Jim Melcher Email & Phone Number

• P&L responsibility for distribution channel. Developed channel forecast for S&OP and organization budget. Established channel-specific pricing and product programs, including negotiating customer agreements, developing.
• Grew sales volume by 315% over 5 years, an average of 35% annually; improved GM substantially.
• Developed new opening price point honeycomb shades program for internet channel to take competitive market share. Achieved $13M in initial annual sales; grew program to $20M annual sales.
• Improved price structure on “legacy” product programs to align with current costs and improve GM; grew sales as a result.
• Created “Customer Interaction Plan,” which provided full-circle performance reporting to customers with detailed, interactive sales breakouts and production and product performance KPIs. Included monthly performance.
• Navigated merger, which involved migration of customers from sister divisions into CBG products and programs, which resulted in consistent product availability.

• Managed wood, faux wood, aluminum, and vertical blinds, reporting to VP of Marketing. Led product updates and enhancements, developed product sales data and technical information, and managed quality and performance.
• Led refresh of wood / faux wood line in 2018, including sourcing and development of new colors and features, plus expanded option availability. Improved top-line sales by 11% in first year and inventory position.
• Converted from dual role in July 2018 to full-time sales channel manager to better meet customer needs.

Greater San Diego Area

• Reported to CEO as part of core management team. Directly responsible for company gross margin and overall merchandising strategy, including sourcing of manufacturers, product selection and development, purchasing.
• Implemented new targeted pricing strategy based on website analytics and competitive analysis that raised revenue 6%, conversion 14%, and average order size 4% while maintaining gross margin.
• Sourced private label suppliers, optimizing purchasing terms and product offerings by using internal and supplier sales metrics to refine selection and improve conversion; grew product lines 14%.
• Directed cross-departmental projects, including rework of product database and web page; completed redesign and expansion of product category and attribute pages; consolidated product pages through color selection.
• Initiated multiple cost-saving measures throughout the company, including a 30% increase in productivity for accounting team, and streamlined inventory management tools for swatch samples.

• Accepted additional strategic responsibilities, including supplier development, product sales analysis, and product selection; directed staff of three and led inter-departmental projects. In June 2007 assumed all.
• Sourced, negotiated, and directed implementation of new internal search tool leading to nearly 50% increase in site search conversion rate.
• Implemented multiple new products, including design and implementation of custom drapery program as a new product category, representing 10% of revenue.
• Co-wrote, produced, and developed customer-facing online how-to videos, increasing customer confidence and order conversion.
• Developed rigorous testing and quality assurance procedures to check for pricing data errors, dramatically reducing pricing errors.

• Maintained extensive product data for online storefront; served as direct liaison with product vendors, including local sales representatives and corporate leadership for product updates, new product implementation.
• Led conversion of product database and website functionality to reduce maintenance time and improve customer shopping experience; reduced number of product SKUs and maintenance requirements by 60% while continuing full.
• Designed new custom ordering process for shutters to simplify complicated ordering requirements, reducing returns and eliminating requisite callbacks to customers.
• Reduced order cancellations by 70% through design and implementation of product specification rules to prevent orders for products that were out of spec.

• Directed writing and graphics staff producing content for online Russian lacquer art catalog. Executed all merchandising functions, such as item selection, purchasing, promotion, and sales of unique inventory items.
• Developed key customer retention initiatives including preferred customer pricing policies, increasing repeat business by 35%.
• Traveled to Russia to purchase inventory and as co-leader and organizer of first-of-its-kind lacquer art tour in Russia; co-authored “Poets with Paintbrushes: A Collector's Guide to Russian Lacquer Art.”
• Streamlined inventory description and upload to online catalog through process definition and division of workflow, including refinement of job and task parameters.

Edited and created item descriptions and other online content including digital scans and photography of product offering, as well as detailed research and translation work. Other duties included customer service, order processing, office management, and data management. Created new process flow for inventorying and launching new items, including exclusive.

Ba, Russian

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa

Masters, Business Administration