James Parker Email & Phone Number

Wooster, Oh, Us

Austin, Texas, Us

Manages all social media, email blasts and other marketing elements.Manages Shopify and Etsy sites, monitoring SEO and site functionality.

Provides licensing and retail consulting as needed focusing on pop culture, collectibles and toy product.Presents indepth discussions about Pop Culture in Retail to schools and institutions.

Round Rock, Texas, Us

Oversaw product deadlines and communication from concept to final product delivery. James worked closely with and helps guide inventors, artists, factories and others to ensure only the best product is produced for Project Genius.James also managed Social Media and many marketing aspects for Project Genius. Including, but not limited to, Writing product and site copy, managing the web site, maintaining a social media presence on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, working with influencers, seeking out opportunities through partnerships, gift guides and more. Projects worked on Include (but not limited to)- Head Spin Game - Cryptic Christmas- True Genius Thors Hammer- True Genius Egyptian Coin Trade- Hypno-Twist- Hyper- Twist- and many others

Birmingham, Al, Us

Sr. Buyer over Adult Board Games, Puzzles, Adult Collectibles, Pop Vinyl and Collectible Card Games. Bought for BooksAMillion, BooksAMillion.com and Second&Charles stores, identified key trends in the industry and ensured these chains have the most current and relevant product available

Grapevine, Texas, Us

- Buyer specializing in Action Figures, Statues, Prop Replicas, and books.- Managed product selection for 3800+ locations, including an online platform.- Negotiated vendor terms (NET payment, discount, Co-op, returns, write-off, promotions).- Established key vendor relationships, positioning Gamestop at the forefront of licenses (Fortnite, TMNT).- Maintained consistent year-over-year sales growth with a healthy inventory.- Introduced new vendors and revived relationships for product mix differentiation.- Collaborated with vendors to develop product lines across categories.- Improved buying systems with IT for streamlined efficiency.- Worked closely with Marketing for strategic product selection in ads, social media, and additional elements.- Collaborated with Allocations and planning for optimal store allocations.- Assisted in developing a markdown cadence for inventory health and reduced store clutter.- Maintained strong leadership relationships for open communication.- Managed associate buyers, aiding in skillset development for advancement.- Traveled for business to trade shows, game studios, and vendor locations for product identification and growth strategies.- Negotiated Gamestop exclusives, including licensed statues, Prop replicas, Ninja Turtles Action figure line (NECA), and additional action figures (NECA/McFarlane/Hasbro).- Collaborated with DC Entertainment for an exclusive Batman/Ninja Turtles line in 2019.- Launched an Exclusive Hasbro Star Wars Black Series Gaming Greats line of action figures.

Austin, Tx, Us

- Buyer specializing in Games, Puzzles, Books, and Apparel.- Managed product selection for 70-100 year-round and 600 seasonal locations.- Negotiated vendor terms (NET payment, discount, Co-op, returns, write-off, promotions).- Coordinated development of exclusive games, puzzles, and products for Go! Games locations.- Collaborated with key apparel vendors, creating a Men’s Tee Program for 50 store locations.- Assisted in determining planograms and minimum allocations for various stores and kiosks.- Worked with Store Fixture Team to plan fixture locations and types for stores.- Collaborated with Ecommerce team to maintain product levels and secure exclusives for 3P sites.- Partnered with Store Operations for proper signage and promotions, building execution processes.- Traveled to trade shows and vendor locations for business and product line identification.- Monitored sales and warehouse inventory to ensure availability of hot products for stores.- Conducted store photo reviews for operational and merchandising standards.- Collaborated with IT to implement changes to purchasing and reporting systems.- Contributed to the development of a markdown/write-off system for inventory control.- Reported directly to the VP of Merchandising.- Successfully negotiated exclusives for GoGames Fall Season, including Sloshed Sloth Drinking Game (FatBrain) and Star Wars 'Death Star Chase' 13.5 Inch Wall Clock (Vandor).

Sr. Buyer over Action Figures, Collectibles, Games, Consumables, Comics/Graphic Novels, Roleplaying, Wall Décor.Directly Oversaw Buying Team who handled purchasing for Games, comics, CCG, consumables, apparel, novelty and Wall décor. Worked with them to determine selection, maintain Open to Buy, enforce data integrity, and handle high level vendor relations.Reported directly to the VP of Sales while assisting in the management of the Trends Team by coordinating product selection for sales and promotions. Worked with Sales Analyst and Allocator to determine replenishment and store allocation for top selling items.

Buyer for the following categories: Books, Board Games, Collectibles, Action Figures, Posters, Plush, Prop Replicas and Comics. As the buyer for these categories I managed all aspects of the product from sourcing, data entry, maintaining safety guidelines, ordering, product launches, selection management, cost negotiations, reorders, and markdowns. Ensured margin dollars on product, track sales and sell off percentage. Worked with other buyers, distribution, UX team, operations, marketing & creative teams to ensure proper execution of item launches and programs pertaining to categories under my care.

Buyer for and Comics,Graphic Novels,Role Playing,strategy games,collectible and trading cards,action figures,movie memorabilia. Experienced in purchasing, selection management, vendor relations, merchandising, advertising, marketing, promotion, & store distribution for both new & previously owned product within my category for over 130 locations in 20 states. Ensured margin dollars on product, track sales and sell off percentage, maintain and monitor returnable & non-returnable product, work with other product teams, distribution, data, IT, merchandising,operations,social media & advertising teams to ensure proper execution of programs & projects that directly affect areas of my responsibility.Developed, launched and maintained a full comics "boutique" section in stores. Increased sales in Role-playing, Comics, Manga, & Graphic Novels through selection management, category development and strategic buying practices. In 2012, working with IT department & operations, I designed, implemented and launched a comic "pull and Hold" subscription program in all of the Hastings store locations. This allows customers to select, order & receive comics on a monthly basis which are held for them for pick up on a weekly basis. This also allows stores to offer a broader selection of comics beyond our stores capacity.Developed strong relationships with publishers such as Marvel Comics, Paizo Publishing, IDW publishing,DC Comics, Dark Horse Publishing, Boom! Studios & Viz media resulting in exclusive items, Store Variant comics, special sales & promotions for our stores.In January 2014 created a training document for the Comic Department that educates & sets the merchandising/customer service standards for the chain. This document is being used as part of the certification in order to obtain a leadership position in our stores.Named one of the top 100 Powerplayers in the Comic industry by Bleeding Cool Magazine 2012 & 2013.

Us

Worked for Goody's for 6 years. Started as a maintenance associate and left the company as a Store Manager in Pascagoula, MS.Various responsibilities including hiring, terminations, loss prevention, merchandising, stocking, associate relations, customer relations, all financial paperwork, handling and securing money, store maintenance, driving sales and revenue, communication with District,Regional and Loss Prevention managers, etc.