Howard J. Sobel
Boca Raton,Florida
Summary
Highly motivated and results-oriented Sales & Marketing Leader with a proven track record of exceeding revenue targets and driving operational excellence. Expertise in developing and executing go-to-market strategies, managing budgets, building strong customer relationships, and optimizing sales processes. Passionate about fostering a customer-centric culture and empowering teams to achieve ambitious goals. Seeking a challenging role where analytical and strategic skills can be leveraged to contribute to business growth significantly.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Retail Sales and Strategy
Arteza, Inc
North Miami
04.2021 - Current
- Developed and executed a comprehensive strategy, identifying new market opportunities, expanding a DTC brand's distribution footprint to2,000 brick-and-mortar retailers within, and driving e-commerce opportunities, resulting in significant revenue generation, brand awareness, and market share growth
- Cultivated strategic relationships with buyers at new retailers and used data-driven approaches to optimize existing sales channels, increasing the brand's omni channel expansion into untapped markets
- Leveraging retailer-sponsored promotions, securing prominent product placement, and driving brand awareness and demand generation to increase sales, and retailer basket value, significantly boosting revenue
- Develop, measure, manage, and report on performance metrics, monitor financial performance, sales activation, profitability, and marketing opportunities including ROI and ROAS to maximize revenue against every dollar spent
- Collaborated across departments on new product launches and to develop seasonal programs, achieving a22% sales lift
- Led the strategic development of domestic and international trade shows, achieving a consistent minimum ROI of17% in, in addition to annualized businesses
- Secured distribution in new international regions and fostered cross-vertical partnerships within the craft, education, SAAS/augmented reality sectors
- Collaborated cross-functionally to develop product lines for new channels, enabling expansion, driving revenue growth, and maintaining strategic category integrity
- Developed tools for marketing and sales teams to ensure appropriate financial analysis for gross margin and promotion evaluation ensuring top-line sales and bottom-line profitability
- Developed and implemented pricing strategies, and sales processes for marketing and sales teams that streamlined line reviews, semi-automated purchase order processing, and generated comprehensive reports, saving valuable team player hours with operational efficiency
- Led a cross-functional team of marketing, category managers, and operations professionals, driving brand advocacy, promotional strategies and merchandising strategies executed digitally, on-shelf, at sales meetings and trade shows, and building partnerships with distributors
- Developed effective strategies based on a comprehensive understanding of the competitive landscape and consumer behavior resulting in improved performance and profitability
Sr. Channel Sales Manager
Imusa Division of Groupe SEB
Doral
10.2020 - 04.2021
- Led a sales process improvement initiative, enhancing meeting preparation through standardized procedures, analyzing market trends, and customer insights to achieve the desired business objectives and maximize new revenue opportunities through expanded distribution
- Successfully spearheaded the development of revenue strategies including retail and product matrices, enabling channel differentiation and new revenue generation through expansion into premium retailers like Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table
- Used a data-driven methodology to train and develop analytical skills and motivate the sales team, achieving a15% boost in monthly sales
Sr. Manager, Channel Sales
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
Boca Raton
04.2018 - 06.2020
- Led a team of Managers and Associates to plan and execute assortments, including pricing and promotions, for multiple channels across the Appliance and Cookware Division Small Kitchen Appliances, Bedding, Seasonal Home Environment, and Cookware resulting in increased share of shelf, increased top-line revenue, and profitability
- Delivered on assigned financial and budget targets, including sales goals, profitability, and inventory goals for the fiscal year, receiving the Power to Win Award for over-delivering sales targets against the plan at Costco and Meijer in2019
- Managed channels/customer's including Mass Walmart/Target, Regional Mass Meijer, Kroger/Fred Meyer, HE Butt, Club (Costco, Sam's BJ's) , Department/Specialty (Bed Bath and Beyond Kohl's, Best Buy) , Grocery, Drug, Military, and Value
- Drove the launch of expanded product lines on Dot Com that resulted in the expansion of brick-and-mortar shelf placement of $3M Annually
- Responsible for the disposition of E&O inventory in the channel $11M in2019, and $7.5M in2020 reducing the organization's inventory liability and supporting business objectives
- Aligned internally with Brand and Product Development teams to create and drive go to market strategies
