Marquis Denson
Windermere
Summary
Driven Sales Leader with solid background in leading high-performing sales teams across all Channels. Proven track record in developing strategic sales initiatives that align with company goals. Demonstrated leadership through effective team management and strong customer relationships.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
US Lead - Distributor, Naturals, & C-Store
LIPTON Teas & Infusions
11.2023 - Current
- Identified new opportunities by conducting market research and staying current on industry trends.
- Implemented effective negotiation strategies, securing profitable contracts that aligned with company goals.
- Increased customer satisfaction by establishing strong relationships and providing tailored account management.
- Maximized customer retention, consistently addressing concerns and resolving issues promptly.
- Delivered exceptional customer service, fostering long-lasting partnerships with retailers and stakeholders.
- Regularly attended industry events to network and increase visibility in target markets.
- Assisted in training new hires, sharing best practices for successful account management and sales techniques.
- Managed high-stress situations professionally, maintaining composure while addressing urgent issues or conflicts effectively.
- Streamlined internal processes for improved efficiency in managing multiple accounts simultaneously.
- Maintained thorough knowledge of product offerings, enabling confident recommendations tailored to individual customer needs.
- Achieved revenue growth with the implementation of strategic sales techniques and targeted marketing campaigns.
- Developed comprehensive plans to expand key accounts, resulting in increased revenue opportunities.
- Fostered lasting relationships with customers through effective communication and quick response, resulting in long-term loyalty and expanded client base.
- Acted as a trusted advisor for retailers, offering expert guidance on products/services that would provide optimal value based on their unique needsgoals.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions for complex customer needs.
- Optimized communication channels between departments, ensuring seamless collaboration on shared initiatives for maximum results.
- Negotiated prices, terms of sales and service agreements.
- Managing 2 direct reports and over 100+ Broker personnel.
National Accounts Business Manager – Club/Value/Military Channels
LIPTON TEAS & INFUSIONS
09.2021 - 11.2023
- Manage the tea portfolio (Lipton, Tazo, Pukka, PG Tips) & assisting with company’s separation from Unilever as its own standalone company partnering with retailers: Sam’s Club, Costco (all regions, Business Centers, International), BJ’s, Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, 99 Cent Only, & Military. Currently managing 7 P&Ls generating $55M in Net Sales Volume with a total trade spend of +$8.3M across 6 national retailers to utilize effectively to grow the businesses and category.
- Added new distribution to one Costco region first 2 months in the role for seasonal rotation. +$1.2M in NSV (3-month rotation)
- Grew Value chain customers in 2022 +12% vs. 2021 (+$3.2M)
- Grew Club channel customers +7% vs 2021 even with given supply/production constraints (+$7.2M)
- Partner/Collaborated with over 30+ Costco personnel between all regions, Business Centers, & International team to create new club pack ideas, JBP, & implementing new promotional plans to grow the business.
- Utilize Costco IRI, IRI, Nielsen 1010, & Numerator Market Ad just to name few CRM’s every day to understand trends and to make any adjustments needed for my business across all my customers/regions.
Customer Business Manager – Grocery Southeast Region
UNILEVER/SEVENTH GENERATION
06.2019 - 09.2021
- Responsible for managing the brand’s business in multiple home care and personal care categories across 5 key grocery retailers as well as distributors in the Southeast region. I partner with a third-party company calling/selling to smaller regional grocery retailers within the region; with the primary focus to deliver new distribution & sales growth, drive brand conversion, and trial for natural and “green” products that provides “better for you” options that are environmentally friendly.
- 2019 Publix: Grew NEW distribution by 21% & sales volume by 17.1% ($1.8M)
- 2020 Publix: Implemented NEW “out of the box” sales programs by collaborating with Shopper Marketing & Unilever DRT to maximize off shelf merchandising. Sales volume grew by 33.4% (+$4.3M).
- Southeastern Grocers (SEG): SVG entered the Feminine Hygiene & Laundry detergent categories at this retailer by adding 6 NEW items of Fem Hygiene and 3 NEW items of laundry detergent. $576K in $ sales of pure incremental “white space” growth for the brand.
Retail Development Manager – Southeast Region
UNILEVER
03.2017 - 06.2019
- Responsible for all retail execution across the entire U.S. Southeast region & across all retailers. I partner/manage a third-party company in our everyday retail execution supporting all Unilever products and promotions by retailer throughout the region (Walmart, Target, Kroger, Publix, SEG, Lowes Foods, Food City, Harris Teeter, Sedanos, Presidente, are some of the retailers my team called on at retail). My team consisted of 2 Regional Operations Managers, 11 Retail Supervisors, and over 120 Retail Sales Representatives.
- Publix: Outpaced 2017 in incremental displays sold in (+191% vs. YAG) = $583,750 in NSV (Net Sales Volume) & 116,750 incremental facings sold in at retail
- Southeastern Grocers: Outpaced 2017 in incremental displays sold in (+516% vs. YAG) = $380,375 in NSV & 76,075 incremental facings sold in at retail
- Southeastern Grocers: In partnership with the Unilever account team. We were able to implement WOW display trains for the Hellmann’s Grilling program at a retailer that enforces “its clean store policy.”
