Experience

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  IVEST Consumer Partners

  • Operating Partner

    • May 2013 - Present

    Innovative consumer investors made up largely of world-class operators, IVEST brings C-Suite Fortune 500 experience to the middle market.With a unique and disciplined approach to investing, IVEST invests in companies to which they can provide transformative operational value. IVEST writes equity checks of $25-$125 million. IVEST supports management throughout the investment with their extensive operating experience and global relationships. IVEST manages over $500 million in assets and invests in innovative consumer products, consumer-facing technology, licensing, and business services companies that can benefit from IVEST's expertise and global network.

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  Robert Gruen Consulting

  • Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

  • Principal

    • Jan 2010 - Present
    • Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

    As the principal of Robert Gruen Consulting, I bring over 30 years of retail merchandising, management and marketing experience to his consulting business, where I specialize in the creation and implementation of business solutions for companies and individuals. Because of the breadth and depth of my experience, I am capable of adding value to a very wide variety of companies. I am able to properly evaluate a company's potential, step in to assist with strategic development, help find solutions to a company's most complex problems or even serve as a temporary senior executive.

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  Array Marketing

  • Canada
  • Retail
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Business Adviser

    • Dec 2012 - May 2014

    I served as a business adviser to Array Marketing. Prior to a recent change in ownership, I was the company's Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development where I oversaw the delivery of innovations in retail merchandising, creative branding concepts, in-store environments, point-of-purchase displays and fixtures to major retailers and consumer products companies worldwide.

  • Executive Vice President - Marketing and Business Development

    • Jan 2011 - Nov 2012

    I was most recently the Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Array, where I oversaw the delivery of innovations in retail merchandising, creative branding concepts, in-store environments, point-of-purchase displays and fixtures to major retailers and consumer products companies worldwide. Array is a leading designer, manufacturer and provider of custom merchandising systems and point-of-purchase displays. Array starts with exceptional strategy and design. Then, using a variety of materials, our skilled in-house engineers and production staff apply the latest manufacturing technologies and techniques. By combining industry-best design, engineering expertise and superior customer service with the speed and efficiency of in-house manufacturing, we consistently deliver the industry's most innovative solutions across all key categories: retail environments and fixtures, open service systems, counter & freestanding displays, shop in shops and kiosks. The results are solutions that win top industry awards and praise from brand marketers and retailers worldwide.Headquartered in Toronto and with Sales/Client Management Services in New York City, Array’s clients enjoy an unparalleled range of in-house services, global manufacturing capabilities, comprehensive logistics and installation, complete follow-up services and continuous creative innovationArray's website (www.arraymarketing.com) offers insight into the full range of services we provide and a portfolio representing the work we do for their clients.

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  Affinity Solutions

  • Strategic Retail Advisor

    • Jun 2010 - Dec 2010

    Affinity Solutions provides partnership-based loyalty programs for over 350 leading financial institutions, integrating customer rewards from over 15,000 national and local retailers. The result is exclusive insight into the spending behavior of more than 60 million cardholders. Our sophisticated analytics allow Affinity Solutions to target consumers based on their current shopping patterns and offer predictive modeling tools that encourage behavioral change. This enables Affinity to deliver the “right offer to the right customer at the right time,” leading to share-shift and increased customer loyalty for our financial and retailer partners.

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  Borders

  • Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing

    • Feb 2007 - Feb 2009

    Borders, a nearly $4 billion multi-channel retailer of books, movies, and music, operates borders.com and over 517 Borders superstores in the U.S.and Puerto Rico; and 466 Waldenbooks Specialty Retail stores, including Waldenbooks, Borders Express, Borders airport stores, and Borders Outlet. Responsible for the company's overall merchandising and marketing strategic direction and financial results. Reporting directly to the President and CEO, direct reports included the Senior VP of E-commerce and Digital business, the Senior VP of Multimedia, Children’s Books, Calendars and Newsstand, the VP of Adult Trade Books, the Senior VP of Merchandise Planning and Replenishment, the VP of Creative, the VP of Customer Acquisition and Retention, the VP of Content and the Director of National Events. Total staff was over 250 people.

