Experience

Crane Composites

• United States
• Plastics Manufacturing
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Buyer

  • Aug 2016 - Present

  Manufacturing commodity buyer Manufacturing commodity buyer



PartyLite

• United States
• Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Purchasing Agent

  • Jan 2010 - Aug 2016

  Responsible for leading the PartyLite domestic purchasing department. Lead buying team for new raw material sourcing and replenishment buying for both domestic and international. Implement new purchasing practices to reduce inventory. Through vendor negotiations, reduce lead times and control pricing. Key correspondence for inter-company relations and commodity analysis. Manage, encouraged and train two raw material category buyers. Acting Project leader for all Third Party manufacturing. Provides superior team interaction and support to R&D, Corporate Product Marketing, Shipping and Receiving, (NAD)-North America Distribution, the Purchasing team in Cumbria England and Batavia Manufacturing. 



Factory Card & Party Outlet

• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Buyer

  • Jul 2005 - Dec 2008

  Responsible for managing $20 million in retail Party Ware, $10 million in Gift/Novelty, $12 million in Gift Wrap plus $15 million in promotional merchandise on an annual basis. Supervised one Assistant Buyer.•Negotiated and implement vendor contracts, charge backs, deductions, rebates and consignment agreements.•Coordinated visual promotional space allocation and planning. •Increased sales for Party favors by 30% and Pinatas by 12% versus prior year by conducting a comprehensive category review including sales, trend and margin analyses.•Managed product selection and implementation for planogram to update and expand Personalized Novelty Program that increased sales by 25% versus prior year.•Planned and selected promotional merchandise, and implemented advertising events.•Recommended and implemented mark downs based on corporate budget.•Imported merchandise from Asian suppliers.•Partnered with replenishment group for seasonal builds and other inventory issues.



Ulta Beauty

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Assistant Buyer

  • Feb 2004 - Jul 2005

  Managed over 20,000 skus producing $60 million in retail sales. Handled planograms, advertising expenses, vendor billing, visual merchandising, allocation and space planning. Supervised Buyer Assistant and Merchandise Assistant.•Generated $3 million co-op and $3.5 million in cost of good vendor funding annually.•Planned advertising events and schedules, and reviewed with vendors.•Coordinated end cap/ visual promotions, prepared signage and reviewed advertising copy.•Analyzed sales and forecasts for upcoming events, and ordered corresponding samples.•Evaluated display/ promotional merchandise sales and store needs.•Developed benchmark reports for vendors based on specific requirements.

• Sr. Replenishment Analyst

  • Jul 2000 - Feb 2004

  Managed replenishment for mass skin, hair, and sun care products plus multiple additional categories. Maintained inventory levels for over 3000 items; utilizing 150 vendors. Supervised one Expeditor.•Developed all promotional forecasts, and allocated merchandise. •Provided follow up during ads and other promotional events to insure stock position in all stores.•Analyzed program and system problems pertaining to replenishment for both stores and the distribution center.•Developed program ideas and system changes to improve planning process.•Created event calendar for replenishment team.



CMI Johnson Ross

• Purchasing Manager

  • May 1999 - Jun 2000

  Maintained inventory levels to support production needs for equipment manufacturer. Supervised staff of three including Shipping & Receiving.•Researched vendor pricing and lead-time issues.•Reduced the cost of purchased components by $1.5 million through sourcing alternative vendors.•Implemented a regular inventory counting process as well as new controls and constraints for the purchasing department.•Introduced UPS online and Fed-X shipping stations in the shipping and receiving department.•Initiated bin re-stocking program for fasteners with estimated annual cost savings of $1 million. •Established the process of reporting on manufacturer steel quotes on a bi-monthly basis with projected cost savings of $1.8 million per year.



UPS Supply Chain Solutions

• United States
• Transportation, Logistics and Storage
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consolidated Purchasing Supervisor

  • Nov 1995 - Apr 1999

  Responsible for operations at five 3rd party distribution centers nationally with nine direct reports. Acted as back-up warehouse supervisor for pick and pack group.•Ordered shipping supplies to support call center volume.•Coordinated procurement match for UPS corporate.•Initiated and audited inventory cycle counts.•Created spreadsheet system to manage purchases and seasonal inventory builds.•Partnered with IT in designing new programs to improve overall efficiencies.*Ty and Addidas also managed in Bolingbrook warehouse.