Publix Team Sales Analyst
UNILEVER
07.2015 - 03.2017
- Provided sales insights and analytic initiatives across all Personal Care and Food Categories for the Publix account. Mined and analyzed data from sources such as Nielsen, Numerator, & IRI to name a few. Completed category analyses on assortment, retail pricing, trade promotions, and shopper marketing events.
- Exceeded dollar volume goal forecast by delivering $271.5M in sales for 2015.
- Assisted in completing category reviews utilizing Nielsen, Merlin (internal shipments tracking), shopper insights, and Market Ad tracking.
Customer & Channel Development Associate Manager – Confections Division
NESTLE USA
07.2014 - 07.2015
- Assisted in managing the candy division for the business across all retailers in the U.S. Partnered with cross functional departments such as Brand, Marketing, and Finance in creating new items, national displays, TCT decks, and managing the national budget of $5M for “Rack share” program/impulse candy purchases at the front-end registers.
- Effectively communicate to the sales field of upcoming promotional events, no scan issues, new items, and sell thru performance.
- Capitalized on distribution and share of shelf opportunities by identifying vulnerable items, made assortment recommendations, and planogram assistance.
- Conference calls/Webinars with Key Account Managers & Directors to advise sales trends from my in dept analysis in the country and provided guidance & recommendations on how to handle these trends for those specific retailers.
Retail Sales Rep/Regional Trainer
NESTLE USA
09.2012 - 07.2014
- Developed relationships with Wal-Mart, store personnel to achieve directed short and long-term performance objectives at assigned stores. Provided wall to wall coverage of Nestlé items, including systematic problem solving related to out of stocks, new item speed to shelf, and incremental sales volume.
- Strong Wal-Mart managerial relationships in my territory that enabled me to execute any ideas for Nestle features in multiple departments in all my Super Center locations.
- Sold incremental volume based on upcoming promotions, improved shelf conditions at store level, and corrected major point-of-sale issues using systematic problem solving.
- Certified as a Regional Sales Trainer to train new hires and assist them through an 8 week training program.
- Team leader and go to person for sales execution, selling strategies, and application assistance.
- Created and organized food drive events, pet adoption, and grand opening events at Wal-Mart.
Education
MBA - International Business – Cum Laude
Florida International University
Miami, FL12.2019
B.S. - Hospitality Management
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL05.2009
Skills
- Headquarter Account Management across all channels (Club, Value, Military, Grocery, Independents, Distributors, Mass, Convenience, & New Business)
- Customer Relationship Management
- Sales Team Training & Development
- Closing Strategies
- Business & Category Analysis
- Microsoft Applications
- Self-Starter & Multi-Tasking
- Creating new vendor/EDI supplier contracts
- Managing/tracking customer PO’s
- Sales Volume/Trade Budget Forecasting
- Powerful Sales Presentations (Multiple Application)
- Sales coaching
- Team management
- Sales planning
- Employee motivation
- Business-to-Business & Business-to-Consumer
- Retail Link
- Nielsen (Nitro)
- Nielsen 1010
- Market Ad/Numerator
- IRI
- Costco IRI
- Merlin/SSAS
- Evergreen
Accomplishments
- Achieved +12K new Points of Distribution (PODs) in the Distributor/Independent retailer channel which led to double digit sales growth across UNFI & AWG Distributors.
- Developed Incentive Program for our Broker partners to prioritize our brands and to close core of core distribution gaps.
- Collaborated with cross functional team in creating a new Club channel pallets for our top selling items.
- Grew Value Channel business by +14% & Military Channel +26%, while managing our company separation from Unilever.
- Projecting 30% growth in the Natural channel for 2025 due to new distribution at key retailers like Whole Foods, Sprouts, & The Fresh Market.
- Developed a more efficient forecasting strategy and deduction process for my channels under the new company while collaborating with cross-function team stakeholders.
Timeline
US Lead - Distributor, Naturals, & C-Store
LIPTON Teas & Infusions
11.2023 - Current
National Accounts Business Manager – Club/Value/Military Channels
LIPTON TEAS & INFUSIONS
09.2021 - 11.2023
Customer Business Manager – Grocery Southeast Region
UNILEVER/SEVENTH GENERATION
06.2019 - 09.2021
Retail Development Manager – Southeast Region
UNILEVER
03.2017 - 06.2019
Publix Team Sales Analyst
UNILEVER
07.2015 - 03.2017
Customer & Channel Development Associate Manager – Confections Division
NESTLE USA
07.2014 - 07.2015
Retail Sales Rep/Regional Trainer
NESTLE USA
09.2012 - 07.2014
B.S. - Hospitality Management
University of Central Florida
MBA - International Business – Cum Laude
Florida International University
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