Renée E. Grimes
Cheswick,PA
Summary
Driven Merchandising Promotions Manager with more than seven years of Category Management and Customer Insights analytics background. Talented in understanding the balance between art and science of Merchandising, with proven record of excelling in ambiguity and change leadership. Focused on providing customer obsessed, data driven insights to optimize promotions and delight customers.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchandising Promotions Manager
Giant Eagle, Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
08.2021 - Current
- Lead development of new promotional effectiveness analytical framework and third-party promotional analysis tool
- Lead development of promotional insights for Strategic Category Reviews, mentored and transitioned day to day ownership of process to global Lead Analyst
- Developed Scorecard to preemptively identify ineffective promotions presented to Category Managers, potential FY23 savings of $4M incremental sales and $3.5M incremental margin, mentored and transitioned day to day ownership of process to global Lead Analyst
- Present weekly competitive ad recaps and forecast variance reporting to Mid and Senior Level Merchandising leaders
- Transformed circular planning process, incorporated key KPI risk assessment and opportunities for Merchandising
- Partner with Marketing and Advertising to provide Seasonal reviews, providing planning structure aligned with overall Marketing themes
- Verification of Front Page/Gatefold forecasts loaded in Radian, alignment with Merchants as needed
- Provide monthly reviews and recommendations for front-page and gatefold ad offers to achieve balanced customer mix, optimizing sales and limiting Total store risk
- Weekly ad recaps, providing feedback on significant variances to forecasted expectations by offer -Weekly competitive Front Page ad reviews, monitoring for inflationary impact and any shifts in promotional strategies of competitors
- Redesigned Ad Planning Layout for improved planning and forecasting, ensuring cross departmental collaboration and transparency
- Onboarded and trained ten global Price/Promo Analysts, tasked with supporting promotional effectiveness optimization of unadvertised promotions and Promotional Strategic Category Review analysis
Category Manager
Giant Eagle, Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
07.2017 - 08.2021
- Actively managed $425M Grocery Center Store Meals desk, comprised of 33 categories
- Managed through COVID-19 ambiguity; sourcing new ways to generate revenue, secure product
- Lead development of central tracking file for Merchandising and Procurement to identify new item set up and ordering for COVID-19
- Responsible for exceeding YTD Sales and Margin Dollars by $12.2M and $447k, respectively
- Responsible for exceeding LY YTD Sales and Margin Dollars by $36.4M and $10.4M, respectively
- Increased Meals Solutions Market Share 80 basis points in L52 weeks to 23.4, 1.8 pts better than Grocery Edible
- Identified key void in Storewide Cross LOB “Mix, Match and Save” promotional tactic, developed necessary structure to plan for it, and implemented several successful promotional events including all Marketing and Advertising tactics
- Mentored Merchandising Assistant by teaching Category Manager tasks and providing Company networking and learning opportunities
Assistant Category Manager
Giant Eagle, Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
09.2016 - 07.2017
- Assisted in management of $400M Grocery Center Store Meals desk to help meet financial sales and margin targets.
- Developed 6-month Ad Planning method to track and plan for 33 categories, later adopted by others Category Managers.
- Assisted in Category Factory and strategic category plans to manage and grow assigned categories.
- Developed strong relationships with vendor partners and internal cross department peers.
Merchandising Analyst
Giant Eagle, Inc
Pittsburgh, PA
05.2015 - 09.2016
- Served as one of original Merchandising Analysts that broke new ground in how Giant Eagle analyzed and used customer shopper data
- Provided analytical support to category teams during Category Factory planning process, resulting in projected Sales and Margin gains of $5.2M and $1.3M, respectively
- Served as Merchandising Analyst point person for developing Category Factory Lite process, providing Merchandising with critical category insights for category re-sets
- Supported Merchandising in developing hypothesis that led to decisions through utilization of Customer Insights and Assortment Advisor tools
Financial Analyst, Senior
Community Care Behavioral Health, UPMC
Pittsburgh, PA
04.2009 - 05.2015
- Assisted Budget Manager in annual preparation and submission of $20M budget
- Responsible for preparing annual position reconciliation during budget process
- Developed budget monitoring scorecard and provided training to Senior Management and Regional Directors
- Created complex macro to accurately track status of 500+ positions within company, resulting in time savings of 4 hours per week
- Assumed lead role in reviewing all financial presentations
- Assisted in smooth transition to new budgeting software
- Mentored other Financial Analysts
Financial Manager
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
02.2004 - 11.2008
- Created, monitored, and analyzed budgets and forecasts ($2 million) for 4 departments
- Offered troubleshooting knowledge and training to Financial Administrator
- Reviewed budget development of 15 departments within Division to ensure fiscal accuracy
- Performed wide variety of complex analytical and administrative assignments
- Created and analyzed special ad hoc financial analysis.
Administrative Coordinator
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
09.2000 - 01.2004
- Responsible for Bi-Weekly Payroll function
- Provided Oracle training and support to staff
- Identified and corrected charging errors
- Reviewed, processed, and approved all financial forms
- Coordinated Purchasing and Accounts Payable functions
- Produced and reconciled financial reports
- Processed and tracked student emergency loans
- Assisted in hiring, training, supervising, disciplining of office work-study students
- Earned Master's degree in less than 2 years while working Full Time
Education
Master of Public Management - Policy and Management
Carnegie Mellon University, John Heinz III School of Public
2004
Bachelor of Science - Management
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA2000
Skills
- 7 years in retail Merchandising and Customer Insight analytics
- 14 years of experience in non-profit budgeting and financial analysis
- Demonstrated change leadership and navigating through ambiguity
- Skilled at presenting insights in a visual appealing manner
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
- Experience with Oracle, SQL, Tableau, Numerator
Additional Information
- Giant Eagle Chairman Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation Award 2016
- Dale Carnegie Training Certificate of Achievement
Affiliations
Giant Eagle Women's Business Resource Group
Timeline
Merchandising Promotions Manager
Giant Eagle, Inc
08.2021 - Current
Category Manager
Giant Eagle, Inc
07.2017 - 08.2021
Assistant Category Manager
Giant Eagle, Inc
09.2016 - 07.2017
Merchandising Analyst
Giant Eagle, Inc
05.2015 - 09.2016
Financial Analyst, Senior
Community Care Behavioral Health, UPMC
04.2009 - 05.2015
Financial Manager
Carnegie Mellon University
02.2004 - 11.2008
Administrative Coordinator
Carnegie Mellon University
09.2000 - 01.2004
Master of Public Management - Policy and Management
Carnegie Mellon University, John Heinz III School of Public
Bachelor of Science - Management
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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