Acer holds an enviable position in the Canadian PC marketplace. The company typically holds the #1 or #2 market share in notebooks, monitors and desktops in the country!As Retail Sales Manager, I am currently tasked with two key strategic accounts, Best Buy and Amazon.ca. During my time at Acer, I've also managed the Staples Canada business, alongside several other accounts including Canadian Tire and London Drugs. Working closely with the buying teams and our distribution partners, as well as the Acer product management team, I direct the product assortment, guide the ad plans and manage inventory levels. I have also been responsible for driving traffic and converting sales on the Acer.ca web-store, using analytics to determine how best to apportion our budget. I am particularly proud to have been successful in engaging with and signing London Drugs as a retail customer. This account far surpassed all expectations out of the gate, and achieved more than $11mm in sell-through in the first 12 months.

I had always wanted to try my hand at working for myself. Gladman Marketing & Sales provided marketing and sales support services to clients in the Consumer Products space, with an expertise in computer hardware, software and games.Sales contracts included managing the Canadian business for several US-based vendors, including SteelSeries and Carson Optical. I enjoyed growing the business through national retail partners like Staples, WalMart, The Source, EB Games and others.

Reporting directly to the President, I provided overall strategy, research, planning implementation and analysis of all brand building and awareness initiatives for the Interactive product lines (including Webkinz) to drive market share, revenue and growth.I was responsible for annual brand revenues in excess of $160,000,000 with authority over Line Planning, Merchandising and Marketing, Licensing, Pricing, Projections and Financial Analysis, Brand Growth Strategies, Social Media Marketing and Promotions. High points included the creation of several unique packaging and promotion initiatives for older products which resulted in sell-through of more than $1,000,000 in dated inventory and a direct boost to bottom-line income, as well as the launch of a new Interactive brand. My management and mentoring continued with the supervision and development of one direct report (PR Coordinator).

For my "second go-around" with this independent videogame publisher, I reported directly to the CEO. As in my prior stint with the company, I prepared games for release in North America and worked with territory managers overseas to deliver materials suitable for production in their territories. I was ultimately accountable for achieving sell-through forecasts.I was fully responsible for brand P&L; budget management, full marketing and product strategies including packaging, advertising, Social Media marketing programs, global sales and marketing support. I managed account-specific trade marketing programs, including ads, displays, end caps, flyers, etc. Using my innate understanding of the industry, I developed written marketing launch plans, including fully integrated global PR and advertising plans. Working closely with internal personnel and outside third-parties, including agencies, licensors and co-marketing partners, I successfully executed on the plans.I particularly enjoyed the Sales support part of the job. Initiatives included the composition of all collateral, joining the sales people on calls to key accounts and the creation and execution of web-based sales meetings and training. I exhibited our products at trade shows and attended shows to review competitors' products. Quarterly, I set out on press tours, meeting key media personnel and fostering long-term relationships.

This company produced and distributed children's television programming, both animated and live action. My main responsibility was to generate profitable sales revenue through the acquisition of licensees and maintenance of existing licensees and agents.As one of six initial department members, I established Canadian licensing sales targets and programs for the 2007 programming schedule. In the first six months, I secured more than $200,000 in licensing guarantees, and met regularly with major Canadian retailers to present properties and licensees, and to develop and plan promotional activities.

Filling in on a Maternity Leave contract, I thrived in this 1-year contract where I was entrusted with established brands like PlaySkool, Play-Doh, Lite-Brite, Tonka and Mr. Potato Head, with yearly revenues in excess of $25 million annually.I had one of my career high-points here, where I successfully reinvigorated the PlaySkool brand in Canada with a WalMart exclusive marketing program to drive 2006 Playskool forecast to 40%+ growth. I also drove the independent Canadian online and broadcast advertising program for Play-Doh's 50th Anniversary.This was a challenging and rewarding role, where I was able to create and maintain my category's financial and media budget, managing a yearly media plan of approximately $3 million. I worked closely with international colleagues on Brand Strategy and execution, and with overseas manufacturing on forecasting and logistics.

I reported directly to the V.P. of Marketing, and was responsible for the release of 17 games. Getting a videogame to market is a challenge, but extremely rewarding! I was fully accountable for Brand P&L, budget management and allocation, full marketing and product strategies including packaging, inventory, global sales and marketing support. I developed written marketing launch plans, including fully integrated global PR and advertising plans.

I was a key member of the launch team where I drove development of the brand and website image as well as the Promotional Strategy, Lead Generation, Affiliate Program and all customer communications. Microplay was a Franchise organization, and I worked closely with Franchisees, creating nationwide marketing programs to drive & grow business. I managed and mentored two direct reports (Customer Service Representatives).

Product Marketing for this Fortune 125 distributor of computer hardware and software products.