Chris Miles
Portland,OR
Summary
Results-driven professional with over 15 years of experience in business development for leading brands and retailers. Proven track record in negotiating with retail category managers and collaborating with broker teams, optimizing product selection, promotions, and pricing strategies. Expert in merchandising solutions and passionate about driving sales growth through guidance, training, and actionable plans.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Advisor
INFRA: Independent Natural Food Retailers Association
Portland , OR
2021.01 - 2024.01
- Retail Account Management: Built robust relationships with over 30 independent retailers, delivering personalized support through strategic in-person meetings and calls
- Achieved a 10% increase in retailer engagement within the assigned territory
- Business Development and Growth: Executed over 90 in-person meetings, comprehensive store assessments, and program training sessions with member owners and staff
- Promotions Program Optimization: Enhanced promotional program opportunities by coaching retailers on marketing strategies, data analysis in SPINS, pricing strategies, presentations, store assessments, actionable plans, and merchandising tactics
- Enabled Northwest independent retailers to surpass Northwest Natural Channel retailers in SPINS performance metrics
Area Sales Manager
Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt LLC
Portland , OR
2018.01 - 2021.01
- Sales Strategy and Brand Growth: Created sales strategies, demand forecasts, budgets, and trade spend to achieve targets and expand market presence
- Achieved top 5 brand ranking in the Greek yogurt segment in the Northwest SPINS Natural Channel
- Managed Key Accounts: Built and maintained strong relationships with key accounts including New Seasons Market, Whole Foods, Fred Meyer, Safeway, and independent natural chains
- Gained approval for six quarterly holiday item rollouts and two new product line launches with assigned key regional accounts including New Seasons Market and Market of Choice
- Oversaw National Distributor Management: Led key national distribution calls with the KeHE category management team to ensure new item setups, product images, pricing, and price changes, facilitating the opening of new KeHE distribution centers nationwide
- Expanded distribution by introducing a new product line of low sugar Greek yogurt, launching 6 holiday items, and adding 8 new 5.3oz yogurt cup sizes
- Team Collaboration: Partnered with the Field Marketing Manager to develop and implement a custom holiday cooler program with New Seasons Market
- Attained the #1 selling item for 8 & 16 oz Pumpkin Pie Seasonal Yogurt at New Seasons Market in the Greek Yogurt Segment
- Planned and Executed Promotional Activities: Organized retailer promotional calendars and activities, including in-store demos to drive product awareness and sales with new item launches
Area Sales Manager
FARMHOUSE CULTURE
Portland , OR
2016.01 - 2018.01
- Managed Key Accounts: Built and maintained strong relationships with grocery retailers, distributors, and broker representation
- Launched two new product innovations and facilitated the entry of Farmhouse Culture products into a major new retailer chain
- Led Broker Management: Managed a team of 10 broker Sales Representatives and Key Account Managers at Presence Marketing
- Organized regular meetings with the Sales Manager to discuss market tours, key account meetings, and strategic targeting of retailers, resolving merchandising issues, void opportunities, and new item launches
- Developed Strategic Plans: Created data-driven strategic plans using SPINS reports to target retailers
- Optimized ACV distribution by addressing and resolving 40-80 void opportunities per quarter
Sales Representative
PRESENCE MARKETING NW
Portland , OR
2010.01 - 2017.01
- Managed Sales Calls and Account Development: Oversaw a territory in Oregon, selling into assigned accounts and generating new accounts
- Developed strong relationships with buyers and key store personnel, created programs to sell products, wrote orders, educated store personnel, coordinated demos, and identified opportunities to grow business
- Achieved #1 Whole Foods Region Sales by presenting and executing case stack deals and promotions
- Led Retail Development: Ensured optimal product placement by checking shelf tags, rotating stock, applying POS materials and coupons, monitoring pricing, performing audits, executing promotions, merchandising shelf sets and displays, and building displays and performing resets
- Led a team of brokers as Whole Foods Market Set Captain, improving product visibility and sales through meticulous retail execution during monthly resets
- Utilized Data Analytics: Leveraged data such as SPINS, Nielsen, Power BI, store-level void reports, and distributor data to drive sales and meet manufacturer expectations within accounts
- Enhanced sales strategies and consistently improved ACV goals set by vendor partners
- Conducted Retailer Meetings: Held face-to-face meetings with accounts in the territory, with additional travel as needed
Territory Manager
ADVANTAGE SALES & MARKETING
Western , WA
2007.01 - 2010.01
- Sales and Business Opportunities: Led sales efforts and identified business opportunities for the Western Washington State territory
- Managed Promotional Planning: Oversaw headquarter calls for NCGA’s Co-op CAP program for the Western Region
- Implemented promotional planning for a wide range of natural food brands, leading to increased vendor and retailer satisfaction
- Developed Strategic Initiatives: Built brands and developed strategic initiatives and long-term business plans for manufacturers in assigned accounts
- Led Alaska retailer development, resulting in 100 cases of Food For Life Bread being delivered to Natural Pantry in Alaska per month
- Elevated Brand Performance: Boosted Lundberg Rice to be the #1 sales region in the country by presenting and executing a case stack program with NW Retailers
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Skills
- Account Management
- Training & Education
- Vendor & Retailer Partnerships
- Distributor Relations Management
- Retailer Partnerships
- CRMs
- SPINS Reports
- MS Office Suite
- Word
- Excel
- Outlook
- PowerPoint
- Microsoft Teams
Websites
References
Available Upon Request
Timeline
Business Advisor
INFRA: Independent Natural Food Retailers Association
2021.01 - 2024.01
Area Sales Manager
Ellenos Real Greek Yogurt LLC
2018.01 - 2021.01
Area Sales Manager
FARMHOUSE CULTURE
2016.01 - 2018.01
Sales Representative
PRESENCE MARKETING NW
2010.01 - 2017.01
Territory Manager
ADVANTAGE SALES & MARKETING
2007.01 - 2010.01
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
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