Laurel Jackson Email & Phone Number

Bentonville, Arkansas, United States

Bentonville, Ar

Key member of the senior leadership team accountable for driving the vision and executing brand strategies for Walmart with emphasis on maximizing sales growth. Responsibilities encompass sales, profitability, merchandising & design, inventory management, item strategy and execution, shipping, and financial planning & forecasting. Lead, inspire, and mentor a team of three reporting directly to the CEO and President of Innovative Designs, LLC. Key Sales Management Initiatives▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Collaborate with internal teams to strategize product development for each department at Walmart.✔Work closely with the buyers to develop items to feature including gift bar pallets, Black Friday items, holiday features, etc.✔Partner with internal product development to recognize new trends and create lines specific to Walmart’s product strategy.Select Accomplishments▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔In the last two years, grew the overall business at Walmart XX% to over $XXMM.✔Expanded the business into international and ecommerce markets generating a XX%.✔Grew sales XX% over the last five years in Toys, Seasonal, Celebrations, and Stationery categories.✔Expanded distribution into new departments including Toys, Season and Celebrations.✔Developed a non-licensed product line to offer additional products to Walmart as well as increase company bottom line profitability.

Bentonville, Ar

Proactively recruited to significantly grow sales in new departments within Walmart including Toys, Stationery, and Jewelry Gifting.Select Accomplishments▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Developed a private label program for a tween private label program on modular in the Toy department.✔Gained product placement in the Jewelry/Gifting department and stationery. ✔Grew new business to $10MM.

Bentonville, Ar

Responsible for developing the Disney brand within the Home & Seasonal divisions at Walmart. Emphasis on increasing brand awareness and creating product sales opportunities for licensees. Managed a Sales Manager, as well as a Stationery budget of $300MM and a Home budget of $500MM.Key Sales Management Initiatives▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Coordinated programs and events, as well as new items with Disney Licensee’s to identify opportunities and grow sales. ✔Strategized and set the Walmart Licensed Christmas modular with the buyer.✔Managed budget and forecast in collaboration with Category teams.Select Accomplishments▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Collaborated with the Celebration buyer to develop a new strategy to restructure the department including coordination between licensees in multiple categories. Resulted in growing overall Disney business 31% for these categories.✔Worked closely with the Walmart bedding buyers to strategize maximizing property sales in coordination with Disney licensee’s for new property launches increasing overall sales by 27%.

Bentonville, Ar

Director of Sales, Stationery and Seasonal - Walmart (01/08-01/09) Senior Manager of Sales, Stationery and Seasonal - Walmart (08/06-01/08)Responsible for developing the Disney brand within the Stationery Department at Walmart.Key Sales Management Initiatives▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Worked closely with the Disney category team to develop programs to grow sales within the Stationery Department at Walmart.✔Collaborated with Disney Licensee’s to create effective product presentations to Walmart buyers.Select Accomplishments▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Achieved stationery growth of 71% over 2 years by recognizing opportunities and creating plans to execute fulfillment initiatives.✔Grew Disney Seasonal business by 100% over two years by creatively strategizing with licensees to create specific product in timelines to meet Walmart’s expectations.

Bentonville, Ar

Promoted to be responsible for reviewing and purchasing product for specific categories at Walmart including managing the entire product lifecycle and a front-end checkout budget of $763MM. Managed buyer trainees, assistant buyer, and personal assistants.Key Purchasing Initiatives▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Negotiated, purchased, and managed inventory of general merchandise, trading cards, and phone cards at front checkouts.✔Collaborated with supply chain to identify cost effective and efficient supply channels for direct-to-store and centralized distribution.✔Developed merchandising techniques for store execution to promote new product releases.✔Analyzed financial information to maximize sales and profits for assigned categories.Select Accomplishments▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Led team tasked with building Walmart gift cards as a company-wide initiative. Achieved category growth of 24% in 2004.✔Launched restaurant and retail gift cards in Walmart in 2005 which resulted in a multi-million dollar increase in sales to the front checkout department.✔Championed the development of import product lines which included training department staff on the importing process.✔Negotiated and achieved “first-to-market” with new trading card releases.✔Developed and mentored a Buyer’s Assistant, who was promoted in to a management position.✔Established new categories and product opportunities at the front checkout leading to 17% growth from 2003-2006.✔Buyer of the Quarter, Q1 2003.

Bentonville, Ar

Seasonal Department Buyer responsible for developing, negotiating, and purchasing holiday décor including managing a budget in excess of $211MM. Collaborated with domestic and international suppliers on holiday programs including product design, supply chain flow, and store displays.Select Accomplishments▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬✔Worked closely with suppliers on product development and trend recognition in seasonal categories for indoor décor for all holidays. Continual SKU/category development resulted in an 18% sales increase in 2002.✔Buyer of the Quarter Award for Q1 and Q4 2002.✔Participated in import purchasing trips and traveled to Taiwan, China, Mexico, and India.✔Developed a “good, better, best” program for holiday indoor décor.

London, United Kingdom

Coordinated inventory management, sales promotion, and media communication.

🎓 Bachelor Of Science Degree In Business Administration And Marketing

Marketing And Public Relations