the merchants, and for implementation in 900+ stores in order to positively impact sales, margin, and turnover objectives.

• Providing communication, direction, feedback, and solutions to problems arising in the presentation of the Merchandise Space Plan to the various other departments associated with the plan (merchandising, logistics, replenishment, advertising, new stores, operations, data integrity, merchandise planning, and our vendor partners).

• Managing line reviews with the merchant teams for timely execution with emphasis on case pack optimization and low productivity sku rationalization for maximum turnover results. Successful Inventory Management produced a 20% improvement in turnover.

• Management of discontinued product dispositions for timely execution in stores, warehouses, and distribution centers.

• Development of enhanced process to control product transitions from catalog to catalog and for the bid process.

• Manage two direct reports.

Senior Category Manager (1995 to 2002)

(Writing Instruments/Art & Drafting/Educational Aids)

• Having total responsibility for all merchandising, pricing, advertising,

inventory control, and distribution for 900+ stores with a combined

volume of $250.0 million in annual sales.

• Supervision of one assistant and three replenishment buyers.

• Member of special projects team involving new division for

importing and new businesses.

Senior Buyer (1989 to 1995)

(Furniture, Business Forms, Mailroom, Writing Instruments, Art/Drafting, and Janitorial)

• Responsible for 35% of company's volume and 50% of total company's SKU count.

The May Company (1979 to 1989)

Cleveland, Ohio

Senior Buyer (1988 to 1989)

(Television and Video Electronics)

• Having total responsibility for all merchandising, pricing, advertising, inventory control and distribution for 17 stores with a combined volume of $15,000,000 in annual sales.

• Supervision of one assistant, one secretary, and sales manager for 65 commission sales people.

Senior Buyer (1984 to 1988)

(Domestics and Linens)

Buyer (1982 to 1984)

(Luggage and Leather Goods)

Senior Assistant Buyer (1981 to 1982)

(Housewares)

Assistant Buyer (1980 to 1981)

(Housewares)

Department Manager (1979 to 1980)

Education: Bowling Green State University

Degree: Bachelors in Business Administration

Major: Selling/Sales Management and Retailing

Financed 100% of college education

Technical

Skills: Word, Excel, Outlook, SAP, PowerPlay, People Soft and Category Management

Personal: SHOPA Industry Education Committee Member

Wrestling Club Tournament Director

Youth Baseball Manager/Board Member

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