Denise Walsh Email & Phone Number

Oak Park, Il, Us

Chicago, Illinois, United States

The Independent College Bookstore Association (ICBA; www.ICBAinc.com) was founded in 1927 and represents 225+ of the top college stores in the collegiate market. We consult, coordinate, develop, and “broker” supplier and service-provider programs on their behalf. Our value to Members and Vendor Partners centers on 3 areas: Education, Networking, & Vendor Program Development.

Greater Chicago Area

We discover opportunities and offer uniquely tailored solutions to create efficiency and increase the profitability of your operation. We have a combined 65 years of experience in campus retail, auxiliary services and general merchandising. Helping retailers to navigate to the next normal supporting marketing, merchandise, and operational strategies for both in-store and online customer experiences., Our broad range of expertise allows us to help clients with both strategic insights as well as tactical and operational recommendations to optimize their business in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Greater Chicago Area

Providing extensive specialty and collegiate retail knowledge and experience to retailers to support them with marketing/merchandising strategy development, business planning, inventory analysis, product assortment management, vendor relations, operational execution plans, process improvements and general business analysis. Helping to effectively support and coach clients through retail best practices for retail success.

Www.Bibowalsh.Com

Providing extensive specialty and collegiate retail knowledge and experience to retailers to support them with marketing/merchandising strategy development, business planning, inventory analysis, product assortment management, vendor relations, operational execution plans, process improvements and general business analysis.Engaged with the Collegiate Retail Alliance (CRA) to support their initiatives related to General Merchandise Strategies.Current and previous clients include: Ratex Business Solutions/Collegiate Retail AllianceHerff Jones Independent College Bookstore Association Rafter, Inc. Woody's Books, Inc. The Douglas Stewart Company Anulas, Inc. VolShop Store at The University of Tennessee Knoxville CU Bookstore at The University of Colorado Boulder UNM Bookstores at The University of New Mexico University Bookstore at Texas State University

Oak Brook, Illinois

Managing the development of strategic plans and financial merchandise plans to support key initiatives and targets for diverse categories such as apparel, gifts, school supplies, technology/electronics, food/beverage, health & beauty, general books, fashion accessories.Partner with sourcing teams to identify business opportunities for potential growth while maximizing existing product categories. Drive sales and profit improvements through strong business analytics and innovation of tools and processes that support the entire merchandise team. Consistently monitor and track performance of key performance indicators against plan/forecast and targets to drive merchandise strategies. Instrumental in growth plans for omni-channel strategy. Adapt work flow and priorities to support key initiatives such as aggressive new store growth, product introductions and store events. Work cross-functionally with business partners to ensure timely and proper execution. Consistently meet or exceed expectations related to deadlines. Mentor and inspire my team and business partner to collaborate and work effectively as a team.Key Accomplishments:- Increased sales growth for general merchandise department from $200m to $527m.- Managed store growth from 650 stores to over 940 stores.- Drive process to expand and grow our ecommerce businesses from <1% to >6% of total sales through product growth and execution of Endless Aisle Strategy for FY14 sales of $31m.- Developed assortment planning process to support customized apparel/gift assortments .- Successfully led system implementation of Retail IDEAS, Manhattan Associates Planning, Retalon Replenishment, APM.- Successfully manage and mentor up to 7 direct and 50 indirect professionals.

Indianapolis, Indiana Area

Managed the development of financial merchandise plans to support key initiatives and targets. Partner with sourcing teams to identify business opportunities for potential growth while maximizing existing product categories. Drive sales and profit improvements through strong business analytics and innovation of tools and processes that support the entire merchandise team. Consistently monitor and track performance of key performance indicators against plan/forecast and targets to drive merchandise strategies. Work cross-functionally with business partners to ensure timely and proper execution. Consistently meet or exceed expectations related to deadlines. Mentor and inspire my team and business partner to collaborate and work effectively as a team.Key Accomplishments:- Managed store growth of 40+ stores.- Managed sales growth related to new stores and comparable store growth.- Identified non-productive inventory and established a new process to address liquidation plan.- Developed consistent reporting and processes to monitor KPI’s.- Successfully led system implementation of Retail IDEAS and Arthur Planning.- Successfully managed and mentored up to 5 direct and 24 indirect professionals.

