East Coast Sales Manager - Automotive Division

Manage brands within the Baby, First Aid and Personal Care categories.Create and implement actionable strategic plans. Project champion in the new product development process.Utilize IRI data to understand category activity in all trade classes and create compelling account specific presentations based on market data.Strong focus on P&L, reducing costs and growing net margins.Set new item pricing based on market analysis and input from Finance department.Coordinate off-site focus groups and in-house panel tests.Collaborate with R&D, Product Development and Packaging departments to develop programs meeting sustainability and green initiatives.Key Accomplishments:Successfully managed new item launches for Costco, Toys R Us and Target generating $110.3MM annually.Managed major brand re-launch for Target Baby line to new Up & Up brand.Key member of Nice-Pak PIP (Profit Improvement Program) task force. Helped lead a cross-functional team to uncover $7.4MM in annual savings.Managed product transitions delivering an additional $12.6MM in annual net margin. Transitions were designed to cut costs through stream lining production processes and product components.

Responsible for development of account specific, off-shelf merchandising for all trade classes.Directly responsible for compiling quarterly field forecasts for all display activity and communicating the total display forecast to Production and Planning.Created numerous promotional items with in-house Creative dept. as well as outside agencies to help support product at retail. Ensured all promotional items (ie: manufacturer coupons, rebates, print advertisements, IRC's, etc.) were produced within budget.Assisted brand management with private label initiatives.Robert T. Schussler Page 2Monitored coupon redemption rates utilizing NCH reports.Key team member of Del data synchronization task force, representing the Pharmaceutical division. Focused on proper understanding and use of GS1 guidelines ensuring compliance with GS1 industry standards and practices.Key Accomplishments:Successfully managed display projects for multiple brands, generating over $4.8 million in 2006.Created and executed a new display program for 2007 utilizing existing components from on-hand warehouse inventory. Program addressed the corporate mandate to reduce and control inventory liabilities.

Liaison for Sales and Marketing departments, responsible for communicating all product information to the field sales team.Responsible for maintaining and updating master price list and seasonal deal sheets.Point-person for assignment and allocation of all product SKU and UPC codes.Ensured company intranet content was current and accurate.Conducted retail pricing audits in conjunction with field sales team.Key Accomplishments:Developed a new price list format that provided complete product information including NDC numbers, family value codes, inner-pack measurements and expiration dates. This new excel format replaced the traditional, professionally printed price list and allowed for instant updates, email accessibility and saved over $3 thousand in annual printing costs.Created a new generic IRC that was compliant with GS1 guidelines for barcodes. This new IRC addressed concerns from one of our large national accounts and helped Del to avoid fines imposed by the account.