Scott Nichols Email and Phone Number

• Oversaw merchandising and product development initiatives of $200 million, omni-channel business (catalog, web, outside sales).• Built direct source and private label programs for products in response to customer needs and category gaps.• Developed targeted product strategy, pivoting category mixes to higher-margin products.• Spearheaded design and creation of new product collections across all categories.• Served as lead point of contact for developing new and maintaining existing partnerships with vendors and sourcing partners, responsible for negotiating pricing, operational issues, and growth.• Set pricing strategy for products, maximizing margin for P&L while staying competitive in marketplace and providing value for customers.• Worked closely with operations team to have “customer-first” mentality in product development, improving product functionality, packaging, and assembly.• Optimized warehouse space with logistics team through forecasting, clearance programs, and location optimization.• Reviewed merchandising and UX of websites, using data from Google Analytics and heat map tool (Hotjar).• Implemented catalog strategy modernizing photography, improving page layout, and diversifying SKU presentation.• Managed and hired merchandising, sourcing, and product database teams.• Focused and aligned team, using strategy deployment, Scrum, and Lean principles.• Managed and developed career plans for employees while providing training and stretch opportunities.• Pivoted consistently to market conditions in 2020, finding sources for supply chain gaps.

• Developed private label products with vendors to increase profitability.• Visited vendor factories and attended industry shows to grow new and existing relationships.• Directed over 150 vendor accounts, coordinating new product additions, analyzing sales reports, and handling sales/service issues.• Implemented pricing strategy to react to tariffs imposed on Chinese-made goods, using market research and Power BI.• Created education market-specific catalog to grow presence in education market.• Facilitated transition of website to new platform (Insite) to increase functionality and conversion. • Built new streamlining strategies for database team to increase ability to add content.• Coordinated with IT and database staff to develop new functionality for database.• Trained staff on Excel and database aspects previously unknown to team members.• Strengthened skills in Agile and Scrum disciplines through seminars and internal projects.• Managed merchandising and database staff, focusing on development and training.

• Directed vendors by expanding product offerings across multiple categories, developing go-to-market strategies for product lines, and reviewing success and failure of existing products.• Oversaw website content, categorization, promotions, and products for multiple brands.• Coordinated projects with IT and creative departments to enhance website experience, improving SEO, cross-selling, visual content, and conversion.• Set and managed pricing for OfficeFurniture.com and OfficeChairs.com, considering margin goals and competitive landscape.• Developed and boosted new web product categories of healthcare, modern office furniture, hospitality, and décor by cultivating new vendor relationships and expanding existing vendor offerings.• Designed private label product with vendors.• Chaired web merchandising specialist team in charge of adding products and growing website.

• Launched web-only brand of National Business Furniture in Canada.• Managed day-to-day operations, including management of staff, sales, customer service, financial planning, billing, marketing, and merchandising.• Created launch plan, including detailed financial planning, market research, product management, and business operations setup.• Worked closely with manufacturers to improve operations, shipping, and addition of new products.• Developed new relationships with Canadian vendors for improved service and product diversification.• More than doubled sales from 2011 to 2012.

• Managed online merchandising of National Business Furniture, Alfax Furniture, and Dallas Midwest while assisting other, “web-only” brands• Coordinated process of adding new catalog products to the website with creative and catalog departments• Worked with manufacturers to add unique product offerings onto websites• Project manager for implementation of new guided navigation and search on Alfax Furniture and Dallas Midwest websites• Assisted marketing department with strategy of promotions on website and in emails

• Wrote NBF monthly emails to customers highlighting different promotions and products• Merchandised NBF.com website through promotions, re-categorization and product page changes• Assisted in catalog production through proofing pages and auditing pricing pages• Took management classes at MRA including Project Management and the Principles of Management Series