David Persaud Email & Phone Number

• Planned and executed promotions, some requiring special price stickering or placement, with billings of $100K + per promotion into mass merchandisers.• Heightened consumer awareness in the non-traditional market of higher margin formats including hardcovers, trade paperbacks and gift books, by securing premium spots and unique placements some of which required direct dialogue with the chain. Resulted in targets being exceeded by 20% over the last seven years.• Created comprehensive presentations designed for and presented to the wholesale community’s key sales, marketing, and merchandising stakeholders. Highlighting trends and past successes and focusing on future initiatives to enhance existing sales, clients saw the wide potential of products, incorporating new lines into their distribution and increasing revenue by up to 150%.• With the advent of Walmart into Canada, and their penchant to get into the book business in an aggressive manner, developed strong working relationships through frequent promotions, aggressive discounting and special packaging to obtain the biggest market share of 25%.• Managed and utilized co-op/marketing funds ($200 – 250 K) by offering extra incentives to the consumers, resulting in increased sales.• Negotiated with the National Account Manager at CMMI to garner multiple placements in one retailer to enhance exposure.• Used sales history to justify new products getting on the distribution lists in mass merchandisers.• Instrumental in getting Advance Reading Copies (ARC’s) into the hands of buyers, marketing and sales people. This resulted in successful media quotes and author appearances, creating excitement and meeting and exceeding targets.• Won the Rep of the Year award in 1999, given to an individual whose sales and efficiencies have showed marked increases, 18 % over prior year.

• Sold and marketed books nationally into mass merchandisers including Shoppers Drug, Zellers and A&P/Dominion through the local magazine and book wholesalers, the emphasis being on market share.• Introduced hardcover books into Shoppers Drug, which at this point only carried “pocket books”. Given the high prices, a proposal using an instant coupon rebate to the consumer was made and accepted. The promotion was a huge success and considerable credence was earned in this non-traditional account.• Created a “made to measure,” continuous one year promotion in the A&P/New Dominion chain utilizing custom corrugation and special pricing, resulting in sales increases of 75%.• Improved sales and efficiencies of Metro News, the local wholesaler, by collaborating with the client to identify and “weed out” slow items and introduce new ones with a focus on the educational division. Resulted in wholesaler having the best year ever with a sales increase of 21%.• Won two Achievement awards,1991 and 1993, for outstanding sales performance, 20+ % increase in sales both years.