Experience

Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply

• United States
• Retail
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Buyer - Firearms, Optics, and Ammunition

  • Dec 2017 - Present

  Category leader as it relates to product assortment, pricing, and stock levels for 34 stores. Balance the needs of stores and customers while achieving financial results. Drive sales growth through listening to stores, industry peers, and other sources to meet customer demand. Maintain high in-stock rates, healthy turns, strong margins, and a high level of product knowledge. Structure and maintain product data to support an understanding of key metrics. Build a strong product assortment with suppliers and negotiate improved programs related to all aspects of vendor partnerships. Attend trade shows and network with industry peers to identify market trends. Partner with Planning Analyst to achieve planned sales, margin and inventory turn targets. Partner with Logistics to realize freight savings & efficiency. Partner with Marketing to drive effective promotions. Partner with Training Coordinator to deploy effective product training. Partner with Operations to gather feedback and take appropriate action. Partner with Finance to maintain an accurate and efficient billing process. Partner with eCommerce to ensure proper product assets are in place to support online sales. Provide effective leadership to Purchasing Assistant. Develop and deploy an effective inventory management plan. Selected Achievements: • From 2017-2019, increased sales by 45%, increased gross margin rate by 345 bps, and improved inventory turns by over 25% Show less



Cabela's

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Category Manager - New Handguns

  • Jun 2015 - Dec 2017

  Execution of a $200 million plus category in the retail channel. Develop and maintain the retail assortment for 78 stores. Negotiate buys. Coordinate with Space Planning to facilitate product placement and merchandising in each retail location. Execute retail advertising strategy and selection. Conduct competitive analysis on retail ads, pricing strategy, and product offering. Manage retail life cycle of product such as unplanned inventory, under-performing products, calendar management, and retail trends. Support product development including exclusives, special buys, and first-to-market. Support new store openings.Selected Achievements:• Grew handgun sales by 60% from 2014-2016• Awarded Boone & Crocket award for best monthly category performance three times in each of the last two years (maximum allowed)• 2016 Category of the Year Show less

• Assortment & Item Planner - Marine Electronics, Marine Accessories, Boats, ATVs, & Tractors

  • Sep 2013 - Jun 2015

  Develop and execute strategies that maximize sales and gross profit by optimizing the assortment by channel. Responsible for both pre-season and in-season product analysis. Provide a link between the plan and the buy. Work with the merchant teams, planners, and vendor community. Build item plans to maximize inventory investment, forecast demand plan needs, and build assortment plans to meet financial goals. Build and maintain financial plans for each location. Conduct monthly performance reviews with retail managers. Make key decisions and manage the overall assortment strategy for the category. Play a material role in all assortment strategies, pre-season and in-season management, buys, flow of product, and vendor management.Selected Achievements:• Designed, built, and implemented new processes for forecasting, planning, ordering, and in-season management of boats, ATVs, and tractors• Designed, built and implemented Vendor Managed Inventory process for Marine Electronics• Awarded category of the year in 2015 for Marine Electronics Show less

• Replenishment & Allocation Analyst - Marine Electronics & Marine Accessories

  • Jul 2012 - Sep 2013

  Develop and execute strategies that optimize sales, inventory and ROI through effective distribution and transfer of product. Forecast and manage merchandise replenishment for vendor to DC, store direct, cross dock and DC to store orders. Ensure inventory arrives at the DC and the movement of inventory to the stores is timely. Analyze retail store inventory, including retail flyer performance. Make key decisions and manage all aspects of $100 million worth of inventory. Manage vendor relationships and play a material role in all buying decisions.Selected Achievements:• Managed and hosted weekly conference calls with multiple strategic vendor partners that led to improved delivery performance, production forecasting, in-stock rates, reduced backorders, product development, and overall collaboration Show less



U.S. Bank

• United States
• Banking
• 700 & Above Employee

• Personal Banker

  • Nov 2009 - Jul 2012

  Actively develop new business and expand existing customer relationships. Assess and handle customers' banking needs. Obtain and process customer/account information. Sell bank deposit and loan products and services. Actively refer clients for brokerage products to financial specialist or the appropriate financial consultant. Originate and close consumer loans, open accounts, perform safe deposit transactions, and branch opening/closing procedures. Refer other U.S. Bank products to the appropriate areas. Handle complex customer service issues. Selected Achievements: • Received Star of Excellence Award six of last eight quarters and two Top Performer Awards for sales performance Show less



Cabela's

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Optics Product Specialist, Hunting/Firearms Department Lead, Lead Mentor Training Outfitter

  • Aug 2004 - Dec 2011

  Manage all aspects of the Hunting/Firearms department. Meet department sales goals as well as CLUB card referral goals. Develop personal rapport while outfitting customers in a one-on-one relationship. Supervise approximately 25 employees. Merchandise products. Modify, improve, and execute planograms. Ensure proper quantities of product are on hand and available to customers. Interview applicants and write performance reviews. Train new and current employees on product knowledge and selling process. Work as a team member to implement mentor training program. Selected Achievements: • Set optics records for annual store sales as well as consecutive weeks of increased sales vs. LY Show less