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  HSN

  • Executive Vice President of Merchandising

    • Mar 2006 - Dec 2006

    Home Shopping Network (HSN). a $3 billion interactive multi-channel retailer offers innovative, differentiated retail experiences on TV and online, shipping 50 million products annually. HSN.com is one of the top 10 trafficked e-commerce sites, and has more than a quarter million unique users every day. Responsible for the strategic merchandising direction of the company. This included leading a team of merchants to develop and source overall merchandise assortments and products that enhanced the HSN brand while driving sales and profitability. Reporting directly to the President, direct reports included the SVP of Ready-to-wear and Accessories, the SVP of Beauty, SVP of Jewelry, the SVP of Housewares, The SVP of Health and Infomercials, the VP of Home Fashions, VP of Off-air Sales, and the SVP of Planning. Total staff was 225 people.

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  Meijer

  • Group Vice President of Softlines/Home

    • Jun 2004 - Mar 2006

    Meijer, a privately owned and operated general merchandise and food super center retailer operating 171 stores throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.Responsible for the full bottom-line profitability of the Softlines and Home areas. Challenged with turning around areas which had been underperforming for several years. Direct reports included one VP of Merchandise and six Merchandise Managers, encompassing a group of 32 buyers.

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  Parisian (Saks Department Store Group)

  • President, CEO

    • Jun 2001 - Jun 2003

    Parisian, a division of Saks, Inc., was a 42-store chain of specialty department stores generating $700 million in annual sales revenues. Responsible for the total financial results of the company. Accomplished by the development and execution of all merchandising and marketing strategies, raising the quality of individuals throughout the organization, establishing the proper organizational climate and company culture, building positive relationships with the vendor and financial community. Reporting directly to the President of the Saks Department Store Group, direct reports include: SVP-GMM of Ready-to-Wear, SVP-GMM of Accessories and Home, SVP-GMM of Men’s and Childrens, SVP of Marketing, EVP of Marketing Saks Department Store Group (shared direct report with President of Saks Department Store Group), SVP of Stores and Operations, SVP of Human Resources, and VP of Financial Planning. Member of the Saks Executive Committee.

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  Warner Bros. Consumer Products

  • Burbank, CA

  • Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing and Retail Business Development

    • Nov 1994 - Jun 2001
    • Burbank, CA

    Warner Bros. Consumer Products is an entertainment based consumer products company that generated worldwide retail sales in excess of $7.0 billion annually. Also operated 175 Studio Stores worldwide.Responsible for generating revenue by building long-term profitable brands out of Warner Bros. intellectual properties. Accomplished by developing strategic marketing and promotional plans, working directly with promotional partners and retailers worldwide, and coordinating the efforts of licensees representing 3,700 licensing agreements worldwide. Reported directly to the President, direct reports included SVP-Retail Business Development, two Marketing VP’s, VP-Creative Services, VP-Brand Assurance, VP-Promotions, Director of Trend Research, Director of Studio Stores Marketing and Promotions, and VP-Studio Stores Direct Marketing (Online and Catalogue). Participated on both the Licensing Division Operating Committee and the Executive Committee of Warner Bros. Studio Stores.

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  Roses Stores

  • Henderson, NC

  • Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing

    • Nov 1991 - Oct 1994
    • Henderson, NC

    Roses Stores, Inc. was a large under-performing discount store chain with 256 stores in 10 Southeastern states. Annual sales volume in 1993 was $1.2 billion. Responsible for the total merchandising and product replenishment operations for the entire company including the development and implementation of strategic plans and merchandise assortments designed to return the company to profitability. Direct reports included VP-GMM of Softlines, two VP-GMM’s of Hardlines, Director of Merchandise Planning and Replenishment, and Director of Special Projects. A total staff of 150 included DMM’s, Senior Buyers, Buyers, Associate Buyers, Product Distribution personnel, and Quality Assurance. Reported directly to the President/CEO, was an active participant on the Roses Operating Committee and instrumental in development of the merchandise and financial reorganization of the company.

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  Target

  • Minneapolis, MN

  • various Retail Executive Merchandising Positions

    • 1982 - 1991
    • Minneapolis, MN

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  Dayton-Hudson Corp.

  • various Retail Executive Merchandising Positions

    • 1982 - 1991

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  Selber Bros.

  • Shreveport, LA

  • VP of Merchandising

    • Jan 1980 - Jan 1982
    • Shreveport, LA

    A seven unit high quality apparel and accessories specialty retailer located in Texas and Louisiana with annual sales in 1980 of $25.0 million

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  Foley's

  • Houston, TX

  • various Retail Executive Positions

    • Sep 1973 - Jan 1980
    • Houston, TX