Richard Diamond Email & Phone Number

Multifaceted consulting, product development and sales group focusing on products for the home and office furnishings space for both bricks and mortar and ecommerce customers. RM Diamond Group represents a number of marquis manufacturers specializing in furniture, lighting, mirrors and wall decor.

Portland, Us

Responsible for growing our brand across America by aligning with cannabis license holders that desire a luxe edibles experience as part of their assortment. We specialize in sweet and savory baked goods and truly unbelievable varieties of fudge.

Parabel has developed a unique way of capturing the goodness of an ancient and well known food source, Water Lentils, and transforming it into healthy and sustainable products for the 21st century.This proprietary technology will transform today's food and feed landscape and contribute to global sustainability in any number of ways.Parabel grows locally hand-picked micro crops and process them to satisfy an ever growing need for sustainable agricultural products whether in the food or feed marketsParabel's growth systems have been commercially proven in multiple locations around the world, from Asia and Africa to North and South America. These facilities are supported by our offices in Florida, USA.Together with our partners, we have developed an extensive array of products ranging from snack foods and beverages for human consumption to feed formulations for the full spectrum of poultry, livestock, fish and pets.These products are being commercialized and distributed into markets where we already have applicable certifications.

Developed and marketed innovative backpacks and luggage incorporating safe, removable device charging. Sold to national bricks and mortar and ecommerce sites.

National account sales and management focusing on office superstores, drug and extreme value verticals.

Boca Raton, Florida, Us

Vice President, MerchandisingAssumed control of lagging furniture business and restructured operations to restore profitability. Accountability for $1B business in stores, sales force, catalog, and web. Staffed, coached, and led DMM and team of five merchants and seven support associates. • Projected 30% increase in GMROI and ROIC by end of 2010. Developed fundamental strategic change for promoting and funding business.• Redefined furniture direction from heavy residential to SMB. Negotiated sample ownership program with domestic and import resources, which would eliminate millions of dollars of investment and dramatically impact turnover and cash flow. • Introduced competitive line review process in direct import furniture arena. Staged seating and furniture events in Shenzhen, China• Championed product development process through private brand and direct import group. Brought new Shenzhen sourcing office into mainstream of corporate recognition. Sourced product and trained new personnel in China.• Transformed Cleaning and Breakroom supply business to be commercially driven. Reinvented store planogram to compact nationally branded convenience headquarters, including "Road Warrior" coffee/snack destination in store and catalog / web offering designed to grow share in high profit SMB market space.

Chief Operating Officer, AsiaClients: Target, Staples, Bombay Company, Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid, CVS, Albertson’s. Directed global operation spanning new product development, sourcing, negotiation, quality assurance, transportation, and financial operations as well as sales out of Hong Kong showrooms. Primary liaison with US-based sales, trend, and product design functions. Interpreted direction from North America to best utilize Asia resources. Staffed, trained, and mentored local and global team of 20. Controlled $14M P&L.• Introduced and revamped systems to control product development, sample flow, packaging, manufacturing, shipping, and payments.• Determined new materials, shapes, and concepts to leverage existing home storage, office storage, and seasonal Swarovski crystal businesses. Focused on both organic development and specific customer requests for new product, line and brand extensions.• Grew key accounts by developing new and exclusive products utilizing creative fabrications to offset increasing raw material expense.• Redeployed and trained employees to better respond to factory base and US customers. Instilled “Customer is Always First” and “24-hour Response” philosophies. • Established China based QA team to tightly monitor sample and stock production at factories as well as ensuring social and C-TPAT compliance. • Transitioned to competitive sourcing strategy from prior single source per medium environment. Set and enforced standards based on both internal and customer requirements.• Developed and implemented specific audit, assessment, and inspection policy criteria to train primary factories in specifics of quality manufacturing, packaging, social compliance, C-TPAT and accountability.

Clients: Sam’s Club, FYE, Linens N Things, Bon Ton, Elder-Beerman, Garden Ridge.Researched and developed novelty furniture and accessory products for initial retailer introductions. Developed and conducted product presentations for key customers and prospects. Oversaw contract product development and quality control teams in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Ho Chi Minh City, and Taiwan.• Sourced products in South China and monitored through prototyping, sampling, and eventual production. Maintained consistent sales and expense forecasts for partners. • Traveled to Asian factories every other month to pursue accelerated speed to market as core differentiator vs. larger established but slower competitors. • Added secondary income streams by consulting for O’Sullivan Furniture both in retail strategies and Asian sourcing development as well as managing US operations for OCM, a large Taipei-based office seating manufacturer.

Us

$4.8 billion multi-channel office supplies and services provider to business, home office and individual consumers through almost 950 superstores and delivery centers in over 370 markets internationally, and through the Internet.Vice President / General Merchandise ManagerSupplied leadership and oversight for $800M SOHO, commercial office furniture, plastic storage, consumable, and B2B gift businesses. Oversaw sales, gross margin, vendor income, merchandising, and sales promotion for 950 stores, specialty catalogs, and eCommerce. Led and empowered four merchants, eight associates, and Operations Director.• Increased import penetration in furniture to over 80%, demonstrating to top management sales and margin growth potential of global sourcing.• Implemented strategy to align OfficeMax assortments with industry function, material, and color trends.• Led corporate rollout and training function for change to Category Management philosophy. • Introduced RTA direct imports from Poland and Brazil, replacing 32% gross margin with 40% program.• Successfully negotiated establishment of dedicated Polish fulfillment center. • Grew Far East sourcing to 95% of seating business representing $100M+ in purchases at 44% mark-up. In tandem with lamps, this accounted for 85% of OfficeMax imports. Sales in chairs maintained double industry growth rate and 25% comp sales growth.• Changed historically adversarial vendor relationship environment into more collaborative approach based on long term win-win partnerships..

52-store Florida retail department store chain, with 1998 sales volume of $1.4 billion, division of Federated Department Stores (now Macys).Vice President, Furniture, Floor Covering, & Bedding 1990 - 1996 Directed a $100 million area in 16 stores including five furniture galleries and interior design studios. Staff included 15 merchants and sales support staff. Responsible for sales, net margin and furniture fashion direction in the highly competitive Florida home furnishings market.Other jobs at Burdines included:DMM - Home TextilesDMM - Floor and Window CoveringsSenior Buyer - UpholsteryBuyer - European ImportsBuyer - Wicker and RattanAsst. Buyer - Floor Coverings

Bachelor'S Degreefinance And Marketing, Finance And Marketing

Education record

B.S. Economics/Marketing, Business, Marketing