Dan Ries Email & Phone Number

United States

Midwest Home Office

While working at Pen Company of America, I have helped to develop and grow a line of Impulse Purchase Products that is targeted to add INCREMENTAL sales to the “shopping baskets” of traditional and online retailers.We are not selling writing instruments – we are making a connection with American Consumers. Our retail line of pen products are proudly Made in America and include:• Revmark® Permanent Marker – The Permanent Marker with a patented “Holster-Cap” attaches to a belt or pocket to keep the marker always handy. RevMark® also allows users to keep one hand free while removing and replacing the pen into the cap. The marker has an industrial strength tip and premium ink (with 72 hour cap off life).• American Expressions Ballpoint Pens – Uniquely decorated pens that make a connection with Americans. Each package contains 3 themed ball point pens and are great gifts for any occasion.• FoldzFlat® Pen – A patented folding pen that combines Function & Fun. The FoldzFlat pen goes from flat to a functioning pen in a couple of simple steps – then it can go back I am building and managing a group of Sales Rep Agencies across the U.S. and in Canada. Please contact me if your rep agency specializes in the following retail channels and distributors: Home Improvement / Commercial & Residential Construction / Professional Craftsmen (e.g. Plumbing, Welding, Wood Working, HVAC) / Lumber / Maintenance Repair & Operations

Greater Los Angeles Area

Managed Kraco Floor Mat portfolio representing $60mm+ in revenue and 57% market share. Established annual Sales & Marketing Plans and Product Development Initiatives to meet revenue and profit goals. Created and delivered key account strategies/presentations for club, mass, automotive, drug, and discount (dollar store) retailers. Lead internal and external cross-functional teams and was responsible for 2 direct reports.Achievements: * Increased the Kraco Walmart floor mat portfolio EBITA (by an estimated $1.5mm) by creating/analyzing an sku specific P&L and developing a recommendation that eliminated unprofitable skus and gained new space for more profitable and ownable floor mat products. Presented floor mat category proposal to buyer at annual line review and gained approval of the priority recommendations for 2014 plan-o-gram reset.* Delivered Costco MVM promotion program on time, overcoming late commitment hurdle, and increased EBITA margin of the $5mm Costco Floor Mat 2012 Fall/Winter program by restructuring delivery method to customer depots direct from 2 China factories.* Secured the Costco 2013 Fall/Winter floor mat program, fending off an aggressive competitive bid, by upgrading the Kraco floor mat program to include its exclusive Goodyear licensed brand and by creating a new mat design with the buyer’s input. Forecasted revenue of year 2 program increased vs the year 1 program by 30% - to $6.5mm.* Redesigned and expanded the Goodyear licensed floor mat product line while negotiating, into a new 5-year amendment, lower royalty rates for two of program’s largest retail customers. Forecasted revenue growth of +30%.

Los Angeles, Ca

Responsible for Air Freshener category. Key responsibilities include new product development, national account managment, P&L analysis.* Developed a multi-segment line of licensed air fresheners under the Glade brand which included working with SC Johnson on contract negotiations and product approvals throughout development phase; Glade line represents 40% of growing air care line.* Developed and presented the products included in the air care program that gained 10 facings at Dollar General representing $4 million in annual incremental air freshener revenue; after successful sales results in year 1 the line maintained shelf space.* Pushed for a post line review follow-up meeting with the Family Dollar buyer and successfully sold in a new assortment of air fresheners, including the Glade brand, which has more than doubled sales revenue at the account.

Director of Sales & MarketingResponsible for concept creation, production, and sales of custom value added packages and promotional products. Developed promotional product programs with 2 Sales Managers and also sold directly to ‘house’ accounts while responsible for P&Ls of all programs. Increase capabilities of marketing and sourcing departments to expand product offerings.Achievements:− Successfully created unique promotional products that tied into clients’ brand and key product attributes. Sold programs and maintained business relationships with clients including Nestle USA, Disney, Patron Spirits, and Pernod Ricard.− Devised product defect resolution plan salvaging Ty Ku Sake holiday promotion and securing $350k re-order.− Managed projects through the sourcing department and worked with international manufacturers to take numerous ideas from concepts to finished products.− Expanded and managed a Marketing team which grew to include 1 Creative Resources Manager, 3 Product Designers, 1 Packaging Designer, and 3 Sourcing Managers.

