Cory Russell Email & Phone Number

Simi Valley, Ca

Consulting for suppliers that want their offering placed with eCommerce as well as Brick and Mortar retailers. We provide: Strategic Consulting, including business plan & sales strategy development. Sales, Marketing & Operations Management. Strategic & Tactical Plan Development & Execution. Key Account Management • Programs, Incentives & Promotions. Market Research • Executive Presentations. Strategic Partnerships • Staff Leadership & Development • Vendor Relations. P&L Management and Business Development.

Simi Valley, Ca

Promoted by parent company SMC to lead a start-up garden, kitchen, bath and home décor product company, Malibu Creations; conducted market research and developed strategies and programs to market products in wholesale, retail and online markets. Transitioned Malibu Creations to new leadership to pursue direct sales model; assumed start-up of Zingz & Thingz, a 900+ product, 10+ category business unit selling décor items via online, catalog, promotional companies and retail brick and mortar stores. Developed 70+ exclusive products for major retailers. Asked to resume leadership of Malibu Creations concurrent with Zingz & Thingz; oversee all operations—manage P&L, forecasting, budgeting, business development, marketing, advertising, strategic partnering, human resources, etc. Hired and lead national representative agencies to call on industry-leading wholesale, retail, catalog and Internet retailers. • Grew Zingz & Thingz to multi-million company; on track for 50%+ growth in 2015. • Built Malibu Creations from zero sales to $1.M+ within two years; with average gross profit of 50+%.• Established and/or re-established relationships with big box retailers, wholesalers and on-line merchants such as, Wayfair, Joss and Main, Bed Bath & Beyond, One Kings Lane, Beyond the Rack, Hayneedle, Unbeatable Sales, 7th Avenue, Mason Companies, Current USA (Lillian Vernon), Target, Shoopfreely.com, Zulily.com, Cymax.com and Overstock.com; secured commitments and orders for Zingz & Thingz and Malibu Creations. • Conducted extensive research to identify product offerings in wholesale, direct retail, on line and flash website environments. Analyzed categories and products; isolated price points and products that filled gaps in current product offerings. • Established retail sales prices to allow retailers a 60%+ gross margin and demonstrate added value at retail.• Created drop ship and EDI programs; trained distribution and accounting on how to utilize EDI.

Simi Valley, Ca

Recruited back by SMC for extensive retail management expertise, in preparation for launch and leadership of Malibu Creations business. Assumed this short-term role to gain expertise in Internet sales and marketing; website design and functionality in preparation for start-up executive position. Provided customer service, education and support with back-office functions, website functionality, and business reporting needs. Supported base of ~5K customers.

Gardena, Ca

Oversaw the development of an expansion B2B division targeting major housewares and giftware importers and companies. Developed sales & marketing strategies and tactics, customer contact and presentation formats. Created sales and service infrastructures for improved customer support. • Supplied tactical oversight to grow sales to $1.2M; secured approximately 10 key accounts. • Implemented a warehouse management system for EDI ordering and on-line tracking that streamlined internal ordering process considerably.• Designed company brochure outlining distribution services and highlighting profitable, value-added services.

Simi Valley, Ca

Initially hired as an inside sales professional; sold 3K+ products at wholesale to start-up businesses engaging in wholesale/retail market via Internet, retail stores, display merchandising and catalog distribution. Surpassed goals consistently; earned multiple sales awards and promoted to Business Coach Trainer. Mentored and trained 50+ Business Coaches.• Designed and implemented Business Coach Training program; created training manual and trained employees in classroom and on the sales floor. • Monitored calls and taught Business Coaches to move sales calls from rapport-building to closing.• Executed rapid turnaround of faltering team; team moved to meet quotas within 2 weeks of training.• Boosted revenues 24%.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Led sales & marketing for a B2B hardware and housewares product sales company with $125M+ in revenues; represented more than 40 manufacturers in retail marketplace. Guided and supported efforts of 45 sales and service representatives. Developed incentive and promotions programs, merchandising pieces and other collateral to increase product visibility and sales. Called on major national accounts such as, Home Depot, Walmart, Costco, Lowe’s and California Hardware Distributor. • Negotiated merger of two organizations, each with ~$20M in revenues in 1988; grew sales to $50M in first year; ultimately to $125M.• Increased company revenues by 28%, from $78 to $100M, through creation of service company within organization to capitalize on sales within existing customer base to provide merchandising services such as store and promotion sets, shelf stocking and facing. • Grew Genie sales from <$1M to $5M in one client account, through development and execution of a single marketing and advertising promotion that incorporated displays, working models, accessory and service offerings.

Education record

Learned leadership, setting goals, action plans, teaching, communication, strengths, weaknesses and the closed door policy.

Special Certificate

Complete training of the psychology of sales including the ability to read mood, personality, body language, etc. and how to adapt.

Bs, Business Marketing