Paul Bakowski
Jacksonville,FL
Summary
Results-oriented merchant and leader with experience in managing businesses across multiple categories in a distributor model as well as experience in financial/business analytics and assortment planning
Professional with deep experience in commerce, prepared for next challenge in industry. Demonstrated skills in inventory management, pricing strategies, and vendor relations. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Known for reliability and adaptability in dynamic environments.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchant – Lamps & Ballasts
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
02.2022 - Current
- -Utilized new product development, supply chain optimization, various seller/customer training and marketing tactics to drive largest unit growth and highest customer acquisition in recent category history
- -Led largest Product Line Review in company history netting SKU reduction, sourcing new suppliers, gains in operational efficiency and increase in vendor provided selling support
- -Created Product Line Review process and supporting documents to support all go forward reviews
- -Led project planning, project tracking and established best practices with merchant team to complete assortment review of entire HD Supply business in 2H 2021
- -Developed and executed business strategies that achieved consistent double-digit growth through multiple channels of distribution including the Residential/Pro-Contractor, Multi-Family and Institutional markets
- -Identified areas of harmonization with shared core Home Depot vendors to utilize total company buying power that resulted in ~15% of cost out through net cost alignment and program synchronization
- -Identified exclusive brand opportunities through market analysis and collaborated with the Exclusive Brands team and the Quality Assurance team to source products with the goal of gaining share and increasing profit across all selling brand platforms
- -Utilized market data to identify and grow underperforming categories
- -Optimized E-commerce experience utilizing existing platform and creating new vehicles where necessary
- -Strategically planned each new program launch to include sell through, initial buys, inventory placement, training, and awareness activity in collaboration with leadership team and sales leaders
- -Organized vendor trainings for national and regional sales teams, generated customer facing and sales team facing promos, created sales programs to drive revenue in crucial categories
- -Forecasted sales and gross profit monthly to identify areas of concern and create an action plan to achieve sales and profit goals
- -Negotiated program buys on top selling items with strategic vendors to enhance profitability levels while mitigating risk by allocating product in top selling areas and continuously promoting product through web campaigns and sales trainings
- Mentored junior team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth within the organization.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by providing exceptional service and product knowledge.
- Performed regular competitor analysis to stay informed about industry trends and adjust strategies accordingly.
- Utilized excellent communication skills to resolve customer complaints promptly and professionally.
- Streamlined inventory management tasks for increased efficiency and accuracy.
- Implemented effective merchandising strategies to maximize sales and profitability.
- Increased overall category performance through proactive inventory control measures.
- Collaborated with marketing to create compelling content, boosting product visibility and sales.
- Enhanced team's product knowledge through regular training sessions, leading to better customer service and increased sales.
- Adapted quickly to changing market conditions, maintaining competitive pricing and product offerings.
- Negotiated shipping contracts to minimize costs, improving profit margins.
- Analyzed sales data to identify underperforming products, making strategic decisions on inventory.
- Increased sales by negotiating favorable terms with suppliers, ensuring competitive edge in market.
- Conducted market research to identify trends, enabling introduction of in-demand products.
- Collaborated with upper management to implement continuous improvements and exceed team goals.
Manager, Assortment Planning
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
02.2021 - 02.2022
Merchant – Faucet Repair, Bathtub and Shower Repair
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
12.2019 - 02.2021
Merchant– Gas Products, Water Filtration, Pumps, Drinking Fountains
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
05.2016 - 12.2019
Merchant– Water Heaters, Hospitality.
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
12.2015 - 05.2016
Assistant Merchant - Appliances, Water Heaters.
