Experience

Kitchen Stuff Plus Inc.

• Canada
• Retail
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Category Manager (Buyer)

  • May 2016 - Present

  As a Category Manager driven by results and passionate about business growth, I specialize in sourcing, production, and material development to achieve exceptional sales, profit, and quality standards. My expertise lies in curating diverse product assortments that align with market trends and seasonality, captivating customers with complementary merchandised items.With a strong network and excellent supplier relationships, I attend trade shows both domestic and overseas, constantly uncovering new product opportunities and staying ahead of industry trends. My negotiation skills have proven instrumental in securing advantageous volume rebate programs, damage allowances, and advertising allowances with vendors, driving revenue and maximizing profitability.Creating exclusive product lines and captivating seasonal collections is a source of pride for me. Leveraging my analytical acumen, I assess in-store assortment and item sell-through data to make data-driven decisions, ensuring success and recommending necessary adjustments for optimal performance.My commitment to brand identity and image is evident in my ability to develop distinctive store aesthetics through meticulous product selection and branding directives. Working closely with cross-functional teams, I ensure timely store replenishment, minimizing stock-outs, and optimizing sales opportunities.To drive cost-effectiveness and align with financial goals, I meticulously devise purchasing budgets for categories, continuously evaluating product performance and adjusting strategies accordingly. Leveraging financial analysis, I provide actionable insights that optimize sales and profit margins.In my role, I am passionate about setting effective pricing strategies that strike a balance between achieving sales targets and margin objectives, ensuring the company's sustained growth and competitive advantage in the marketplace. Show less

• Regional Merchandising Manager

  • Jan 2007 - Apr 2016

  As a dedicated and results-driven Regional Merchandising Manager, I have successfully directed the merchandising needs for a mid-size regional chain, contributing to enhanced customer experiences and increased sales. My expertise lies in developing and executing product-specific, collection, category, and full seasonal planogram rollouts, ensuring optimal product placement and visual appeal.Through comprehensive analysis of sales data and merchandise assortments, I consistently identified lucrative opportunities for each location, driving revenue growth and maximizing profitability. A key aspect of my role has been training store teams in inventory management and merchandising standards, empowering them to deliver exceptional store presentations and meet sales targets.To streamline store operations and foster team efficiency, I designed and implemented an internal resource tool for easy access to planograms and training documents. This resource has significantly improved store teams' ability to maintain visual consistency and execute merchandising initiatives effectively.Moreover, my ability to source and facilitate the development of store fixtures has further enhanced visual merchandising efforts, creating visually appealing and functional store layouts that elevate the overall shopping experience.Collaboration is at the heart of my approach, and I have cultivated strong partnerships with vendors and marketing teams to design and execute impactful in-store signage programs. These partnerships have been instrumental in driving brand visibility and increasing product awareness. Show less

• Store Manager

  • Mar 2004 - Jan 2007

  With an entrepreneurial drive and a strong focus on sales and customer service, I set and prioritized store goals, led the team to achieve them, maintained a positive and energetic atmosphere, and supported the recruitment, retention, and development of a diverse range of talent.