Brian Zapien Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois

Directly responsible for marketing and branding initiatives including packaging, new product marketing, trade show branding and displays, merchandising, as well as other promotional initiatives.

Mt. Prospect, Il

Managed all merchandising elements, from concept to completion, for the Accessories division of Bosch Tools Corporation in the North American market. Accountable for supply chain, inventory, cost reduction, vendor relationships, and collaboration with channel management fulfillment needs for key retail and commercial accounts.• Optimized the use of retail space that maximized engagement and enhanced the customer shopping experience; ensured multi-channel marketing efforts were met and the brand message appropriately communicated key features/benefits that drove category growth.• Ensured implementation and optimization of merchandising strategies by developing and driving executions for new products and campaign roll-outs focused on key conversion drivers. • Collaborated and led cross-functional teams in designing, developing and implementing award-winning merchandising concepts and special initiatives for nationally recognized retailers. Major executions included: Bosch System Specialist, Bosch Trade Expert, Bosch OMT multi-media display and Daredevil countertop display. • Expert knowledge of retailer merchandising standards for in-store displays at The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Walmart, Costco, Sears, Ace Hardware, and True Value.• Experienced with spearheading multi-advertiser programs and coop marketing campaigns for Bosch, Bosch Accessories, Vermont American, Skil, and Daredevil.• Responsible for ensuring that budgets and financial projections were accurate for all merchandising executions. • Successfully reduced costs in fulfillment center activities by 6.2% in 2011 and 6.7% in 2012.• Obtained a 12.3% cost reduction in supply chain inventory initiatives in 2012.• Achieved overall budget reduction of 2.4% in 2012.

• Successfully enhanced brand awareness and new product innovation by educating store associates through product knowledge training classes and monthly demand creation events that drove sales through product demonstrations and promotional in-store events.• Heavy emphasis on building strong marketing initiatives that obtained maximum store exposure using various merchandising components, cross merchandising promotions through strategic brand placement and brand awareness.• Responsible for sales and service for 35 stores in the Central Region including The Home Depot, Lowe’s and Menards for the following brands: Bosch, Skil, Dremel, Rotozip and Vermont American. • Consistently achieved territory and national sales goals by maintaining strong relationships with retail management, regional managers and market leaders by providing exceptional customer service that optimized sales and profits.

• Managed the sales events for the Central Region that supported the Retail Sales Representatives in the field.• Oversaw all set-up and teardown activities of marketing tool displays, work stations, and demo/display tools. • Conducted product demonstration presentations to end consumers that allowed hands-on interaction with the tool(s) that fostered brand engagement and product knowledge sharing.

Managed sales and service for 14 Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and 16 Home Depot stores in the Chicago area. • Coordinated with store managers and third party suppliers to identify strategies that ensured retail sales growth, while achieving high levels of customer satisfaction and service.• Effectively managed special promotions, cross merchandising initiatives and successfully implemented training classes and marketing materials for sales specialists, installers, and retail associates to increase product knowledge and promote sales.• Recognized for achieving one of the lowest sales to claims ratios out of 85 representatives nationwide and exceeded national sales goals in 2005.• Received a “Quick Hit Excellence Award”. • Serviced 10 additional stores in North Dakota and Minnesota for 8 months in addition to regular territory assignments. • Co-managed the opening of 10 new stores in four states over a 4 month period. • Selected by peers to be the Merchandising Focus Group Captain.

Chicago And Philadelphia Markets

• Implemented strategic and tactical promotional marketing programs focused around shopper marketing initiatives, category management, traffic flow analytics, merchandising, and planograms that increased visibility at POS to drive purchase incentives. • Effectively managed 40 people across 6 stores while at Jewel.• Responsible for the management of 75 people across 9 stores with Genuardi's.

Illustration And Graphic Design

Associate'S Degree, Art / Graphic Design