Expert Details
Merchandise and Financial Planning; Retail Industry
ID: 736559
Washington, USA
He is able to speak in detail to the challenges caused by COVID-19 and the dramatic shifts to online shopping and casualization and the impacts to current top and bottom-line results as well as future impacts.
Expert's specific areas of retail expertise include: financial and merchandising planning, inventory control, eCommerce, sales forecasting, gross margin management and vendor negotiations.
His background spans luxury to highly promotional, online and brick and mortar, full price and off price. He has worked extensively with most leading brands can speak to recent trends, current pain points and likelihood of future success.
Specific Areas of Expertise: merchandise buying and planning, retail supply chain, private label development and growth, online and store retail, vendor negotiations and relationships with retailers, financial structure, levers of retailers, and sustainability. In addition, he has a solid understanding of how tech platforms are being used by retailers to improve efficiency and which are leading this evolution.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1991 | Degree: BS | Subject: Business Economics | Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2020 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal | Department: Principal |
Responsibilities:Partner with small to midsize manufacturers and retailers to improve inventory management, receipt flow, supply chain, and forecasting. Specific areas of focus include:* Improve in-stock position to drive top line sales and satisfy customers * Increase cash flow by reducing carrying costs and obsolete inventory liability * Improve sales and inventory forecasting accuracy Additionally: - Possess deep experience negotiating and managing store within a store businesses inside national retailers. - Served as expert witness in multiple lawsuits regarding licensing and contract disputes. Experience includes depositions and producing in-depth reports supporting both plaintiffs and defendants. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2012 to 2020 | Employer: Nordstrom | Title: VP of Merchandise and Financial Planning | Department: Merchandising and Finance |
Responsibilities:Supported a variety of product categories (apparel, hardlines, accessories and shoes) in stores and online, full price and off price. Direct responsibilities included assortment planning, vendor negotiations, inventory management and full P&L results. Sales volume under my direct management ranged from 4.5B - $5B. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2020 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal | Department: Principal |
Responsibilities:Partner with small to mid-sized retailers and manufacturers to help with inventory management and receipt flow efforts. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2009 to 2012 | Employer: Wireless Advocates | Title: VP of Operations | Department: Operations |
Responsibilities:Provided strategic direction and direct management to teams supporting supply chain, operations, facilities and loss prevention with $900M annual sales for 1,000+ locations inside three National retailers and online.▪ Drove highly successful rollout to over 400 retail locations that generated $250M in annual sales. Managed internal and external launch efforts that ensured budgets and timelines were achieved. ▪ Reduced supply chain costs by $6M by improving logistics and allocation processes. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2008 | Employer: Macy's | Title: VP of Planning | Department: Merchandising and Finance |
Responsibilities:Drove strategic initiatives to deliver sales growth and gross margin improvement in $250M business with team of 28. Built high performing team by engaging all members and consistently delivered sales increases.▪ Developed three-year strategy to define opportunities and provided framework for critical elements of growth resulting in 9% sales increase. Partnered with internal teams to align on goals and execute. ▪ Built high performing team by engaging all members. Instilled a passion for growing sales and fostered a sense of ownership to reduce turnover and improve communication. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2006 | Employer: Robinsons-May/ Meier and Frank | Title: VP, Assistant to the President | Department: Merchandising and Finance |
Responsibilities:Partnered directly with the President and CEO of a $2.6B department store to create and implement long termstrategies and manage day-to-day operations. ▪ Developed strategic financial plans for the company as well as for specific merchandise segments to ensure balanced flow of receipts and markdowns and maximum return on inventory. ▪ Facilitated communication and expedited the flow of work between Senior Management, stores, merchants, finance and sales promotion to drive sales and profit. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2001 to 2004 | Employer: Robinsons-May/ Meier and Frank | Title: Divisional VP, Merchandise Manager, Men's Furnishings & Suits | Department: Merchandising and Finance |
Responsibilities:Managed $151M business that ranked as top performer in May Company every year in the position. Drovesales and leveraged high standard of financial discipline in managing all P&L components. ▪ Led buying team of 12 merchants to develop strategies supporting compelling assortments, marketing, and in-store presentation that increased sales by 18% and improved profitability. ▪ Successfully negotiated with vendor management to secure maximum support in pricing, advertising funding, and gross margin. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Eastside Baby Corner, served in Board Advisory role |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Have served in expert witness capacity in multiple cases involving disputes between retailers and manufacturers as well as between licensees and lecensors. Have been deposed on several occassions and provided multiple written reports in support of both plaintiffs and defendants. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| Spanish | Conversational |