Christopher Conklin

Orchestrated sales initiatives across 52 distributors and 400 accounts throughout Florida, overseeing a diverse portfolio of branded consumer products, including Zig-Zag, Stokers, Beech-Nut, Trophy, Solace, Fre, and Clipper.

• Spearheaded the expansion of brand visibility by successfully penetrating over 50 previously untapped retail accounts, driving sales growth through strategic marketing campaigns.
• Demonstrated a keen aptitude for business development, elevating the distributor network from 46 to 52 through targeted outreach and relationship cultivation.
• Amplified sales performance by crafting compelling promotional materials and deploying precise advertising strategies tailored to distinct market segments.
• Employed robust market analysis techniques to pinpoint emerging opportunities and cultivate new account relationships, refining marketing strategies to ensure optimal impact and ROI.

Managed a dynamic sales territory encompassing 196 accounts in Central New Jersey, driving growth and profitability for leading brands including Philip Morris USA, United States Smokeless Tobacco Co., John Middleton Inc., Helix Innovations, and Njoy.

• Developed and executed strategic sales plans, introducing innovative products, retail programs, and services to drive engagement and sales growth within the territory.
• Ensured regulatory compliance with Department of Justice (DOJ) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) programs, fostering responsible growth initiatives.
• Spearheaded successful initiatives to gain distribution and increase market share for Innovative Tobacco Products, achieving notable results.
• Implemented and managed the Altria Scan Data Program, securing active participation from 8 independent retailers and driving sales of an additional 2,943 SKUs.
• Led the successful launch of 4 new products, achieving over 90% acceptance and distribution across all launches.
• Delivered exceptional results by growing Helix market share by 8% and Njoy volume by 4% compared to industry peers.

• Managed sales, distribution, and merchandising operations for over 200 covered accounts, consistently delivering strong sales and significant unit volume in New Jersey.
• Achieved recognition as the 2020 Holiday Sales Competition Winner for the Northeast Region, with the highest sales growth among peers.
• Delivered increased unit sales volume in the Northeast region during Q3 2021, particularly through executing Special Offer promotions resulting in significant unit sales and positively impacting overall regional volume.
• Served as the Northeast subject matter expert for the 7-Eleven chain and Clover POS system, facilitating peer learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.
• Proactively drove responsible growth by expanding the number of enhanced access control certified accounts, contributing to sustainable business development.
• Provided strategic guidance to business owners on merchandising and pricing strategies, resulting in enhanced front view point-of-purchase (POP) presence for the majority of covered independent accounts in the territory.

• Directly oversaw all NYC corporate and franchise stores to ensure meeting productivity targets, adhering to budgets, and achieving sales goals, all while prioritizing a positive guest experience.
• Successfully advocated for the implementation of separate stations for 3rd party delivery orders at franchised locations, resulting in improved throughput and a notable sales increase of 10%-12%.
• Introduced financial and customer experience tracking tools to empower general managers in meeting their performance objectives.
• Contributed to the development of the company's online and social media presence, enhancing visibility and strengthening the brand's growth trajectory.
• Collaborated with the marketing department to enhance catering sales by 10 – 25% across the three locations during the third and fourth quarters.

• Supervised operations across five stores, encompassing one commissary kitchen and totaling $6.2 million in annual sales.
• Formulated comprehensive onboarding and training programs to standardize store operations, ensuring consistency and efficiency.
• Provided leadership to front-of-house and kitchen teams, including front-of-house managers, kitchen managers, and approximately 25 hourly team members per store.
• Strategically identified local businesses and events to promote and enhance local brand recognition.

• Successfully rebranded the Morristown location through targeted local marketing initiatives and exceptional customer service, resulting in a consistent annual sales increase of 15% for four consecutive years.
• Advanced three shift supervisors to store manager roles across various locations through effective coaching and professional development strategies.
• Implemented recognition programs and comprehensive training initiatives, resulting in a notable reduction in staff turnover rates.