- Acted as the voice of sales and the customer, internally assured needs and messages were articulated and understood to allow the internal teams to drive the best solution for the opportunity at hand
- Coached and mentored team players to support growth through monthly goal setting and monitoring as well as challenging them to identify solutions before presenting problems resulting in the promotion of3 team players
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients through effective customer’success initiatives resulting in increased demand generation
Manager, Channel Marketing
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
Boca Raton
01.2017 - 04.2018
- Responsible for the strategic planning and direction of the Walmart business of the Appliance and Cookware division resulting in improved top-line sales by4% in select categories during times of declining POS
- Delivered on sales objectives and built annual plans collaboratively with sales and planning partners resulting in increased sales volumes
- Led the partnership with cross-functional teams that included Sales, Marketing, Activation, and Brand Development to plan and execute new product distribution that resulted in increased revenue growth and ensured bottom-line profitability
- Accountable for delivering the financial plan and sales number for the fiscal year
- Analyzed customer and national data to identify key business insights and opportunities for new product placement assortment for expansion resulting in the introduction of seven new items in multiple categories
- Responsible for finalization of all meetings and material preparation for Leadership Top to Tops, Line Reviews, and Category/Innovation Reviews that created highly effective sales meetings
Manager, Channel Sales
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
Boca Raton
08.2016 - 12.2016
- Responsible for the strategic planning, direction, and growth of in-store and e-commerce revenue of the Food, Drug, Hardware, Distributor, and Office Channels in partnership with Sales, Marketing, and Finance teams
- Planned and executed sales, marketing, and promotional programs
- Identified and capitalized on organic and incremental sales growth opportunities
- Continuously provided monthly, quarterly, and annual sales objectives by building annual plans collaboratively with each account
- Developed insightful, creative strategies and ensured a presence consistent with brand objectives to execute new launch plans and marketing strategies
- Identified the visibility gaps in product assortment and secured placement for12 new selling platforms that increased revenue and gross margins
- Led multiple internal projects and cross-functional teams to ensure on-time delivery and exceptional performance
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients through effective customer success initiatives
Manager, Customer Satisfaction/Customer Development and Operational
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
Boca Raton
01.2012 - 08.2016
- Supported partnership with internal stakeholders and the buyers to reduce Vendor Violations by17%, including the repayment of $100,000 in fines
- Worked cross-functionally to implement new procedures, re-engineer processes, and seek out cost-saving measures, adding $300K back to the bottom line annually
- Key contact and relationship manager for top-tier strategic partners across the supply chain, planning, and vendor/supplier manager functions with the implicit goal of taking customer feedback and improving operational efficiencies and internal processes across the organization
- Researched logistical failures for root causes and designed new processes, resulting in better performance and cost avoidance
Education
Master of Business Administration - Marketing
Lynn University
Boca Raton, FLBachelor of Science - Marketing & Business Administration
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FLSkills
- Microsoft Office Suite / Google Suite / JDE / Showcase / QlikView / Tableau / Power BI / Project Management
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Project management
- Financial oversight
- Budget management
- Operational excellence
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Business development
- Process improvement
- Revenue growth
- Negotiation skills
- Sales strategy
- Data-driven decisions
- Relationship building
- People management
- Strategies and goals
- Employee development
- Business planning
- Team management
- Operations management
Awards
2013 Target Supply Chain Partner of the Year
2019 Newell Brands Appliance And Cookware Division - The Power to Win Award
2024 CreativeWorld Creative Impulse New Product of the Year
Timeline
Director, Retail Sales and Strategy
Arteza, Inc
04.2021 - Current
Sr. Channel Sales Manager
Imusa Division of Groupe SEB
10.2020 - 04.2021
Sr. Manager, Channel Sales
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
04.2018 - 06.2020
Manager, Channel Marketing
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
01.2017 - 04.2018
Manager, Channel Sales
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
08.2016 - 12.2016
Manager, Customer Satisfaction/Customer Development and Operational
Newell Brands, formerly Jarden Consumer Solutions
01.2012 - 08.2016
Master of Business Administration - Marketing
Lynn University
Bachelor of Science - Marketing & Business Administration
Florida Atlantic University