Review and perform analysis on categories using corporate systems, syndicated data, consumer data and other data sources. Recommend category improvements to the Senior Category Management team during the category review process. Perform assortment and stock Keeping Unit (SKU) rationalization on all assigned commodities. Create and maintain strategic partnerships with vendors that will allow assigned categories to reduce cost and increase profit. Collaborate with stakeholders on to achieve sales, gross margin and market share goals. Assist in the coordination of compiling data essential for building successful sales plans and gross mark-up goals. Meet assigned deadlines. Flexible in assisting across categories in team based environment and needed and/or required.

Responsible for ensuring our assortment of products is well represented throughout a strong independent dealer network, and also make recommendations to add new dealers. Building and developing our rep force to empower stores through in-store sales training, product merchandising, programs and promotions with the goal of engaging consumers. Along with this, market information is gathered and analyzed to rally resources around instruments to further engage our consumers in their respective channels (stores and online). I work closely with our inside sales team to handle customer service and to ensure orders are placed and instruments are shipped to achieve the highest on-time fill rate possible.

Present and sell company products and services by establishing and building business and personal relationships with current and potential clients Prepare action plans and schedules to identify specific targets and to project the number of contacts to be made. Follow up on new leads and referrals resulting from field activity and market climate changes. Identify sales prospects and contact these and other accounts as assigned. Prepare presentations, proposals and sales contracts. Develop and maintain sales materials and current product knowledge. Prepare paperwork to activate and maintain contract services. Manage account services through quality checks and other follow-up. Identify and resolve client concerns. Prepare a variety of status reports, including activity, closings, follow-up, and adherence to goals. Communicate new product and service opportunities, special developments, information, or feedback gathered through field activity to appropriate company staff. Coordinate company staff to accomplish the work required to close sales. Develop and implement special sales activities to reduce stock and turn existing and or current product. Participate in marketing events such as seminars, trade shows, and telemarketing events. Follow-up for collection of payment. Coordinate shipping schedules and delivery of merchandise and services. Provide on-the-job training to new sales employees.

Establish partnerships with various suppliers and negotiate terms, pricing, margins, and shipping costs to increase and grow the business. Instrumental in determining marketing plans to sell existing and upcoming new inventory. Designing new guitar products to meet the needs of the consumer and instrumental in writing the story and or copy needed to launch products through new website channels. Purchase, manage, and control, inventory flow of the company while maintaining relationships with suppliers to insure the best possible discounts, shipping costs, terms, and inventory turns possible. Grew margin percentage by 6% in a four month period and continued to increase the bottom line dollar each month by 4%. Responsible for increased sales growth, gross margin percentage, fill rate, and inventory turns through new sales channels and marketing exposure.

Select, develop, and merchandising of electric guitars and products for Musicians Friend, the number one direct marketing leader in the MI industry globally. Responsible for marketing and sales for six different channels combo sales, including four direct marketing catalogs as well as four supporting websites and two additional stand alone websites such as Guitar Center.com Responsible for securing new suppliers, negotiating terms and conditions, as well as establishing new proprietary lines of stringed instruments from various international sources and contacts that have been established throughout years of global contacts. Grew specific category for Musicians Friend 17% percent in 2006 when industry average grew approximately 11%. Increased breadth of assortment by adding additional unique brands of electric guitars, increasing market share for the company. Responsible for increased sales growth, gross margin percentage, fill rate, and inventory turns.

New product development from initial concept through actual delivered product. Pricing, sourcing, production scheduling, life cycle planning/management, budgeting, inventory management, forecasting, and marketing including media planning. Frontline. Increased domestic sales 17.4% over budget in one year and successfully transitioned the redevelopment and reorganization of core product lines. Collaborate with foreign interests and alliances to successfully market product in the international arena. Long range business planning including market trending and competitive analysis. Worked directly with various recording artists such as John Mayer, Eric Johnson, Buddy Guy, James Burton, Mike Dirnt, John 5, and others to create their own Fender signature model instruments to market and sell as additional products for the Fender assortment.

Select, assort and price product for the catalog and Internet site. Instrumental in securing new vendors for the catalog thereby continually updating and upgrading the assortment for the consumer while increasing sales and margin dollars. Secured proprietary product sources increasing margins and incremental sales. Increased profit margin in stringed instruments 3% in less than a year. Square inch analysis, forecasting and inventory management. Negotiated terms and conditions with suppliers.