Marcus Strom Email & Phone Number

Broker Management – Established and developed working relationships with Crossmark Broker representatives to increase distribution, sales/volume and promotion of premium cigar portfolio to grocery, drug, and convenient store chain accounts; i.e. Publix, Winn Dixie, Food Lion, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Circle K, RaceTrac, SpeedwayCatalog/Internet & Distributor Management – Expanded and developed working relationships with targeted/assigned C/I & distributor leadership teams and sales representatives to increase distribution, sales/volume and promotion of premium cigars; i.e. HT Hackney, Coremark, McLane, Thompson Cigar, Mike’s Cigar, Famous CigarMilitary – Managed, prepared and presented GCC premium cigar proposals/programs; i.e. NEXCOM, AAFES, MCXMerchandising – Procured and managed all merchandisers/display pieces for premium cigars at use at retailBudgets / Forecasting – Prepared monthly national accounts 90 day forecasting

Managed GCC transition and acquisition of USCS Scheduled shipment of product inventory /account files / records to GCC officesArranged and cleared final closure of bonded warehouseFinalized closure of USCS corporate office

P&L responsibility for all cigar sales - $10 million dollarsYTD 2003 Sales PerformanceDomestic Unit Sales +32.3% (9.1 vs. 6.6)Domestic Dollar Sales +32.7% ($9.7 vs. $7.3)Prepared and presented monthly/quarterly/yearly sales reports for corporate officeResponsible for hiring, training and developing all sales representatives/administratorCreated sales performance standards, monitoring tools and assessment programsDirected Customer Service Department telemarketing effortsManaged $1 million dollar international/duty free cigar sales programInitiated and developed retail and wholesale sales promotional programsCoordinated all national trade shows and promotions; i.e. IPCPR, NATO, TAAResponsible for key account business and growth; i.e. Thompson, Famous, Mike’sResponsible for chain account business and growth; i.e. Eckerd’s, Food Lion, 7-ElevenPrepared 90 day cigar production schedules and warehouse inventory levels

Managed and developed liquor distributors, tobacco wholesalers in 22 state marketPrepared national cigar program for Westin, Hyatt, Ritz CarltonEstablished corporate Cigar Training Manual for on-premise accountsResponsible for training all new USCS Region Manager hiresU.S. Cigar Sales – Region Manager of the Year 1997

Developed and exceeded territory sales for 4 state marketResponsible for hiring, training and developing 6 territory managersManaged direct key and chain accounts; i.e. Best Tobacco & Candy, Discount Drug MartMonitored and utilized assigned regional field sales budgetDeveloped regional sales plans capitalizing on the needs and strengths of individual markets

Grew retail/wholesale distribution/sales on cigars and smokeless tobaccoPresented national promotions to distributors and coordinated implementationManaged day-to-day activities of part-time representativesTerritory Manager of the Year 1995

Increased retail distribution and sales on smokeless tobacco productsMinimized out-of-stocks by ensuring adequate facings and predominant shelf position