Sales Customer Service

JIM COTTON

*** **** ******** **** ********, CA **801 626-***-****

**********@*****.*** http://www.linkedin.com/in/cottonjim

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

PROVEN METHODOLOGY:

Ensure customer service and satisfaction is afforded highest attention and priority.

Successfully build and maintain key customer relationships.

Recruit, educate, and motivate the best sales force in the business.

Identify, establish, and manage strategic relationships to leverage significant long term business opportunities.

Effectively convey intricate marketing and sales presentations.

Ensure that market information flows freely and consistently.

Routine and effective sales performance evaluations.

Provide a constant stream of new products.

CAREER PATH

Adventive Ideas, Princeton, NJ 5/2011 to 5/2012

Vice President of Sales & Marketing for this $3M internet based design house and OEM manufacturer. Solascape™ solar LED lighting products and Activheat™ heated clothing are the primary product lines.

Expertise: Complex programs, start-ups, strategic planning, organization, consumer products branding, Photo Shop, Power Point, Excel.

Responsible for the transitioning of this company from internet to a more traditional retail/wholesale operation utilizing previously unknown market channels.

Established a B2B sales network of 12 independent representative agencies for the US market.

Created all sales and marketing materials and programs for several hundred SKUs.

Contract expired March 15, 2012 and employment is now on a consulting basis.

Major customers included: Brookstone, HSN, Frontgate, Bed Bath Beyond, CVS, Walgreens, Ocean States, BJ’s, Cablela’s, Bass Pro Shops, Herrington, Dollar General, Fred’s, Family Dollar, and Fred Meyer.

The Designers Edge, Bellevue, WA 12/2009 to 4/2011

Director of Sales for a $35M distributor of work lights, cord management tools, flash lights, solar lighting, LED bulbs, emergency lighting, heaters, HID, and commercial lighting. Sales were focused on the home center, hardware, electrical, industrial, supply, safety, catalog, and ecommerce channels. Designers Edge was sold to Coleman Cable in April, 2010 and absorbed into the acquiring conglomerate resulting in the lay-off of all DE employees.

Expertise: Client relationship management, presentations, team leadership, sales revitalization, profit maximization, time management, market analysis, product development, CPG branding, Outlook, Excel, Power Point.

Successfully reversed a five year, $30M sales slide that represented 25% of top line sales.

Stopped a massive customer exodus that had totaled 600 B2B accounts which was one third of the base.

Reorganized and revitalized the sales department thus boosting morale and increasing new accounts by 10%.

Out of the box marketing programs resulted in 2011 sales +25% to $26M and profits up $350% to $1.5M.

Successfully increased market share of halogen worklights from 38% to 42% during my tenure.

Instrumental in the development and product launch of a new LED lighting division.

JIM COTTON Page Two

The Designers Edge, Bellevue, WA (continued) 12/2009 to 4/2011

Successful market introduction of LED lighting was responsible for a 12%, $1.5M increase in Home Depot business over the previous year in a down market.

Established $1.2M Mexico sales division and increased Canadian business to $3.5M annually.

Added new international customers in England, New Zealand, and Australia.

Owner was able to sell the company after years of failed negotiations due to the turnaround in business.

Major customers included Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Blains, Tractor Supply, Fred Meyer, Albertsons, Grainger, HD Supply, Canadian Tire, THD Canada, THD Mexico, and Amazon.

Westinghouse Solar (IDC), Roanoke TX 11/2006 to 12/2009

5/1996 to 10/2003

Regional Vice President of Sales for $170M distributor of outdoor garden products, solar panels and generators, LED lighting, housewares, flashlights, hardware, and solar lighting. Responsible for selected national accounts and product development and was employed twice. I left to start my own company for three years and returned to IDC.

Expertise: Client relationship management, solution sales, closing, prospect qualification, complex programs.

Developed a retail merchandising program that changed the $300M solar lighting business.

$42M opening order for solar lighting at Walmart.

Awarded Walmart vendor leadership position in 2008.

Responsible for the first Home Depot and Lowes purchase orders in IDC history.

Held primary responsibility for Costco averaging $5M per year in sales.

Major accounts included: All domestic and international Costco divisions, Home Depot (three departments), and Lowes.

MatadorUSA LLC 11/2003 to 10/2006

Vice President of Sales for this start-up company funded by Chinese investors. The company designed, promoted, and distributed solar and LV LED lighting, outdoor decorative garden items, housewares, and small electrical products through a variety of distribution channels. We had offices in Bentonville, Los Angeles, Shenzhen, and Shanghai. The company was liquidated after a major customer went out of business.

Expertise: Sourcing, forecasting, strategic planning, start-ups, new product introduction, organization, market analysis, market penetration, CPG branding, Photo Shop, Power Point, and Excel.

Acquired the license for Sunbeam and Coleman solar lighting products.

Was outdoor décor Vendor Captain with Walmart and Target.

Annual sales reached $10M

Major accounts included: Walmart, Costco, Sam’s, BJ’s, BBB, Linens N Things, Frontgate, Ocean States, Walmart Canada, Albertsons, Kroger, and Fred Meyer

Other employers: Catalina Lighting, $200M Wholesaler, Regional VP-Sales, Miami, FL

Miami Carey, $75M manufacturer, Regional Manager, Middletown, OH

Beatrice Foods, $6B manufacturer, Regional Manager, Chicago, IL

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Accounting - Mississippi State University

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