Cory Ellis Email and Phone Number

Senior executive with overarching responsibility for the strategic direction and operational execution of Kroger's General Merchandise (GM) Home division. Directs a highly skilled team of 90+ merchants and planners, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. Instrumental in driving substantial revenue growth, enhancing market share, and pioneering industry- leading merchandising strategies.• Leadership & Team Management: Lead and inspire a dynamic team of 90+ associates, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.• Sales & Financial Management: Manage annual sales exceeding $2.1 billion, consistently achieving growth in sales, profit, and market share.• Strategic Assortment Planning: Develop and execute strategic assortment plans, ensuring optimal product mix and alignment with consumer trends and business objectives.• Inventory Management: Optimize inventory levels to maximize turnover and minimize excess stock, enhancing overall efficiency and profitability.• Marketing & Promotions: Drive impactful marketing campaigns and promotions, leveraging data-driven insights to boost consumer engagement and sales.• Private Label Development: Oversee the development and growth of private label brands, enhancing brand equity and consumer loyalty.• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with Merchandising, Design, Technical Design, Marketing, Product Developers, and Financial Planning teams to align on product strategies and execution.• Consumer & Market Insights: Maintain a keen understanding of consumer behavior, market trends, and competitive landscape to inform product development and marketing strategies.• Presentation & Communication: Deliver compelling presentations to senior leadership and key stakeholders, effectively communicating product vision, strategy, and performance.

Led a team of 35 associates, managing an $800M business. Successfully launched a new prototype Home Electronics department for the Fred Meyer division, resulting in record- breaking sales growth. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive product strategy, optimize inventory, and enhance customer experience.• Ownership & Strategy: Managed an $800 million business in the Toys & Electronics categories.• Team Leader: Led a team of 35 associates, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.• Cross-Functional Excellence: Collaborated with Merchandising, Design, and Marketing teams to drive product strategy and execution.• Inventory & Financial Discipline: Optimized inventory management to maximize turnover and reduce excess stock. Analyzed consumer behavior and market trends to inform product development and merchandising decisions.

Drove the merchandising, profitability, and sales efforts for $1.2 billion in annual revenue across all Fred Meyer stores. Developed and executed comprehensive merchandising strategies, optimized inventory levels, and collaborated with cross-functional teams to drive performance. Managed vendor relationships and led a team of merchandising professionals to achieve financial targets and enhance store presentation.• Merchandising Strategy: Developed and implemented merchandising strategies to optimize product assortment and align with market trends and consumer preferences.• Financial Ownership: Managed $1.2 billion in annual revenue, driving initiatives to achieve financial targets and enhance overall store performance.• Inventory Readiness: Optimized inventory levels across 100+ stores to maximize product availability and improve turnover rates.• Innovative Leadership: Led and mentored a team of merchandising professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.• “One Team” Mentality: Collaborated with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Store Operations, and Finance to ensure seamless execution of merchandising strategies and promotional campaigns.

Led the merchandising and planning efforts for multiple categories, including Housewares, Seasonal, Storage, Home Electronics, and more, across over 2400 Kroger stores. Managed large teams of buyers, planners, and administrative support, driving strategic initiatives to optimize product assortment, inventory management, and sales performance. Achieved record sales and managed significant budgets and inventory levels. Collaborated extensively with cross- functional teams to ensure the successful execution of product strategies and marketing campaigns.• Team Leadership: Led a team of 28 associates, including buyers, assistant buyers, and administrative support, to drive sales and margin for Housewares, Seasonal, and Storage categories.• Sales Achievement: Managed sales, margin, and advertising for over 2400 Kroger stores, achieving a record sales year in 2017 with $1.1 billion in revenue.• Planning Management: Oversaw a team of 21 planners and replenishment buyers for Home & Home Electronics, responsible for corporate budgets, forecasting, and store inventory.• Merchandising Plans: Developed and executed comprehensive merchandising plans for categories including housewares, domestics, furniture, seasonal, and electronics, managing a $1.5 billion business.• Cross-functional Collaboration: Worked closely with Merchandising, Design, Marketing, and Operations teams to ensure alignment on product strategies and execution, contributing to consistent sales growth and profitability.• Consumer Insights: Analyzed consumer behavior, market trends, and competitive landscape to inform product development and merchandising decisions.

Oversee the planning department for Housewares, Domestics, Decor, Furniture, Seasonal and Electronics for the Kroger Enterprise.

Oversee the planning department for Home Electronics

Merchandise Planner for the Garden Center. Manage the open to buy as well as store allocations.

Purchase video game hardware, software and accessories for the company

Merchandise planning for Seasonal and Storage

Assistant Buyer in Housewares