Zion Gear Company is a retail & online store specializing in camping, outdoor survival and preparedness gear and supplies. Sold business in April 2016. Store now located in Lindale, TX

Global Sourcing point man for the USA Group (but continued as a consultant for worldwide projects, as that I was the previous Director of Global Sourcing for the Worldwide Group).Position required coordinating with Corporate management, manufacturing, sales, marketing, engineering, purchasing and shipping departments to increase sales, reduce costs and develop new product lines.

Helped create and run a new Global Sourcing Department (GS) to serve all Colson Group companies (Colson) worldwide (28 locations in 14 countries). My focus was to reduce costs, develop and or source new products, improve quality, improve inter-company sourcing, SKU reduction and consolidation, consolidate purchasing, consolidate outside vendors, improve vendor relations and communications, create captive long term partners, etc. Created and implemented a system of operating procedures and processes to receive, document, disseminate, process, evaluate and return results and communications from and to Colson and factory partners around the world on RFQ’s, product development projects, quality control requests, factory visits, shipments tracking, etc. GS became the communications hub between Colson and their partner factories around the world.During my tenure, GS worked on approximately 500 Projects (ranging from one to hundreds of parts per project), producing substantial cost savings and additional revenue. Organized & hosted a weekly GS conference call, attended by top corporate executives and staff from all the Colson Companies and factories around the world.Supplied monthly reports on GS to all Colson Group executives, investors, presidents and their top management teams worldwide. I have personally visited over 100+ factories in China to develop serious business relationships. This was a very challenging position, one that required 12-16 hours of my time a day to successfully establish a foundation that brought immediate success and that will benefit the Colson Group for many years to come.

A Colson Group Company...Evaluated and identified existing product lines for possible cost reductions, design improvements, product deletions and expansion to increase market share.Sourced and developed new cost effective product lines; coordinated with company management, engineering, purchasing, sales, marketing and shipping departments. Found new factory sources, created and sent out bid packages, evaluated quotes, visited and qualified new overseas factory sources, requested samples and coordinated with engineering to test, modify and approve new products, coordinated with marketing department to produce print and digital marketing content, consulted and assisted salesman to take new products to market. Identified industries and market sectors for growth, and worked with sales and marketing departments to find new customers and increase sales.Assisted engineering and sales departments with new quote opportunities through sourcing, product development and industry expertise.

Directed ALL aspects of sales and marketing: resulting in almost 100% increase in sales in just 7 yrs.Devised and instituted marketing plan to re-brand Durable’s image as a mainstream manufacturer / supplier; capable of being a “first line” vendor and trusted partner for distributors.Advised owner to invest in engineers, testing facilities and additional stocking locations.Created and compiled a comprehensive plan to establish a tiered distributor network without exclusive territories, maximizing market penetration while establishing large “Master Distributors” that would cover territories and become Durable’s sales force.Expanded business outside of U.S. to Canada and Latin America -including Mexico.Created volume pricing programs and structured discount levels, that greatly increased productivity, improved customer service, improved profits and empowered distribution. Developed new marketing materials including website, explanatory video, catalogs, flyers, etc.Created Co-op marketing programs for distributors; including private label catalogs and websites.Researched markets and participated in trade-shows; oversaw arrangements and lead distribution.

Progressed within in 3 years from being a salesman for Florida to directing all aspects of sales, product development and marketing: resulting in a 420% increase in sales.Developed entire C.W. product line. Researched markets and competition with the goal of creating the first comprehensive import caster and wheel product line ranging from 70 - 6,000 lb. capacity.Established nationwide distribution and large OEM business.Created all marketing materials including catalogs, mini catalogs and flyers.