Category Manager- Private brand development - Private Brand Consumables: Cat and Dog food, and cat litter Product development, vendor relationships, supplier sourcing, ongoing management of production and inventory including packaging, dry pet food, and wet pet food. Outstanding results year after year, ensuring that private brand dog and cat food is dominant in the Pet Retail Brands portfolio.

ZELLERS INC. 2010 - PresentCategory Manager, Christmas & HalloweenAccountable for both departments at Zellers representing a total $60M at Retail. Manage and coach 2 direct reports and mentored 2 Associate Buyers.• Conduct in-depth market research and analysis to develop competitive strategies to maximize sales and meet financial objectives.• Negotiate terms and pricing with over 60 import and domestic vendors thereby driving profitability.• Collaborate with the planning department and provide input on budgets and forecasts for sales, markdowns and inventory.• Develop and execute on-trend and on-target powerful assortments of national brands and Zellers private brand merchandise to meet all financial objectives.• Build the correct assortment blend through import buying trip to China and Hong Kong as well as Domestic vendor base.• Execute line reviews, create purchase orders, and communicate essential shipping timelines to vendors to ensure that product is in-stock at the correct time.• Collaborate with the packaging department to create private brand packaging, thereby enhancing on shelf presence, establishing a cohesive look and delivering brand message. • Create a strong marketing plan of time sensitive promotions to drive footsteps and increase sales.• Exceeded 2010 Xmas sales by 15.7%, Exceeded Planned Sales by 12%, Exceeded GP$ Target by 14% in 2011.

Buyer, Deals, Closeouts, Liquidations, Direct Import Managed all buying categories including home textiles, housewares, small appliances, personal care, fashion, home décor, as seen on TV, toys, sporting goods and seasonal.• Conduct ongoing research and competitive market analysis in all product lines, determining suitability of deals and opportunity buys that fit the profit model.• Developed new business through sourcing of deals and new vendors both import and domestic, thereby driving sales.• Introduced over 75 new vendors to the company in USA, Canada, China and India/Pakistan, expanding the network of deal opportunities. • Introduced new product categories which resulted in roll-outs to ongoing business.• Increased sales by over $8M in décor and housewares categories.

Buyer, Housewares & Home Décor/GiftwareManaged all housewares and home décor categories with a $15M cost budget.• Increased sales 21% in home decor by upgrading the assortment with more appealing higher value product and improved packaging.• Achieved a 15% comp store sales increase in housewares by scrutinizing assortments, expanding in-line programs and offering improved value and on-trend merchandise.• Increased profitability by moving Sterilite plastics program from Canadian domestic to direct truckloads from USA.• Increased the import blend of both housewares and home décor categories, improving margins.

Buyer, Hardlines & Softlines Managed all buying categories including home decorative accessories, Xmas seasonal décor, patio furniture and accessories, BBQ and accessories and garden décor. Combined category budget $15M. • Maintained a high import blend through 2 Asian Buying trips annually.• Increased sales in garden décor Category by 29% year over year in spring 2004.• Increased sales in home décor by 10% year over year in 2004.• Increased sales in patio furniture by 8.2% year over year in 2005.

Category Manager, General Merchandise (GM)Selected, coordinated and managed import and domestic seasonal and inline programs with an approximate cost value of $100M for 10 Grocery banners in Eastern Canada. Categories included all indoor/outdoor seasonal categories: Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Halloween, patio, sporting goods, camping, gardening décor, insecticides, pool chemicals, winter needs, automotive, toys, furniture, hallmark and back to school. • Introduced garden décor to the GM division with a complimentary program to the garden centre program, resulting in an additional $2M in sales in 2002 and $3M in 2003.• Grew the camping program 270% year over year 2001-02.• Identified Valentines and Easter as underdeveloped categories and succeeded in growing the business 64% for Valentines and 42% for Easter year over year 2001-02.• Increased toy sales 10.7% year over year 2001-02.• Instituted a structured sell through analysis and central markdown process to co-ordinate retail prices and markdowns uniformly across all banners.