Mark Christopulos Email & Phone Number

Hillsborough, Nc

Ann Arbor, Mi

Specializing in merchandising and purchasing.

Franklin, Tennessee

ClassicsOnline HD*LL offers High-Definition and Lossless streaming and downloading of thousands of classical music albums, and is the first streaming service to use adaptive bit-rate streaming technology for the best possible sound quality and without buffering.

· Responsible for the marketing, merchandising and assortment of Classical, Jazz, Country, Soundtracks, New Age, and Value CDs, and Classical and Jazz DVDs in over 500 Superstores: annual sales of $40 million.· Primary duties included item-level forecasting; meeting weekly sales, margin, and discount goals; defining overall assortment strategy and maintaining store-by-store title assortments; selecting key promotional titles and placement along with catalog promotions; determined regional pricing strategies; negotiating co-op incentives and standard business terms; writing reviews for Borders.com KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: · Created in-section value browser and queue line budget CD promotion that added $440,000 annually in incremental sales · Devised a store-by-store assortment analysis tool and took the lead in rationalizing the assortment of music in all stores Managed team of six Inventory Analysts responsible for replenishment of approximately 20,000 multimedia backlist titles· Facilitated all communication between the multimedia department and distribution centersKEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: · Managed daily operations during two significant company-wide transitions ~ the systems migration to the JDA/E3 store replenishment system and the move from one to three distribution centers ~ without interruption of high quality service to the stores · Negotiated extra discount, averaging +8%, with multimedia vendors for overstock orders · Routinely reconciled vendor-supplied title information with internal database to achieve improved data accuracy and gross margin · Devised new processes for overstock ordering, new store ordering, and individual store assortment reviews

· Managed team of six Inventory Analysts responsible for replenishment of approximately 20,000 multimedia backlist titles· Facilitated all communication between the multimedia department and distribution centersKEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: · Managed daily operations during two significant company-wide transitions ~ the systems migration to the JDA/E3 store replenishment system and the move from one to three distribution centers ~ without interruption of high quality service to the stores · Negotiated extra discount, averaging +8%, with multimedia vendors for overstock orders · Routinely reconciled vendor-supplied title information with internal database to achieve improved data accuracy and gross margin · Devised new processes for overstock ordering, new store ordering, and individual store assortment reviews

· Determined the original assortment (a mix of both US and Australia-sourced product) for the first Borders Singapore, Australia and New Zealand stores· One of two initial buyers, responsible for approximately 40,000 music and video titles and 50,000 book titles for all Australia stores (twelve stores by 2003)KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: · Determined all retail and sale pricing for local and imported CDs and DVDs · Negotiated trading terms with the Australia, Singapore, and New Zealand CD and DVD suppliers to conform with Borders US standards · Devised the Borders Australia multimedia pricing strategy for the transition to a national Goods and Services Tax in 2000

· Responsible for the marketing, merchandising, assortment and replenishment of classical music for all 200 Borders superstoresKEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: · Instrumental in the transition from the sourcing of all music categories from wholesalers to the primary vendors, increasing gross margin by 10%· Created the chain-wide "Classical Music Month" program at Borders, enhancing the profile of classical music through prominent product placement, staff education, and in-store activities. In September of 1996 and 1997, classical music sales increased to 20% of all music sales at Borders, while the industry average was 8%

Bachelor Of Arts, Music (Piano Performance)

Master Of Arts, Music History