Brian Bengtson Email & Phone Number

Richmond, Minnesota

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

SALES LEADER / SALES STRATEGIST / PEOPLE DEVELOPER / FOUNDATION BUILDER: • Successfully cultivated and implemented a new department serving as a feeder team within the organization made up of 40 team members; Developed and oversaw 13 direct reports• Successfully led retailer/vendor campaign initiatives with high results; Oversaw Tier 1 retailer campaigns that outperformed our monthly/quarterly forecasts and plans regularly• Built operational efficiencies including reporting, dashboards in Sales Force to manage performance, clear expectations of role understanding, position recruiting descriptions, career development philosophy and strategy, quarterly and annual reviews, cross collaboration strategies between other departments, new hire onboarding training materials, all while driving results of a high growth publicly traded technology company with 74 quarters of consecutive growth• Assisted in negotiation on vendor deals and handled credit conversations with vendors in order to retain customers while being cognizant of retaining revenue• Executed new hire candidate interviews - 85+• Attained a 110% to plan in 2017 and 115% to plan in 2018• Successfully onboarded more than 25K vendors through retailer initiatives

Minneapolis, Minnesota

INSIDE SALES / ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT / SUPPLY CHAIN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT:• Responsible for new business acquisition; Skilled in identifying key decision makers, business pain and opportunity• Proven ability to solution sell and build rapport; Encourage decision makers to think outside the box educating them on changes within the retail and supply chain industry • Provide expertise in supply chain management, EDI automation and vendor/retailer collaboration • Utilize a consultative sales approach by driving relevant business conversations; Understand the prospective customers’ business needs and pains• Effectively leverage SalesForce to accurately track progress and share updates• Proven success in gaining new business, expanding customer base, and increasing overall team revenue• High adoption rate through our campaigns utilizing personal knowledge of retail industry and vendor relations

St. Paul, Minnesota (Corporate Office)

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT / SALES MANAGEMENT:• Multiple vendor business meetings each week to devise and implement marketing strategies and product assortments; Develop creative methods for beneficial partnerships• Collaborate with the Product Manager and ad teams to develop weekly advertisements; Proof all ads to ensure 100% accuracy; Approve and authorize any changes• Synchronized 70+ vendor accounts; Update and oversee immediate vendor concerns• Managed and tracked 200+ Purchase Orders at a given time; Collaborate diligently with the supply chain team and DC to ensure all orders were processed smoothly and did not experience delay• Implement creative ideas on product development process for new store items; Utilize expertise and background to increase business sales opportunities and to generate and drive revenue• Coordinate the Oracle Data Systems, write PO's, and manage complex product assortments with highest sku count of any merchandising department• Answer questions via email/phone and handle issues from all stores regarding product categoriesRETAIL SALES ADMINISTRATION:• Initiate new store opening processes for 9 stores; Key team member during planning stages• Supervise the Planogram Process (POG); Set up and develop the POG's on the internal data system so store associates could lay out merchandise to enhance product selections• Communicate projects to the stores via internal systems; Transfer products between stores• Design Point of Purchase (POP) visual pieces for end caps, signage and store products• Facilitate team building activities; Present ideas in team meetings to build momentum

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (Retail Store)

SUPERVISORY ROLE:• Managed #1 sales volume fishing department in company - 1/165 stores• Managed 15 direct reports• Department hiring process• Train and instruct new associates on store policies, sales techniques and product knowledge• Coordinate promotional events with vendors and product representatives• Managed Corporate direction POG merchandising strategies• Closely communicated with corporate office • Forecasting product; seasonality• Wrote Purchase Orders for store products• Prepared internal corporate help tickets• Set ads, made signs to ensure appropriate signage was posted prior to store opening• Monitor inventory levels and initiate steps to restock merchandise for customer satisfaction• Opened/closed store while overseeing 10-20 employees at a given time• Tracked seasonal merchandise and removed items from sales floor to reduce inventory• Listened to customer’s questions, identified needs and recommended products to suit needs• Built life-long customers

Wayzata, Minnesota

• Operated and ran own independent insurance business• Developed creative marketing strategies and business plans• Generated and drove revenue while meeting all personally set goals• Initiated networking plans to build business relationships and grow business opportunities• Administered complex data systems • Reviewed and analyzed multiple insurance carriers to determine the most beneficial carrier• Arranged appointments, explained policies and finalized contracts

Eden Prairie, Minnesota (Retail Store)

LEADERSHIP / GROWTH ROLE:• Train and instruct new associates on store policies, sales techniques and product knowledge• Coordinate promotional events with vendors and product representatives• Closely communicate with corporate office • Forecasting product; seasonality• Wrote Purchase Orders for store products• Prepared internal corporate help tickets• Set ads, made signs to ensure appropriate signage was posted prior to store opening• Monitor inventory levels and initiate steps to restock merchandise for customer satisfaction• Experience on store opening and closing procedures• Track seasonal merchandise and remove items from sales floor to reduce inventory• Listened to customer’s questions, identified needs and recommended products to suit needs• Built life-long customers

Lakeville, Minnesota (Retail Store)

SALES FLOOR / RETAIL EXPERTISE:• Listened to customer’s questions, identified needs and recommended products to suit needs• Apply product labels accordingly and merchandise department to corporate direction• Knowledge of freight shipments with experience unloading trucks• Set ads, make signs, and ensure appropriate signage was posted prior to store opening• Built life-long customers who sought out assistance after Bloomington store closed