Chad Saunders Email & Phone Number

Oakville, On, Ca

Canada

Created Canada's first Fair Trade, Living Wage, Organic Cotton/Recycled Polyester Campus Branded Hoodie and Crew Neck. Working with brilliant minds to create real and measurable impact. Encouraging and validating a strong and healthy market for Fairtrade Certified cotton in Canada. Supporting a non-profit co-operative of students and faculty that teach about sustainable business through experiential education. Protecting the environment with organically grown cotton.

Ottawa, Canada Area

The CANCOLL team supports almost 50 member stores from Victoria, BC to St. John's, NL. The Canadian Collegiate Buying Group (CANCOLL) is Canada’s largest college and university buying group, and our work brings great value to students across Canada.

Working with campus retail industry leaders to support and advocate for students, faculty and bookstores across Canada.

Toronto, Canada Area

- Led acquisition and successful expansion of Westhall Apparel, partnering with more than 100 Post Secondary Institutions. Led the vertically integrated manufacturing build out, collection development/sourcing, merchandise planning, inventory management, business development and sales.- Launched Nelson’s innovative used/rental textbook program- Management of key retail/ecommerce accounts including Amazon, Indigo, Walmart, Costco, Staples, etc.

- Leader for all aspects of the retail operations on the four campuses for the U of T and OCAD University with complete P&L accountability. - Launched vertical integration strategy for apparel and an innovative and service focused supplier of apparel to other campus retailers, Campus Outfitters (campusoutfitters.ca).- Responsible for all areas of retail including Buying, Financial Planning, Store Operations, Marketing/Ecommerce, Finance, Loss Prevention, Logistics/Supply Chain, Systems, and Human Resources.- Leader in textbook affordability - first to launch rental textbooks in Canada, grew used book revenue significantly and the launch of a ground breaking competitive pricing strategy for textbooks.- Operated Canada's largest campus computer shop, including the launch of a multi-brand cell phone dealership and the management of a significant corporate/institutional business.- Positioned UTP as an innovator in campus retail through a number of leading initiatives including the launch a full cell phone dealership in-store, first owner in Toronto of a print on demand Espresso Book Machine, launch of co-branded Roots apparel, introduction of value priced apparel, and in-house decoration with embroidery, garment printing and heat transfer.

- Responsible for the buying team for Wal-Mart's Canada's largest divisional area including overall strategy and execution of all major electronics, wireless, movies, music, gaming and accessories- Consistently led the organization in financials delivering top sales and profit growth.- Achieved the top merchant score for associate engagement.- Grew market share and business substantially in key targeted businesses- Rebuilt key brand relationships.- Together with Wal-Mart US, secured Dell for first to retail in North America.- Developed the store of the future concept – open in Heartland - Acted as company liaison in media interviews, the annual shareholders meeting and the annual worldwide analyst meeting

- Responsible for the buying team for DVD, Speakers, Receivers, Home Theatre in a Box, Digital Home, Shelf Systems, Boom Box, Clock Radio, and Personal CD in both Future Shop and Best Buy stores. - Several successful initiatives in securing great deals, new product launches, in store display, marketing, ecommerce, sales floor training & contests, and differentiating the two retail floors.- Built and leveraged relationships with counterparts at Best Buy USA.- Secured several exclusives in all key categories for 2006.- Grew market share in audio categories during challenging market conditions.- Maximized profit in commoditized product categories VCR, DVD, Personal CD.

- Responsible for the buying team for Dinnerware, Ceramics, Silver, Crystal, Glass, Drinkware, Flatware, Table and Kitchen Linens in both Winners and Homesense stores.- Worked in partnership with USA based counterparts at TJX.- Extensive market travel with buyers to build vendor relationships and open new key brands. - Coaching and developing buyers on the market and in the office.- Strategically focused on driving sales by maintaining open to buy, re-balancing resources to driver businesses, re-evaluating product mix and taste levels, managing country of origin and price point mix, and differentiating Winners and Homesense boxes.

Identified as a fast track growth candidate and promoted into a wide variety of progressive leadership positions in Buying, Replenishment, Store Operations and Human Resources.- Jan 2003 to Oct 2003 GMM, Home Fashions- Feb 2002 to Jan 2003 Sn. Manager Replenishment and Planning, Hardlines- Oct 2001 to Feb 2002 Replenishment Manager, Food & Consum.- May 2001 to Oct 2001 Sn.Buyer, Hardware, Auto, Paint- Aug 2000 to Apr 2001 Buyer, Bedding- Aug 1998 to Jul 2000 Buyer, Bath Fashions- Feb 1998 to May 1999 President’s Council, HBC- Feb 1998 to Jul 1998 Buyer-in-training, Basic Bedding- Jun 1997 to Jan 1998 Store Human Resource & Ops Manager- Apr 1996 to May 1997 Store Hardlines Merchandise Supervisor

Executive U Certificate - Leadership And Transforming Culture

Bachelor Of Commerce, Honours Marketing

Activities and Societies: President, Management Information Systems Student's Society

Walton School Of Retailing; Leading Self, Others & Teams; Performance Improvement Coaching

Certificate In Human Resource Management