Colin Savage
Denver,CO
Summary
Over twenty years of experience in the grocery, restaurant, and catering industries, combining high-level sales and marketing knowledge with deep operational experience, technical savvy and cross-functional communication abilities. Extensive experience driving sales, managing profit margins, managing teams, controlling costs, and maximizing profitability.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchandising Specialist
Survey.com
04.2021 - Current
- Developed space allocation plans to enhance product visibility and accessibility.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align category strategies with overall business goals.
- Executed planograms to ensure compliance with merchandising standards and improve customer experience.
Merchandising Team Lead
Advantage Solutions
09.2018 - 01.2024
- Led merchandising initiatives to optimize product placement and enhance brand visibility.
- Trained and mentored team members on best practices in merchandising and inventory management.
- Provided training to new team members on merchandising best practices, enhancing overall team performance.
Property Manager
ME3, Ltd.
03.2009 - 11.2019
- Real Estate Investment and Management. Acquire, develop, and operate, residential real estate. Provided tenant leasing services. Managed owner expenses. Provided staging services in preparation for real estate sale.
- Managed daily business operations, ensuring efficiency and adherence to quality standards.
- Ensured accurate record-keeping for financial transactions, maintaining organized documentation for easy reference during audits or other inquiries.
- Managed multiple properties simultaneously, coordinating efficient allocation of resources and streamlining communication channels to maintain high levels of operational excellence. Lowering monthly expenses by 12%.
Director of Procurement
Tony's Market
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Directed product procurement for Grocery, Deli, Bakery, Merchandise and Candy for all market locations. Trained and supervised corporate buyers, helping to guide buyers on new product trends, selection, merchandising and movement. Responsible for annual employee reviews.
- Worked in conjunction with the marketing department on sponsored events, (Democratic Convention, Broncos Training Camp, Tony’s Local Days, and Westword Media Events) charities, in-store campaigns, and private label expansion.
- Expanded private label selection by 75%, collaborating with corporate chef, local and national producers, co-packers, graphics designers.
- Responded to unique items and specialty food trends, often being the first in Colorado to offer new items.
- Represented Tony’s Market at semiannual specialty food store council meetings.
Corporate Buyer: Grocery-Candy-Merchandise
Tony's Market
01.2005 - 01.2010
- Managed product procurement, including selecting, pricing, education of staff, merchandising, weekly sales, Monthly inventory, and P&L review.
- Coordinated monthly department manager meetings for all locations.
- Traveled locally and nationally for trade shows and specialty market reviews.
- Analyzed supplier pricing and inventory levels to optimize purchasing decisions. Increased gross margin 8% for gift merchandise and 11% for candy.
- Collaborated with sales team to identify and fulfill customer needs. Increasing Grocery dept sales 2-3% annually.
General Manager
Tony's Market
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
- Led weekly team meetings to review goals, address challenges, and foster collaboration.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships growing average sales by 9%.
- Cultivated a strong management team resulting in lowered labor costs and reducing worker turnover by 18%
- Oversaw daily operations to ensure optimal efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Managed inventory controls to maintain stock levels and reduce waste.
Culinary Program Director
Tony's Market
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Featured local and national chefs to lead cooking classes. Planned menus to highlight and promote unique food products, leading to increased store sales. Creating strong community relationships.
- Promoted classes through store and community marketing, achieving 70%+ repeat enrollment rate.
- Provided ongoing direction and leadership for program operations.
Assistant Store Manager
Sur La Table
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Aided with a store opening, hiring, training and supervising 20 new sales staff. Assisted with staff scheduling and management, along with community networking. Extensive product training.
- Planned and supervised semi-annual inventory to ensure accurate reporting.
- Implemented visual merchandising strategies to create engaging displays that enhance customer experience.
Sales Associate
Sur La Table
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Assisted customers with product information and merchandise purchases. Coordinated store displays.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Political Science, Liberal Studies
California State University Northridge
Northridge, CAGeneral Studies
Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills, CASkills
- Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Catapult Inventory Control and POS Software
- Chef Tec, ADC InterScale
- Communication, Negotiation, Budgeting
- Leadership, Creativity
- Reading planograms
- Product merchandising
Timeline
Merchandising Specialist
Survey.com
04.2021 - Current
Merchandising Team Lead
Advantage Solutions
09.2018 - 01.2024
Director of Procurement
Tony's Market
01.2010 - 01.2013
Property Manager
ME3, Ltd.
03.2009 - 11.2019
Corporate Buyer: Grocery-Candy-Merchandise
Tony's Market
01.2005 - 01.2010
General Manager
Tony's Market
01.2004 - 01.2005
Culinary Program Director
Tony's Market
01.2002 - 01.2004
Assistant Store Manager
Sur La Table
01.1999 - 01.2002
Sales Associate
Sur La Table
01.1999 - 01.2000
Some College (No Degree) - Political Science, Liberal Studies
California State University Northridge
General Studies
Los Angeles Pierce College
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
- Manager, Racine’s Restaurant, Denver, CO 1996 - 2000
- General Manager, Basix Café, West Hollywood, CA 1994 - 1996
- Co-Owner, Savage Parties Catering, Santa Clarita, CA 1990 - 1994
AREAS OF STRENGTH
- Amazing Customer Service
- Profit and Loss
- Budget Planning
- Strategic Marketing
- Buyer Negotiations
- Executive Communications
- Product Marketing
- Product Trend Analysis
- Staff Management
- Recruitment/Hiring
- Staff Training & Development
- Vendor/Client Relations
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