Keith Loeffler
Summary
Merchandising Leader with 20+ years of corporate experience, demonstrating the ability to effectively manage businesses according to their role within broader corporate strategy. Rapid learner with a proven track record of exceeding financial targets and building high-performing teams. Significant success in delivering profit growth on large businesses, executing organizational strategies, effective project/portfolio management, and change management. Possess a relentless drive to constantly prioritize and focus efforts in areas of highest opportunity. Excel in building strong relationships cross-functionally and being able to deliver results quickly as a result.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchant, Garden Tools and Winter Goods
Ace Hardware
Oak Brook, Illinois
06.2024 - Current
- Achieved over 20% sales growth in first full year through execution of growth strategies and strong seasonal planning.
- Led multiple successful line reviews, leveraging strong analytics, negotiation skills, and cross-functional leadership to deliver above expectations on top metrics.
- Forged strong strategic partnerships with suppliers that I've determined to have a growth mindset.
- Contributed significantly to floor-wide initiatives focused on improving line review processes and Assortment Optimization.
Director, Category Strategy
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
Deerfield, IL
11.2020 - Current
- Led a team of 8 responsible for managing a robust category reset process that combines category/shopper insights with deep analytics to optimize item assortments based on store-level customer demographics and product volume. Delivered an estimated $225MM in incremental Sales growth (all supported businesses) in FY23.
- Developed, trained, and implemented negotiation strategies and tactics responsible for delivering 10%+ annual growth in incremental net funding from 2020-2023.
- Promoted a winning team culture through clear prioritization, transparency, authenticity, and empathy.
- Drove continuous category reset process evolution, as organizational priorities change, and have led change management/socialization planning with senior leadership. Evaluation examples include implementation of stronger inventory ROI metrics to better support categories with profit-focused category roles.
- Worked collaboratively with other organizational leaders to develop annual resource plans that best supported both corporate strategy and financial targets.
Senior Category Manager
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
Deerfield , IL
06.2018 - 11.2020
- Consistently drove market share and Profit growth of ~$1B Households Needs desk.
- Implemented a significant change to the flow of the Paper Goods department, guided by findings from a customer study, that generated +3% Sales, +4.8% Profit lifts.
- Led partnership discussions and JBP growth strategy development, across Divisions, with multiple suppliers. Growth plans developed with Kimberly Clark delivered +23% Sales, +36% GP in Fiscal 19'
- Department lead for Promotional Effectiveness; effectively trained other team members on how use customer psychology to design creative and financially effective promotions. Created 45% Sales uplift by adding a gift card reward for customers that reached specific "spend" thresholds, to drive increases in basket size.
- Merchant Lead for launch of Buy Online, Pickup In Store ordering capability through the Walgreens App. The capability project was launched in March 2020 (just after COVID) and was completed in just 90 days.
- Hired and developed a high-performing team of Associate Category Managers and Assistants. All three team members I hired and developed during this time have since been promoted.
Category Manager
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
Northbrook, IL
05.2013 - 05.2018
- Oversaw multiple desks during this period, with varying levels of focus and complexity: Home Essentials (primarily profit/ROI centric categories like Pet Needs, Home Goods, Kitchen Goods, and Candles, Household Needs (trip-driving categories e.g. Paper Goods, Laundry), and Tobacco (regulatory desk with massive pricing emphasis). Combined responsibility for over $2B in Sales.
- Achieved or exceeded Sales and Profit targets through combined optimization of assortment, pricing, promotion, and display. Delivered 13% dead-net Profit improvement in Kitchen Goods through strategic assortment shift from low-margin appliances to high-margin water bottles.
- Developed mutually beneficial joint business plans with Strategic Suppliers that grew category Sales through strategic brand growth.
- Launched best-in-class Owned Brand program in Pet Needs that focused on differentiated dog treats and value dog beds. These Owned Brand launched delivered 2.6% increase in category margin rate in Pet Needs.
- Orchestrated critical buy-in from cross-functional support teams through frequent, timely, and transparent communication around the "why" behind contributions needed for the business.
Associate Category Manager - Snacks & Nuts
Walgreen Co
Deerfield, IL
10.2011 - 05.2013
- Responsible for P&L of $365MM Snack & Nut Departments.
- Exceeded budget targets for FY13'.
- Expanded Owned Brand item assortment in Nuts, generating a 2.8% increase in category profit margin.
Team Manager - Merchandising Strategy & Execution
Walgreen Co
Deerfield, IL
06.2010 - 08.2011
- Chief of Staff role to both Chief Merchant and President of Retail Products.
- Led several Leadership forums designed to drive progress against top strategic initiatives for the enterprise.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MISkills
- P&L Management
- Team Building & Development
- Cross-functional Leadership
- Negotiation
- Strategic Vision/Planning
- Change Management
- Problem Solving
- Analytics
- Oral & Written Communication
- Project Management
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Coach/Mentor/Trainer
Civic Activities and Awards
- Board President for Gurnee Youth Baseball (503c non-profit youth sports)
- Organized Team Building activities at Feed My Starving Children
Timeline
Merchant, Garden Tools and Winter Goods
Ace Hardware
06.2024 - Current
Director, Category Strategy
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
11.2020 - Current
Senior Category Manager
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
06.2018 - 11.2020
Category Manager
Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.
05.2013 - 05.2018
Associate Category Manager - Snacks & Nuts
Walgreen Co
10.2011 - 05.2013
Team Manager - Merchandising Strategy & Execution
Walgreen Co
06.2010 - 08.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Michigan