Colin Jess Email & Phone Number

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Job Requirements: Improve and create merchandising policy. Create standardization and flow to the entire branch network. Understand regional need. Analyzing product mix and working with the category management team to identify products and categories to keep, increase or remove based on KPI review. Create metrics for program post mortems (sales targets: unit & revenue, product turns, understanding and allowing for logistics timelines.)Key Achievements:• Creating an effective merchandising strategy. Provide an effective model for standardizing how branches would locate and layout their products. Previously no such strategy had been effectively established. Every branch was different and was not held to a display or product flow standard.• Executing programs by engaging with the buying teams as well as supply chain to ensure that all pieces were in place to launch and roll out any merchandising or promotional programs to the branch network; which included writing and collaborating on policies and procedures for how the promotions should be run from beginning to end.• Multitasking was needed to balance multiple projects simultaneously, as well as manage different team and vendors involved with the business. Having to switch between projects numerous times in a day and have all information at my fingers tips was key to ensuring projects stayed on time and that everyone was kept up to date.• Analytics and Data were the driving force behind all of our product decisions, discussion and assumptions were often discussed regarding products and programs, but they were always backed up and validated with data and trends before any actions were formally taken. So that all decisions could be back up and provide clear insights to senior management.

Mississauga, Ontario

Managing budgets, promotional execution, off shelf execution, Network with global divisions for sharing and development opportunities, coupon and rebate execution, line reviews, product setup with accounts (Walmart, Home Hardware, Canac, BMR, Kent, Home Depot, CTC, Loblaw, Lowes, TSC), coordination of program executions with field sales teams. Analyze outsourced marketing data and AC Neilson data, study Google analytics, Google Ad Words and look for KPI’s, Basic Photoshop and Illustrator design, SEO & SEM digital management, digital PPC advertising and post mortems, packaging design and creation. Responsible for product forecasting through SAP and development of a 3 year strategic marketing plan.• Fiscal Responsibility, being held accountable for the cost of all off shelf programs, coupons & rebates and national promotions. Presenting the final costs of the programs to the finance for approval before executing. Detailing marketing costs, material costs, field execution costs, and display material and assembly costs. Factoring in VAT taxes and FX rates where applicable. • Creatively and effectively executing all off shelf and display programs, marketing initiatives to the automotive retail and after market with unique and strong visuals while maintaining the global messaging that has been established around both the brand and the product line up. Using both traditional and digital media, PR and influencer campaigns, social media, promotions, email marketing and contests. Ensuring that we hit out impressions.• Driving both the business inventory and sales dollars to achieve the annual operating plan (AOP) and exceed the forecasted amounts. By driving market strategies, national promotions and sales programs, PR requests, trade show support and marketing materials.

Toronto, Canada Area

Job Requirements: Budgeting, Forecasting, Analytics, Product Line Reviews, Account Management, Reports and Presentations, Networking and Collaboration, Space Planning, Sales, Lead Generation, Negotiation, Trade Shows, Database Management, Time Management, Microsoft Office, Merchandise Execution, JDA Planogram Software, Big Box Store Operations, As 400 expertise, Microsoft Office Suite, Competitive Analysis and Line Reviews.Key Achievements:• Entrepreneurial Attitude and Determination helped launch a new extended stock kitchen cabinet program with Home Depot Canada. Averaged $100,000 in the stores that participated in the initial launch.• Resourcefulness and Experience, allowed for the Compilation of market and competitive information for vanities sold to all major retailers. This was used for line reviews we presented to both Lowes and Home Depot the beginning of 2015 for Vanities and Kitchens.• Strong Selling and Support, led to increased sales with in-stock kitchen cabinet program. We have increased the number of finishes and store carrying the product in 2014.• Analysis of financial data proved useful in growing the market and looking for opportunities to increase market share.• Instrumental in setting up new stores, renovating existing locations, completing warranty home inspections as required.• Empowering Leadership of field representatives, nurturing the team of representatives to foster relationships and increase opportunities and product knowledge base of clients and customers.

Mississauga, Ontario

Job Requirements: Staffing, Budgeting, Forecasting, Analytics, Account Management, Reports and Presentations, Networking and Collaboration, Space Planning, Sales, Lead Generation, Negotiation, Trade Shows, Database Management, Time Management, Microsoft Office, Merchandise Execution, JDA Planogram Software, Big Box Store Operations, As 400 expertise, Microsoft Office Suite.Key Achievements:• Proactively initiated programs and standards, which led to the increase of Ontario market revenues by 60 percent. Oversaw expansion of the employee base from 10 to 36 representatives in the field, and growth of store count from 28 to 80. Stayed under forecasted budget and provided increases in the profit margin in Ontario. Provided reports and presentations of financial and regional successes to President monthly.• Aggressively drove sales on seasonal and promotional items by using merchandising knowledge and experience to expertly complete all merchandising projects for RONA in Ontario. Identified potential issues and opportunities with planograms or projects and notified relevant stakeholders through weekly reports and presentations. • Problem Solving and Analytics allowed review of RONA’s products, their life cycle, compared pricing to competitors, product locations in store and the sales generated from those locations, seasonality of products, planograms and how to improve them, addressed any deficiencies with planograms (POGs) that were brought up, assessed individual markets when determining layout and product assortment. • Strong initiative, time management, and analytic skills focused the Ontario market and ensured completion of all projects on time or earlier than targeted. Attention to detail meant necessary changes and adjustments to RONA supplied planograms (POGs) and merchandising were adjusted as required. Collaborated with suppliers and RONA to make adjustments to the planograms, using JDA space planning software.

Brampton, Ontario

Managed a team of 15 reps across Ontario. We were responsible for setting up, maintaining and returning damaged goods that were supplied by various vendors to Home Depot, Rona and Lowes.I handled all staffing, budgets and forecasting for the company in the province. I was also in charge of all account management for any factories that were in the province.

Ontario, Canada

Worked Part-Time, laterally moving to full time at the completion of school.I was in charge of maintaining products in store for a major hardware retailer on behalf of the product suppliers. We handled defective products, bay maintenance, product changes (Due to seasonality of product life cycle), and setup of visual floor displays and cross merchandising. I assisted with these processes from Windsor to Kingston in the Ontario market.

Bachelor Of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

Diploma, Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services