Experience

Self-employed

• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President

  • Jun 2017 - Present

• Senior Category Manager

  • May 2016 - Present

  Category responsibilities include Pets, Automotive, Hardware, and Seasonal. Responsible for translating strategic plans into projected profitable purchasing and merchandising tactics. Utilizing industry and supplier knowledge to optimize and tailor initially planned assortments for maximum alignment with core customers' preferences and current trends.



Country Silk

• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Seasonal Merchandiser

  • Aug 2012 - Jul 2013

  Lead Merchandising Developer for product line expansion to encompass various seasonal categories including electrical light sets, seasonal decorations, and paper products. * Worked directly with overseas factories to develop and extended import supplier base consistent with company goals for quality, value and reliability. * Collaborated with Executive team, existing sourcing office and operations team to tailor a specific, new merchandise assortment targeting various consumer profiles in addition to recommending and implementing beneficial adjustments to baseline programs. * Generated new accounts and additional sales by networking with extensive industry contacts internationally and domestically. Show less



Family Dollar Stores

• United States
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Category Manager/Sourcing Lead

  • Sep 1996 - Jun 2012

  Volume- $270 million Lead category management teams for areas as diverse as stationery, seasonal home d�cor, and Lawn and Garden. Grew market share in Lawn and Garden by 80 basis points from 2010 to 2012. Increased achieved GM% by 200 basis points for the Seasonal category and by 400 basis points for the Lawn and Garden category from 2009 to 2012. Team lead for development of multi category assortment planning tool designed to optimize cluster level sales and productivity levels and develop customer centric merchandise assortments. Accelerated national chain global sourcing plans by assisting in initial training of overseas merchandising staff, establishing auction procedures and streamlining new supplier vetting procedures. Initiated and developed greeting card program with direct shipments and 3rd party maintenance with nationally established greeting card resource resulting in program sales of over $10 million and margin dollars surpassing category goals. Achieved productivity with seasonal merchandise assortments that significantly outpaced company benchmarks. For example, Halloween 2011 achieved 78% sell thru prior to markdowns at an initial margin of 62.0%. Increased seasonal comp store sales by 60% during tenure and increased Lawn and Garden sales by 72% during this period. Developed multiple strategic alliances with overseas factory resources for purchases eliminating the commissions paid to trading companies. Developed, coordinated and executed all print media marketing plans for categories emphasizing margin protection and basket building. Show less



Family Dollar

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Buyer- Seasonal

  • 1996 - 2012

  managed seasonal and Lawn and Garden categories 1) assortment plannng 2) Global sourcing 3) Planogram execution 4) Schematic management 5) exit strategies managed seasonal and Lawn and Garden categories 1) assortment plannng 2) Global sourcing 3) Planogram execution 4) Schematic management 5) exit strategies



McCrory Stores

• United States
• Veterinary Services

• Store Manager/Asst. Buyer/Buyer

  • Sep 1984 - Dec 1995

  Artificial Flowers, Lawn D�cor, Home D�cor, Small Appliances, Seasonal Decorations Artificial Flowers, Lawn D�cor, Home D�cor, Small Appliances, Seasonal Decorations