Denise Carter Email & Phone Number

Middlefield, CT, US

Colchester, CT

• Globally Respected Craft ManufacturerRecruited to provide focused leadership, international sourcing/purchasing and product development/management expertise to increase product categories to drive sales and.
• Company Growth – Key leader contributing to a 25% company growth in annual revenue during a period of industry change and challenge.
• Private Label Branding – Developed and executed effective private label program with Michael’s, a leading craft retailer (1,000 stores). Worked with Private Label Brand Manager on assortment and pricing. Established.
• Product Development – Collaboration with Disney – Identified a potential collaboration with a Disney product which would break into additional markets, increasing sales and gross margin. Worked through a multi-stage.

• ACHIEVEMENTS CONTINUED
• Improving and Increasing Web Exposure – Improved shoppers experience by merchandising web categories to better align with shopping habits. Updated content to include pertinent information for buying decisions.
• Developing Categories Externally Through Collaboration – Identified jewelry and jewelry making as potential growth businesses. Identified potential strategic partners and implemented successful collaborative efforts.
• Working with Wal-Mart - Brand & Product Development with New Customers – Led the process for Janlynn to be perceived as an authority in all categories. Analyzed market, developing a cohesive plan. Offered a complete.

• ($13 Million Annual Sales) Annually introduced 150 new items attributing to $800K in new sales with emphasis on product development of proprietary items. Maintained margin rate during challenging business climate while.
• Product Development/Launch - Introduced the #1 new item with over $100K in sales at a 78 GM%.
• Catalog Design Layout - Successfully completed design layout for seven catalogs serving three major markets with emphasis on Contribution to Overhead.
• Web Marketing - Implemented new merchandising strategies increasing website response based on customer shopping and search habits.
• China Outsourcing - Led cross functional teams to china to resource categories and products by establishing pull facilities to raise gross profit while controlling inventory, raising turns and ROI.

• ($50 Million Annual Sales)ACHIEVEMENTS
• Improved overall seasonal sales by 20% while maintaining a rate 6% over previous year.
• Increased shops’ GM rate 87 basis points to plan and 153 points to LY by improving import initiatives, price reductions, strategic advertising, and reduction of markdowns.
• Led departmental marketing strategies and planned all circular and in store promotions. Product featured on cover of company magazine.
• Negotiated better new store discounts to enable company’s strategic growth plan and collected over $175K in advertising funding.

Discount Store Chain, At Its Peak Operated 700 Stores In 20 States

• Buyer, Softcrafts - $45 Million Annual Sales/General Crafts - $40 Million Annual Sales (1999-2002)Merchandised department with regard to financial and inventory planning, with emphasis on advertising and sales.
• Recipient of prestigious Chairman’s Award.Associate Buyer, Utility Bedding - $25.7 Million Annual Sales (1998-1999)ACHIEVEMENTS
• Drove overall departmental results: sales +10%, GM +9%, Turn +4%.PREVIOUS POSITIONS WITHIN AMESAssistant Buyer, Sheets, Comforters & Utility Bedding - $65 Million Annual Sales (1997-1998) Assistant Buyer, Towels.

Associate Of Science (As), Marketing, 3.7

Special Focus on E-Marketing

Professional Development

Project Management Train the Trainer