St.Louis, Mo / Los Angeles, Ca

Provided clients with category insight, strategic direction, business planning, problem solving, packaging design, brand positioning, brand/product naming, and creative development.Clients/Key Results:Pedigree Dog Food Group - Worked with consumer promotion agency of record as the account manager for Mars Pedigree Dog Food Product Innovation Group. * Developed consumer promotion plan for the 2007 introduction of a new healthy dog food – The Goodlife Recipe Dog Food* Created packaging graphics, marketing materials, and event marketing plans for WholeMeals dog food test marketsLender’s Bagels – Worked with Group Brand Manager as packaging development consultant.* Developed brand positioning and packaging communication goals for the 2005 test market line extension of Lender’s Bagel Sandwiches.* Managed a packaging design team to create several packaging graphics concepts including the winning design chosen for the product line.* Established positioning platforms and led name generation brainstorming meetings for a line of Lender’s Bagel SnacksWindsor Foods – Worked with the director of marketing to help create a new line of branded frozen pasta. * Identified several brand positioning platforms for qualitative and quantitative testing.* Created brand names and unique concept statements to support each potential brand positioning.* Gained approval to bring each concept to life with packaging designs/concept boards for focus group and purchase interest testing.Flow ‘n Grow Easy-Flow Drainage Filter – Worked as partner in start up business.* Revised/rewrote start-up business plan and presented Marketing and Sales portion of plan at investor meetings.* Redeveloped product line and pricing strategy to deliver better profit margin.* Developed new manufacturing partnership with cut and sew facility in Mexico.* Identified distribution opportunities, developed and delivered account presentations.

St. Louis, Mo Omaha, Ne

Initiated and implemented a new progressive 2000 Marketing Plan and developed a 5-Year Brand Vision.Key Results:• Developed and presented innovative and well supported marketing objectives with emphasis on product innovation. Gained senior management approval for a new “Go-To-Market” strategy.• Led brand team to develop and introduce 3 new dinner items and 7 product improvements to the existing line. Successfully fast-tracked the national launch to ship 3 months prior to original plan.• Developed successful major licensing tie-in promotions with Sesame Street, Disney, Tiger Electronics • Updated Kid Cuisine’s overall brand position after identifying shift in consumer needs and determining benefits most relevant to kids and parents.• Substantiated a 5 year growth plan and successfully implemented phase 1 of the plan with a kick off national sales meeting with 300+ sales managers in QY FY01.

St. Louis, Mo

Responsible for growing SweeTARTS Brand sales and breadth of line while repositioning the Spree brand.Key Results:* Introduced Mini Chewy SweeTARTS and Gummy SweeTARTS (co-winners of Convenience Store News’ 1997 New Product of the Year award) into national distribution.* Launched SweeTARTS/Disney licensed product lines into national distribution including an everyday line for Winnie the Pooh & Tigger and promotional lines for Toy Story, Hunchback of Notre Dame, 101 Dalmatians, Hercules, and A Bug’s Life theatrical releases. Negotiated agreement terms and gained approvals with Disney throughout concept/product/packaging development.* Designed and fielded qualitative and quantitative research to identify Spree’s strongest opportunities for long-term brand growth. Redefined Target Audience from kids to tweens/teens and revised brand positioning.* Revised the Spree Brand marketing strategy to include teen focused TV advertising, packaging, and point of purchase displays.* Grew SweeTARTS brand sales 10%+ and Spree Brand Sales an average of 18% each year during 4 years of brand responsibility.