Melissa Barnes Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Chicago, Illinois

Prospect architectural and design community, end users, national accounts, and manufacturersMaintain 5 state territory to grow salesParticipate in local trade shows, ultimately increasing visibility of product offeringTrack and follow through on known specifications from initial specification to order fulfillmentIdentify potential customers, establish relationships, and provide product presentations

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Planned daily schedule to promote product through presentations with design communityParticipated in industry networking events to cultivate strong relationships with designers, architects, and specifiersProvided design team with pricing, lead times, and technical product data Tracked and followed through on known specifications from initial specification to order fulfillment Engaged in training and continuing education programs to strengthen skills set and… Show more Planned daily schedule to promote product through presentations with design communityParticipated in industry networking events to cultivate strong relationships with designers, architects, and specifiersProvided design team with pricing, lead times, and technical product data Tracked and followed through on known specifications from initial specification to order fulfillment Engaged in training and continuing education programs to strengthen skills set and knowledgeTraveled with sales team to present product offering and educate fabricators Increased engagement for brand through social media presence with marketing team Show less

Connected and built relationships with key decision makers in architectural and design communityContributed to brand and messaging refinement process with outside marketing teamParticipated in marketing and sales meetings on monthly basis

Increased sales by 15% in assigned territoriesExpanded account base by 250 new accounts, contributing to the growth of the company’s brandvia researching and development, cold calling, presenting collections of product to prospective accountsAttained the largest order in company historyGenerated brand standard for national account, Art Van Furniture, with corporate office and design teamCreated and maintained rapport with architecture and design communityExhibited… Show more Increased sales by 15% in assigned territoriesExpanded account base by 250 new accounts, contributing to the growth of the company’s brandvia researching and development, cold calling, presenting collections of product to prospective accountsAttained the largest order in company historyGenerated brand standard for national account, Art Van Furniture, with corporate office and design teamCreated and maintained rapport with architecture and design communityExhibited proficient product knowledge through intriguing presentationsTraveled within an eight state territory to maintain accountsFollowed up on project leads, including specification tracking on current and upcoming projectsQuoted pricing for projects with follow through to orderResponded efficiently and effectively to customer needsMaintained monthly expenses for travel and customer appreciation Show less

Researched and identified prospective clientsDesigned and prepared marketing materials including brochures, product cards, sales toolsAttended industry networking events; developed relationships to build the company’s brand awarenessAssisted with product and prop placement for photo shoots, while supporting strict branding directionCreated and produced company newsletter Designer:Produced furniture plans, electrical plans, and technical furniture specifications for… Show more Researched and identified prospective clientsDesigned and prepared marketing materials including brochures, product cards, sales toolsAttended industry networking events; developed relationships to build the company’s brand awarenessAssisted with product and prop placement for photo shoots, while supporting strict branding directionCreated and produced company newsletter Designer:Produced furniture plans, electrical plans, and technical furniture specifications for corporate officesCommunicated with installation companies and project management team regarding project scopeConsulted with client regarding product selection and project scope, within budgetReviewed furniture, fixture and equipment schedulesPresented furniture plans for client approval Show less

Produced plans for multiple retail spaces using Retail Focus for Sears, Kmart, and Lands' EndCreated fixture floor plans that met the business objectivesEnhanced productivity of space through placement of fixtures and product flowAnalyzed store performance data to create sales floor layouts to achieve store sales goalsCommunicated with store level management to determine space adjacenciesCompleted special projects in a timely manner providing quality and accuracy to licensed… Show more Produced plans for multiple retail spaces using Retail Focus for Sears, Kmart, and Lands' EndCreated fixture floor plans that met the business objectivesEnhanced productivity of space through placement of fixtures and product flowAnalyzed store performance data to create sales floor layouts to achieve store sales goalsCommunicated with store level management to determine space adjacenciesCompleted special projects in a timely manner providing quality and accuracy to licensed businessesProvided support to management, store planning team and architecture departmentsPresented preliminary plans for approval to go to pricing ultimately increasing salesAssisted in training for new store plannersCreated and executed merchandise plans to ensure product flow Show less

Upheld a high level of product knowledge, placed furniture in vignettes, space planned and maintained inventoryAssisted sales consultants with inventory researchManaged store operations and maintenance