Vin Altruda Email & Phone Number

Whitmore Lake, Mi

I am currently CEO of the Amherst Fund’s portfolio company, Espresso Royale. Espresso Royale is a roaster and coffeehouse with 21 locations serving select college campus markets in four Midwestern states.

Provided retail industry expertise to a variety of investors and private equity groups. I worked with specialty retailers on strategic initiatives and planning.

Developed a strategic plan for the international superstore concept, leading teams to implement plans for product sourcing, financial models, site selection, distribution and logistics, inventory control, administration, and store support.Assembled and headed the merchandising, marketing, operations, human resource and supply chain teams for Borders International division, a separate operating company. Developed a real estate strategy for market and site selections in the U.K., Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Accomplished the International five-year expansion plan goals by leveraging the domestic core competencies and optimizing overhead in-country. Grew the International division to over $400M in International sales and 11% of Borders Group, Inc. consolidated sales in 2003, more than 70 locations in four countries and over 2,500 employees. Achieved net income profitability as a company for the first time in fiscal 2003 despite a planned net income loss for the year.

Successfully merged two disparate cultures into one that best supported the strategic growth plan. Managed a team responsible for growing 19 stores to over 200 stores nationwide in 5 years exceeding $1.4B in sales. Integrated the 12 Basset Book Shop locations into Borders stores in the first year. Achieved sales and profit plans every year.Supervised the creation of an infrastructure to handle rapid store growth including; store controls, store opening procedures, and the development of a store communications and operations department. Introduced audit and loss prevention functions. Led innovation in bookselling by adding a multimedia assortment and a café.

Developed and implemented a superstore concept necessary to grow this mature company, opening 12 superstores in 12 months. Leveraged the Walden Book organization to launch a separate growth division.

Supervised store operations for entire Barnes & Noble retail division. Introduced new superstore concept and converted existing Barnes & Noble small format bookstores and B. Dalton stores to the superstore format. Designed a marketing plan to integrate 50 existing stores into the superstore strategy. Assumed responsibility for a November/December, 1990 -5.8% comparative store sales trend and improved the comparative sales to +1.1% by end of fiscal year.

Established and supervised an operations department responsible for all aspects of field support and communication. Managed the turnaround of the Northeast region after the acquisition of B. Dalton Bookseller by Barnes & Noble, Inc. Improved comparative store sales in 150 stores 8.8% and net income from 3.01% to 3.75% - a dollar increase of 34.4% to $5.9M. Implemented a loss prevention program that reduced shrink by 55%.

As Area Manager for seven states, increased area sales 19.7% to $350M and grew net income from 3.8% to 4.4% - a dollar increase of 39.6% to $15.5M. Designed and implemented a computerized store budgeting system which improved accuracy, provided detailed information, reduced field supervisory time by 2,500 hours and reduced payroll in 750 stores by $2.5M. Acquired and integrated over 20 independent pharmacies and three chains ranging in size from 10 to 40 stores to the CVS brand and the local communities. Established prototypes for the 24 hour convenience model that included a food and sundries offering.

Introduced to the company through a college summer internship program; Upon graduation, entered a one year store based accelerated training program that included one day a week of classroom trainingIn 1974, became the youngest store manager in the 1,000+ mass market retailerPromoted to a higher volume store manager position in 1975