Susan Grassey

• Evaluated vendor performance on a quarterly basis to ensure quality standards were met or exceeded.
• Maintained relationships with key suppliers while managing supplier portfolios effectively.
• Established metrics for evaluating success of promotional activities within assigned categories.
• Reviewed competitor activity in order to stay ahead of industry changes.
• Identified new products, vendors, and services that could benefit the organization.
• Utilized analytics software such as Excel, Tableau, and Power BI to track KPIs related to category performance.
• Provided strategic guidance on product assortment decisions across all departments within the organization.
• Negotiated pricing and contracts with suppliers to maximize profits.
• Developed and implemented category strategies to increase market share for assigned categories.
• Managed category spending to adhere to budget.
• Stayed current on category market in order to take advantage of latest trends.

· Act as liaison between Harris Teeter Category Manager and vendor partners.

Established reliable advisor relationships with key customer stakeholders and executive sponsors.

· Assist Category Manager by providing new item offering synopsis at the conclusion of review cycle.

· Identify and grow opportunities within territory and collaborate with sales teams to ensure planned growth.

· Assist Category Manager with high severity requests or issue escalation as needed.

· Lead point of contact for all matters specific to assigned customers.

· Track and report all new item presentations and offers including potential financial and Category opportunities.

· Perform Category sales analysis, to include:

o Proactive, diagnostic and insightful fact-based analysis and apply to Category plan.

o Synthesize and analyze sales information and apply to Category plan.

o Present analysis information to category team.

· Deliver timely and successful solutions based on customer needs and objectives.

· Implement and tack new item life cycle, including new item launch, promotional activity and item deletion.

Provide monthly and quarterly progress reports on initiatives to internal and external

· Analyzed syndicated and other data to determine Category or item trends by Banner and made assortment decisions.

· Performed negotiations and analysis of new items.

· Developed Product Placement/Shelving Schematic Principles to meet business needs

· Collaborated with Shelf Management team to develop plan-o-grams that supported strategies.

· Negotiated Vendor Allowances for specific categories.

· Collaborated with the Competitive/Market Analyst, Business Analytics, Business Strategy, Consumer teams to determine strategic pricing for items.

· Provided CPG Category/insight team product analysis data.

· Guided development of best practice shelf placement principles, plan-o-gram production and versioning; and evaluated the effectiveness of merchandising tactics.

· Ensured the on-shelf category assortment presentation reflected the unique needs and aligns with the role for each individual Banner.

· Provided off-shelf merchandising recommendations to Banner Merchandising teams in support of the banner ad themes and strategies.

· Addressed all shrink, reclaim and swell concerns.

· Provided shrink accrual projections for specific categories by Banner.

· Collaborated with CM to manage vendor allowances for the category.

· Leveraged Private Brand to build customer loyalty and profitability.