St. Louis, Missouri

Managed the development of financial merchandise plans to support key initiatives and targets. Partner with sourcing teams to identify business opportunities for potential growth while maximizing existing product categories. Drive sales and profit improvements through strong business analytics and innovation of tools and processes that support the entire merchandise team. Consistently monitor and track performance of key performance indicators against plan/forecast and targets to drive merchandise strategies. Work cross-functionally with business partners to ensure timely and proper execution. Consistently meet or exceed expectations related to deadlines. Mentor and inspire my team and business partner to collaborate and work effectively as a team.Key Accomplishments:- Consolidated 7 separate P & A organizations with the adoption of a shared services concept, which required defining and communicating job responsibility changes for Buyers, Planners and Allocation Analysts.- Established centralized merchandise support department to facilitate continuity of clerical functions.- Developed and implemented an allocation and planning process to ensure full functionality of both the planning and allocation systems by all teams consistently.- Served as a business partner to the CEO and the other members of senior management to improve sales growth, gross margin and turnover.- Successfully managed and mentored up to 6 direct and 55 indirect professionals.

St. Louis, Mo.

Managed the development of financial merchandise plans to support key initiatives and targets. Managed merchandise allocation and replenishment processes to ensure appropriate inventory management by store.Partner with sourcing teams to identify business opportunities for potential growth while maximizing existing product categories. Drive sales and profit improvements through strong business analytics and innovation of tools and processes that support the entire merchandise team. Consistently monitor and track performance of key performance indicators against plan/forecast and targets to drive merchandise strategies. Work cross-functionally with business partners to ensure timely and proper execution. Consistently meet or exceed expectations related to deadlines. Mentor and inspire my team and business partner to collaborate and work effectively as a team.Key Accomplishments:- Established and implemented an Open to Buy and assortment planning process.- Provided training of the MMS allocation system to the allocation analysts to utilize full capabilities of the system. - Served as a business partner to the President of the chain and the GMM to improve sales growth, gross margin, and turnover.- Successfully managed and mentored up to 4 direct and 8 indirect professionals.

Burbank, Ca

Managed the development of financial merchandise plans to support key initiatives and targets. Managed merchandise allocation and replenishment processes to ensure appropriate inventory management by store.Partner with sourcing teams to identify business opportunities for potential growth while maximizing existing product categories. Drive sales and profit improvements through strong business analytics and innovation of tools and processes that support the entire merchandise team. Consistently monitor and track performance of key performance indicators against plan/forecast and targets to drive merchandise strategies. Work cross-functionally with business partners to ensure timely and proper execution. Consistently meet or exceed expectations related to deadlines. Mentor and inspire my team and business partner to collaborate and work effectively as a team.Key Accomplishments:Managed store growth from 40 to over 120 stores within US and Europe- Grew sales volume from $35 million to over $150 million.- Established processes necessary to opening stores in the United Kingdom.- Managed all financial and assortment plans for both US and UK.- Assisted in creating and implementing a flexible and comprehensive planning module for the Arthur Planning System.- Successfully managed and mentored up to 4 direct and 9 indirect professionals.

Burbank, Ca.

Managed the development of financial merchandise plans to support key initiatives and targets. Managed merchandise allocation and replenishment processes to ensure appropriate inventory management by store.Partner with sourcing teams to identify business opportunities for potential growth while maximizing existing product categories. Drive sales and profit improvements through strong business analytics and innovation of tools and processes that support the entire merchandise team. Consistently monitor and track performance of key performance indicators against plan/forecast and targets to drive merchandise strategies. Work cross-functionally with business partners to ensure timely and proper execution. Consistently meet or exceed expectations related to deadlines. Mentor and inspire my team and business partner to collaborate and work effectively as a team.Key Accomplishments:- Managed store growth from 5 to over 40 stores.- Grew sales volume from $3 million to over $90 million.- Established the Opening Store Strategy to ensure successful execution of store growth.- Developed financial plans and forecasts by department and assortment level to support opening store growth plans and timing.- Established WOS targets by store and department to align with financial target and space planning.- Developed a fixture plan model to manage sales and backroom space.- Implemented system enhancement to the allocation system to improvement efficiency.- Successfully managed and mentored 5 direct professionals.