Thomas Trone Email & Phone Number

Bethesda, Md, Us

Responsible for all National Brand ordering of all wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages. Additionally direct a team that manages all aspect of beer and non-alcoholic beverage categories.

Bethesda, Md, Us

Work directly with owners, CEO and the executive team on high priority projects and issues. Including analysis of potential markets, store layout, promotional strategy, pricing, gross margin improvement and driving comp sales. Currently focused on creating a more robust pricing strategy with the goal of improving customer price perceptions and gross margin. This includes numerous process improvements, methodology enhancements and documentation, RFP completed and development is ongoing. Also responsible for starting Market Intelligence cross functional teams for each Operational Area of organization, to analyze markets and develop ongoing competitive strategies to include item mix, pricing, merchandising, marketing and purchasing.

Alcohol Beverage Industry Consultant specializing in big box alcoholic beverage retail, alcohol beverage chain retail, control brand selection and sales development, alcohol beverage merchandising, market analysis, site selection and competitive assessment.

• Founded firm and raised necessary capital.• Selected target market, developed and opened in MA and CT, 32,000 plus sq/ft alcohol beverage superstores from initial concept to fully stocked stores with a limited support team.• Researched, selected, sourced, negotiated contracts/purchase prices and oversaw installation of all capital items, including technology infrastructure - hardware and software solutions, at corporate offices and stores.• Developed selection criteria, methodology for review and approved over 5,000 wine, 1,500 beer, 1,200 spirit, 400 gift/accessory and 1,000 gourmet food items.• Created process for control brand wine selection – conducted analysis to determine target varietals, price points and places of origin, then made initial winery contacts, obtained samples, participated on tasting panel, conducted cost negotiations, label development if applicable, purchase quantities, shipping, brand development, store level training, merchandising, in store tasting, consumer classes, advertising. Team sourced and stocked over 200 items within 18 months, representing 30% of total wine sales.• Selected and trained both corporate team and store teams.• Established and maintained collaborative wholesaler and supplier relationships in two states.• Created and implemented all operational and financial systems, procedures, policies and controls.• Managed entire process: construction, fixturing, staffing, training, stocking and ultimately store operations. Managed or personally responsible for all marketing, purchasing, human resource, IT, and finance tasks.

Bethesda, Md, Us

• Key member of senior executive team driving all strategic decisions, market positioning, competitive approach, store format/layout, real estate strategy, merchandise assortment, pricing, corporate planning, team member development, corporate culture.• Team grew start up to industry innovator/leader - 6 year sales growth of almost 300%, EBITDA growth of almost 200%, increased store count to 54 stores including entrance into 5 new states, sales comps of slightly under 10%, shrink of less than 50 basis points and reduced store payroll by 50 basis points.• Created the Store Support, Planning & Analysis, Loss Prevention, and Customer Service Departments, responsible for all related hiring, training & development, departmental mission statements, goals, teams’ processes and procedures.• Successfully invested in training of store level teams product knowledge & sales techniques, merchandising & signing approaches, end consumer contact points and marketing materials allowing chain to build brands by significantly impacting sales of targeted items• Reevaluated store concept and developed a new big box store prototype as part of Executive Team.• Created store operating P&L, related budgets, and associated DM/store manager bonus plan. Prototyped and worked with IT to program store operation’s reports including sales, gross margin, payroll, shrink, and human resources.• Significantly improved store execution by developing clear, consistent, simplified policies and procedures, created a store management training program, eliminated unnecessary paperwork, refocused store teams on customer facing activities, implemented new technologies, changed communication processes, and implemented store level workload planning.• Worked with IT to select, purchase, and implement Kronos time keeper, payroll, and HR, responsible for chain wide training and implementation

Woonsocket, Ri, Us

• Produced executive level reporting and analysis, - board of director packages, management committee reporting and analysis, – supplied the numerical information to help change the decision making process from largely subjective to objective numeric based.• Developed new store analysis approach, top 10% store analysis package, and loss store action plans.• Identified and implemented technology based process improvements allowing the Inventory Reconciliation Department to double the number of inventories completed and reconciled per year from 2000 to 4,000 stores, while reducing headcount in the inventory department from 20 to 12.• Changed the reporting and analysis approach for shrink and margin, significantly improving actionability of the information generated.• Direct reports included the department heads of Corporate Budgeting and Analysis, Store Reporting and Analysis, Store Budgeting, Inventory Reconciliation, Shortage Control and Pharmacy Analysis.• Member of executive operation’s team, responsible for all financial and operational metrics related to Field Operations working extensively with Executive VP of Operations.• Worked with IT to purchased and implemented data base and reporting tools that significantly improved data availability, reliability, and exception reporting capabilities, allowing reporting/analysis to be completed in hours/days vs. days/weeks with less headcount.• Designed and implemented web based exception reporting tools for 700 users, including all AVPs, Region Managers, District Managers and executive management.• Key participant in several acquisitions, most importantly Revco and Arbor Drug, transitioned all budgeting, store reporting, and store related corporate P&L lines to CVS.• Designed and implemented a new budgeting approach; worked with EVP of Store Operations to revise analytical approach, reporting and controls relative to store payroll resulting in a significant reduction of a $3.5 billion expense line.

Masters, Business

Bachelor Of Science, Business