CHRIS SIMON9700 Greenspruce Avenue, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443 • (H) 763.425.9511 • (C) 763.307.0135

Simon.Chris@comcast.net • https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonchris

CATEGORY MANAGEMENT ∙ REGIONAL FIELD MERCHANDISING

Designing and Executing Blueprints for Profitable Change

Innovative leader with progressive store operations experience. Well-versed in directing teams, leading effective category management and merchandising projects, and leveraging sales strategies to boost store sales. Motivates employees using positive reinforcement and creative reward systems. Known for conducting thorough operational assessments, educating stakeholders, building coalitions for change, generating solutions to drive sales and profits, and facilitating continual process improvements. Skills include:

Merchandising Prototyping Strategic / Operational Planning Category Analysis Customer Service / Satisfaction Inventory Management Team / Employee Development P&L / Resource Management Strategic Business Analysis Revenue Optimization New Program Pilots Process Improvement

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

INDEPENDENT RETAIL/CPG CONSULTANT, Minneapolis, MN 04/2014-Present

Performed strategic consulting with CPG companies, specialty and grocery retailers. Assessed and assimilated information; defined/reframed key questions; and communicated recommendations to leaders at all levels of the organization, including senior executives.

Consulted with major retailer regarding omni-channel platforms to identify new approaches and solutions. Identified inconsistencies of product in-stock information between platforms resulting in lost sales. Discovered stock shortage on product priced differently online and addressed in-store incurring operational inventory loss.

Consulted with Advanced Veterinary Care on merchandising strategies for retail product. Provided MAPS (Merchandising, Assortment, Pricing and Shelving) insights to Vet Clinic. Offered guidance on sequencing and priorities.

Consulted with major sporting goods vendor on presentation and assortment improvement ideas with Target to improve planogram productivity. Led strategic direction for retailer and vendor by providing insights for current business and future opportunities.

TARGET CORPORATION, Minneapolis, MN 10/1989-04/2014

Store Manager – Edina, MN (03/2005-04/2014)Managed staff of 450 Sales Associates, 40 Team Leaders and 18 Assistant Managers in the #3 volume sales store in chain with over $110 million in annual sales. Accountable for overall operations, merchandising, project leadership, employee performance, sales and profits.

Selected as stores representative on company NOP taskforce. Identified store non-planogram merchandise, researched causes, and developed strategies to reduce and prevent future issues. Reduced nonproductive inventory to historic lows and increased open to buy dollars, improving stocks and driving sales.

CHRIS SIMON

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Store Manager – Edina, MN (Continued)

Led cross functional team to improve profitability of perishable departments. Identified merchandise selection, cross merchandising opportunities, and waste improvement reduction areas, enabling profitability improvements of 5-20% across 300+ stores.

Managed group (70 stores) as stock shortage captain. Reduced stock shortage by 5 basis points across group by training business partners and developing a process to increase visibility and accuracy of stockroom inventory.

Awarded numerous HQ partnership awards for collaborating with Merchandising and operational groups to improve category sales or operational efficiencies.∘ Chosen to receive Group MVP and regional awards for Leadership and Team Focused

Scheduling (2012).∘ Received regional awards for Great Work life balance and Accessories and Attachment

Rate improvements (2011).

Regional Sales Manager – Headquarters (03/2002-03/2005)Remotely managed a regional field staff of 16 employees implementing merchandising follow-up best practices across 800+ stores and targeted focus stores.

Traveled nationally to meet with customers and deliver clear company messages on merchandising initiatives.

Analyzed usage patterns to gain insight into customer use of company products and services. Created visit guide scoring system and reference guide for field teams to assess and teach

store teams how to improve sales and profits. Partnered with Divisional GMs, Divisional Merchandise Managers, Buyers, and Planning and

Allocation to define opportunities and provide input regarding evaluation and analysis of new merchandising programs in test stores and markets. Recommended appropriate action in response to evaluations.

Received Senior VP Award for creating operational reporting tools (2004).

Store Manager – Various Locations (10/1989-03/2002)Managed staffs of 30-250 Sales Associates, 8-40 Team Leaders and 6-18 Assistant Managers in various stores ranging in annual sales from $20 million to $80 million. Accountable for overall operations, merchandising, project leadership, employee performance, sales and profits.

Chosen to be the grocery consultant for first wave of Super Targets opening in the Twin Cities. Provided consultation regarding remodels and trained managers through Grand Openings.

Awarded Small Store Profitability Award for collaborating with HQ teams on merchandise selection and inventory reduction to drive profitability in small market stores (1993).

Selected for two turnaround store assignments and drove operational and merchandising standards to at or above company guidelines.

PRIOR EXPERIENCE

Includes employment as a Store Manager for various Twin Cities convenience stores.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, Minneapolis, MN 1989Bachelor of Science: Geography-Urban Studies