Meredith Wellen
Melville
Summary
Results-driven salesperson with extensive experience in strategic sales with a creative approach. Proven track record in driving growth, optimizing processes, and fostering client relationships. Exceptional skills in strategic planning, vendor/client negations. Adaptable and reliable; consistently achieving high-impact results in fast paced environments.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
VP, Key Account Sales
HOME ESSENTIALS & BEYOND
01.2016 - Current
- Recruited by a manufacturer and distributor of home décor and tabletop products to open new accounts and drive sales with existing accounts. Hired to develop and implement strategic sales plans, directly sell to key accounts, manage inventory levels and contribute to product buying initiatives
- Grew total sales year over year in volume and boosted margin, while lowering warehoused inventory by 15%
- Responsible for all revenue growth, profits and outreach for10M of business within Department Stores, Mass and Off Price channels
- Grew sales at Dollar General and pOpshelf by3m by finding whitespace, fostering relationships with existing buyers and reaching out to discover new areas of business
- Work with product teams internally and client facing to remain at the forefront of strategy and trend direction
- Opened new categories of business at Walmart, Big Lots, Burlington, Dollar General, and pOpshelf and Lowes.
- Directly responsible for product lifecycle, promotional planning and assortment management for in store and online channels of distribution.
- Created a $3M annual business in textiles across all channels of distribution by working with internal/external teams to develop highly sought-after collections based on identification of market trends and consumer insights
- Hyper-focused on accountability for sales/margin goals, inventory fill rate, and turn metrics
- Heavily involved in the product development process, using client trends and market values to develop trend right collections at key price points.
- Spearheaded strategic initiatives, driving long-term growth and sustainability.
Field Marking Officer, Home Decor
LIFETIME BRANDS
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Recruited by the President of Home Décor at Lifetime Brands as a Field Marking Officer
- Responsible for sales and new product launches.
- Worked closely with Category Managers on client development, new brand launches such as Bombay and new areas of business, such as accent furniture.
- Competitive shopped to understand whitespace within my customers, new emerging trends and whitespace within each department.
- Managed day to day business within multiple departments at Bed Bath & Beyond including, but not limited to, Wall Décor, Picture Frames, Lighting, Home Décor and Accent Furniture
- Developed replenishment decor program with Burlington in key categories.
Category Manager, Housewares Tabletop
LIFETIME BRANDS
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Responsible for product development under the Gourmet Basics by Mikasa brand.
- Worked with the sales team during the product development process to understand each specific customer need, ranging from configuration, coloration and cost targets.
- Responsible for category P&L through analyzing and assessing business and product performance
- Worked collaboratively with the planning team to drive fill rate and replenishment for key retailers
- Generated new product introductions from concept to creation by working directly with artists, designers, packaging teams and factories overseas
- Sourced import vendors and utilized negotiation skills, vendor relationships and volume to reduce purchasing costs and improved contract terms
Education
Bachelor of Science -
University At Buffalo
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Business development
- Market analysis
- Project management
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- Customer Relationship Management
- Effective negotiator
- Extensive Product Knowledge
- Fluent in SAP, Qlikview, Salesforce, Bamboo Rose, Retail Link and other industry software
Timeline
VP, Key Account Sales
HOME ESSENTIALS & BEYOND
01.2016 - Current
Field Marking Officer, Home Decor
LIFETIME BRANDS
01.2014 - 01.2016
Category Manager, Housewares Tabletop
LIFETIME BRANDS
01.2009 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Science -
University At Buffalo
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