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
07.2015 - 12.2015
Regional Financial Analyst – Commercial Landscape Maintenance, Enhancement and Installation
Yellowstone Landscape Group
01.2014 - 04.2015
- -Worked alongside RVP to create and achieve performance targets for seven branches and nine business lines throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina
- -Led monthly financial reviews with Branch Managers (BMs) to analyze monthly and YTD branch performance as well as plan to correct any shortfalls going forward
- -Worked with accounting and finance team members to finalize monthly P&L, reported on monthly P&L to CEO in monthly leadership meetings
- -Worked with BM’s, RVP, CFO and CEO to create annual regional budget that totaled $60 million in revenue and targeted a 3% increase in YOY contribution profit
- -Produced and distributed weekly reporting to track branch expenses as well as project tracking tools to ensure branches achieved or beat profitability goals
- -Built solid relationships with BM’s which facilitated seamless implementation of business correction plans when necessary
- -Led weekly reviews with BM’s to review real time and expected costs to aide in creating and executing plan to beat budgeted goals
- -Created and tracked budgets for all landscape installation projects
- -Performed Work In Progress (WIP) accounting to realize revenue on continuing landscape installation projects
- -Used vast amounts of data to perform ad hoc reporting as well as create project management and P&L management tools that assisted in making informed business decisions leading to record profits in FY2015
Assistant Service Manager/ Product Manager – Yamaha Outboards
Tuppen’s Marine Service Center
08.2012 - 01.2014
- -Rationalized Parts assortment by creating sell through strategy of slow moving items and bringing in regional top selling items
- -Reviewed proposed new parts programs to analyze demand and profitability
- -Planned annual demand to fully capitalize on large discount buys resulting in full sell through of advance purchased items
- -Negotiated return of outdated (20+ years) parts with Yamaha corporate office in exchange for discount on core items
- -Managed RFQ’s and RFP’s for national and international clients from information request stage to product delivery
- -Identified demand trends and coordinated parts arrival to ensure full inventory while maximizing profit margin on product
- -Streamlined company operations by maximizing use of Microsoft Office and QuickBooks technology previously not in use and trained leaders how to use such tools
- -Established and maintained many business to business and business to consumer relationships to warrant efficient and pleasing company operation
- -Worked alongside ownership to achieve company goals
General Manager
Po Boy’s Creole Cafe
06.2007 - 08.2012
- -Forecasted business on a semiannual basis and hired all team members to fulfill forecasted labor needs
- -Used various methods of management and motivation to lead both front-of-house and back-of-house staff with the goal of maintaining efficiency and quality end products
- -Responsible for pricing strategies, overseeing products from origination to final good, ordering product, forecasting business, hiring and staffing accordingly
- -Forecasted product demand on a weekly cadence to ensure we could operate at full capacity with minimal waste
- -Responsible for projecting business on a weekly basis and scheduling employees accordingly to ensure efficient operation while maintaining profitability
- -Worked with all levels of employees and ownership to complete team objectives
Education
Bachelor of Science - Applied Economics, Business
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL12.2012
Skills
- Product Management
- Product Development
- Vendor Management
- Inventory Management
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Negotiating
- Relationship Building
- Finance
- Product Sourcing
- Business Intelligence
- E-commerce
- Cost Optimization
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Allocation Analytics
- Pricing Strategy and Analysis
- Market Research
- Business Strategy & Execution
- Portfolio Management
- Product Vetting
- Product Assortment Optimization
- P&L Management
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Demand Planning
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Data Warehouse
- IBM Cronos
- Tableau Reader
- SAP
- BI
- Pricing strategy
- Negotiation expertise
- Marketing techniques
- Goal orientation
- Rapport and relationship building
- Analytical problem solver
- Business development and planning
- Product Knowledge
- Customer Relationship Management
- Solution selling
- Sales strategy
- Sales Training
- Revenue Growth
- Product Demonstration
- Presentation Skills
- Market intelligence
- Contract Negotiation
- Profit maximization
Timeline
Merchant – Lamps & Ballasts
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
02.2022 - Current
Manager, Assortment Planning
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
02.2021 - 02.2022
Merchant – Faucet Repair, Bathtub and Shower Repair
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
12.2019 - 02.2021
Merchant– Gas Products, Water Filtration, Pumps, Drinking Fountains
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
05.2016 - 12.2019
Merchant– Water Heaters, Hospitality.
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
12.2015 - 05.2016
Assistant Merchant - Appliances, Water Heaters.
HD Supply – A Home Depot Company
07.2015 - 12.2015
Regional Financial Analyst – Commercial Landscape Maintenance, Enhancement and Installation
Yellowstone Landscape Group
01.2014 - 04.2015
Assistant Service Manager/ Product Manager – Yamaha Outboards
Tuppen’s Marine Service Center
08.2012 - 01.2014
General Manager
Po Boy’s Creole Cafe
06.2007 - 08.2012
Bachelor of Science - Applied Economics, Business
Florida State University
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