Senior Global Sourcing Manager

Posted on: 2006-01-24

Deborah Anne Gagliano 203B 55TH Street  Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140  H: (262) 652-4209  C: (720) 936-9061  [email protected] FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF EXPERTISE MERCHANDISING, SOURCING, AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE CORPORATE EXPRESS Broomfield, Colorado (International direct marketer and business to business wholesaler of office furniture, supplies, paper, and promotional products, sold through catalogs and websites) Senior Global Sourcing Manager Conducted successful negotiations. Served as go-between for outsourced sourcing agency and category managers. Identified and qualified production sources and sites. Contributed to the team directive to an exclusive buying agency organization on product priority, location of source, and quality of production and source for private label manufacturing. Sought out new sources and secondary sources of production. Negotiated all initial through final pricing on products and services via the exclusive buying agency. Developed a product development timing and action calendar to be matched to a product development and procurement cycle for accurate and required product delivery receipts. Reviewed new and exciting factories for policy and standards compliance. Initiated and filed all due diligence reviews before negotiations and production. ▪ Developed a Vendor Manual. ▪ Designed a Due Diligence and Contractor Audit Review Process. CHELSEA&SCOTT LakeBluff,Illinois (Direct Marketer of infant, toddler, and children’s functional, educational, home and safety products sold through “One Step Ahead” and “Leaps and Bounds” catalogs and websites) Director of Merchandising Directed merchandising, product development, inventory planning, and control management groups and functions of catalogs and website product assortments, consisting of soft goods, apparel, and hard goods. Devised strategies for improving margins, product integrity, and deliveries based on knowledge of best practices for sourcing, product design and development, vendor management, inventory planning, and product presentation as well as comprehensive analysis of internal processes. Coached management teams on methods of creating product specifications, communicating product and delivery requirements to vendors, and negotiating pricing and terms with vendors. ▪ Led transition from fragmented approach to sourcing in Far East to placement of full-package programs in western hemisphere at more favorable pricing and deliveries. ▪ Improved profit margins, cash flow, product quality, lead-times, and inventory turns. ▪ Completed Due Diligence Assessment of total vendor base. BRUNSWICK CORPORATION, MERCURY MARINE Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (A global manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of luxury recreational products) Director of Merchandising Devised cross-cultural marketing plan to create, market, and distribute promotional products with corporate identity, unifying brands with diverse product offerings and target audiences. Directed assortment planning, development of specification packages, sourcing, production planning, inventory management, and marketing to internal clients, dealers, and consumers. ▪ Developed new categories of promotional products. Established vendor base and manual. Consolidated purchasing, positioning company for cost savings of 40% to 50%. ▪ Co-designed and implemented website for internal and external promotions. LAND’S END Dodgeville, Wisconsin (International direct merchant of apparel, soft luggage, and soft home and furniture products sold through core, specialty and international catalogs and websites) Global Inventory Manager Managed corporate inventory position, including all catalog and store titles to meet corporate criteria and capitalize on consumer demand. Determined inventory requirements based on sales forecasts and production lead-times. Communicated inventory needs and requirements to vendors. Directed basic and spot purchasing activities to achieve targeted levels of inventory. Restored category sales volumes and profitability through improved category and inventory management. Independent Contractor, 1997-1999 JOCKEY INTERNATIONAL Kenosha, Wisconsin, (Global manufacturer of men’s, women’s, and children’s basic and fashion underwear, lingerie, active wear, and sportswear) Evaluated sourcing methodology and existing infrastructure in Latin and South America to identify opportunities for improving margins, reducing lead-times, and expanding production capabilities and capacities. Formulated forward sourcing plan, including identifying and evaluating factories, determining placement of core programs and new products, and developing base of component suppliers. ▪ Achieved up to 30% cost savings on multiple programs while improving production schedules. GLOBAL SOURCING PARTNERS Milwaukee, Wisconsin, (Sourcing and Buying Agency servicing a diverse client base consisting of retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers) Worked to develop one-on-one assortment planning and selection and import product development through client base. Collaborated with financial and transportation aspects of international trade for Global Sourcing Partners, representing clients to consolidators, freight forwarders, and U.S. customs officials. ▪ Defined and implemented a new marketing and sales strategy for new client development. ▪ Created and executed business separation plan while maintaining service levels. S.C. JOHNSON WAX (International consumer products company specializing in home care, personal care, and insect control household and professional products) Racine, Wisconsin, Developed in-house market research lab, field test venues, and test protocols needed to conduct sensory, consumer market, and packaging research, which allowed S.C. Johnson Wax to execute approximately 80% of previously outsourced projects in-house with cost savings of 30% to 50%. ▪ Designed, initiated and managed testing of consumer responses to various product attributes and presented test results to project sponsors. CENTURY MARTIAL ARTS Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Senior Buyer, Senior Manager of Product Development (International sporting goods apparel manufacturer and leading global wholesale school supplier and direct marketer to consumers of martial arts products) Developed merchandising strategies and assortment plans for branded, private label, and licensed products. Directed sourcing and procurement of raw materials, contract manufacturing, and finished goods. Trained, developed, and managed purchasing professionals and product development technicians. EASTBAY CORPORATION (Largest international school direct and consumer direct marketer of performance athletic footwear and apparel, currently operating as the largest division of Foot Locker) Wausau, Wisconsin Vice President of Product Development, General Merchandise Manager Directed design, development, and sourcing of private label product categories. Oversaw merchandising and inventory management function for company catalog. Developed formal buying systems and retrained team of eight buyers and a product development team. Served as member of senior management team that positioned company for initial public offering. ▪ Created private label program and established sourcing infrastructure to expand product assortments by 25%. ▪ Significantly increased margins and fueled sales growth for company that more than tripled multimillion sales volumes in less than two years. FEDERATED DEPARTMENT STORES, MILWAUKEE BOSTON STORES (Upscale department store chain specializing in private label assortments and brands, in family apparel and soft and hard home furnishings) Milwaukee, Wisconsin Corporate Product Development Management Team Senior Buyer, Men’s Accessories and Furnishings (Concurrent positions) Managed performance of assigned product categories to achieve goals for sales and gross margin retail on investment. Conducted line reviews. Performed product research and development. Created merchandising plans with assortments. Generated sales forecasts and inventory budgets. Negotiated programs with vendors. Monitored inventory sell-through and made plan adjustments. ▪ Developed corporate merchandising programs for men’s furnishings and accessories. ▪ Created corporate private label brands to generate seasonal assortments for buyers throughout corporation. ▪ Exceeded corporate goals for sales growth, GMROI, and inventory turn, achieving double-digit percentage increases for three of four years. Gaps in experience due to caring for ill parent and following husband’s career overseas. OTHER EXPERIENCE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Assistant Professor, 1988-1993. Created retail merchandising academic curriculum, which involved extensive research and curriculum design. Led program instruction and taught undergraduate business courses. UNITED STATES SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Small Business Development Centers Madison, Stevens Point, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin Professorial Consultant, 1988-1993. Advised assigned clients in researching, developing, and writing formal business plans and presentations targeting financial institutions and venture capitalists. Developed and taught Executive Small Business Outreach programs to company executives and entrepreneurs. Areas of expertise: retail financial planning and budgeting, inventory forecasting, planning and control, sourcing and importation strategies, and assortment planning. P R O D U C T C A T E G O R Y R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y Soft Product Men’s Men’s & Young Men’s Apparel, Footwear, Accessories and Furnishings,including Underwear, Base Layer Apparel, Nightwear and Hosiery; Technical and Active Sportswear, including Individual and Team Sports Apparel and Accessories; Casual Outerwear; Cold Weather Accessories, Haberdashery, Travel and Luggage. Women’s Women’s Casual Sportswear, Activewear and Outerwear. Infant/Juvenile Children’s Apparel, Footwear and Accessories. Hard Product Nursery, Bed and Bath, Play Room Furnishings; Developmental and Parenting educational tools and media, Infant and Juvenile traditional and non-traditional play, recreational, sports and toy products. Recreational and functional products for Boating, Camping, Fishing and Hunting; Sporting Goods including items for individual and team competitive sports; Office Products, Office Furniture, and Electronics I N T E R N A T I O N A L S O U R C I N G & C O N T R A C T M A N U F A C T U R I N G E XP ER I E N C E Western Hemisphere – Latin and South America; Far East and Southeast Asia; Near and Middle East; Sub-Saharan region EDUCATION MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, Milwaukee, Wisconsin M.B.A., UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, Menomonie, Wisconsin B.S., Retail Management, and B.S., Apparel, Textiles and Design AFFILIATIONS World Trade Organization National Retail Federation United States Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel Institute of Store Planners Beta Gamma Sigma, International Business Honor Society