Jeffrey Dickens

Experience

• 

  AB InBev

  Aug 2006 - Aug 2011

  • Special Events Team Representative

    Aug 2010 - Aug 2011

  • Guest Service Specialist

    Aug 2006 - Aug 2010
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  Hood College

  Aug 2009 - May 2010

  Resident Assistant
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  AB InBev

  Oct 2011 - Jul 2023

  • Strategic Playbook Development: Synthesized insights from diverse business units to craft a comprehensive Category Space Excellence playbook, serving as a pivotal resource for reset cycles within the broader Category Management Space team. This strategic document laid the foundation for efficient and targeted initiatives to enhance overall beer, wine, and spirit category performance.• Holistic Oversight of Reset Processes: Orchestrated the coordination of internal and external resources to meticulously manage the ongoing reset processes for all Circle K stores. Led a dedicated team to ensure the seamless execution of reset cycles, contributing to the optimization of product placement, customer experience, and overall store performance.• Subject Matter Expertise in Space Management Tools: Served as the key subject matter expert for all tools and processes associated with Space Management, including Blue Yonder Space Planning Plus, Catalyst Data Manager, and Nuqleous Shelf IQ. Leveraged in-depth knowledge to streamline workflows, troubleshoot issues, and drive continuous improvement in space optimization methodologies. Show less • Strategic Beer, Wine, and Spirit Category Planning: Spearheaded the development of comprehensive beer category plans, strategies, and tactics aligning with internal commercial initiatives. These initiatives were designed to optimize product positioning, enhance customer engagement, and contribute to the overall success of the beer category within the company's portfolio.• Data-Driven Sales Growth: Applied a data-driven approach to identify key insights, unearth opportunities, and develop targeted solutions that significantly contributed to profitable sales growth. Through a keen understanding of market trends and consumer behavior, implemented strategies that effectively captured market share and bolstered the company's position in the beer category.• Innovative Solutions for Commercial Success: Delivered innovative solutions that precisely addressed the commercial priorities of internal sales teams, wholesalers, and retail partners. Proactively anticipated the evolving needs of stakeholders, providing strategic recommendations and implementing initiatives that enhanced collaboration, streamlined processes, and fostered mutually beneficial relationships. Show less • Strategic Reset Execution Playbook: Engineered a comprehensive reset execution playbook to streamline and enhance the merchandising process for the largest convenience business unit within Circle K. This playbook served as a guiding framework for the efficient execution of merchandising initiatives, optimizing product placement, and ensuring a consistent and visually appealing customer experience across all locations.• Innovative Delistment Process Implementation: Developed, pitched, and successfully implemented a standardized delistment process, strategically flagging underperforming SKUs across all retail locations within the assigned business unit. Recognizing its effectiveness, this process was scaled to additional business units, resulting in improved inventory turnover, increased shelf space efficiency, and a positive impact on overall profitability.• Precision in Planogram Merchandising: Meticulously merchandised planograms to retailer specifications, guaranteeing the adherence to proper inventory levels and adjacency standards during each reset process. By combining attention to detail with a deep understanding of retailer requirements, I played a crucial role in maintaining a visually cohesive and well-organized product layout that maximized sales opportunities and enhanced the overall shopping experience. Show less • Team Leadership: Led and managed a high-performing team of 30 Trade Activation Managers (TAM) dedicated to supporting sales initiatives for independent and chain retailers. Fostered a collaborative and results-driven team culture, ensuring seamless coordination between team members, and implementing strategies that optimized the impact of trade activities on sales performance.• Strategic Interdepartmental Liaison: Functioned as a crucial bridge between the commercial sales and marketing teams, facilitating effective communication and collaboration. Provided curated resources and support to streamline the front-line rollout of innovations, including the development of promotional plans and internal sales incentives. This role ensured alignment between marketing strategies and sales execution, contributing to the successful introduction of new products and initiatives in the market. Show less • Strategic Inventory Management: Orchestrated the meticulous management of inventory for a diverse portfolio of over three hundred retailers across on-premise and off-premise channels. Implemented robust inventory control measures, ensuring optimal stock levels, minimizing stockouts, and strategically aligning inventory with customer demand. This resulted in improved product availability, enhanced customer satisfaction, and increased overall sales performance.• Exemplary Distribution Target Achievement: Consistently met, and often exceeded, all distribution targets for both innovation and expansion SKUs within the assigned retail accounts. Demonstrated a keen understanding of market demands, executed targeted distribution strategies, and played a pivotal role in expanding the reach of new products. This achievement not only drove revenue growth but also strengthened the market position of the products in a highly competitive landscape. Show less

  • Sr. Category Space Manager/Category Manager

    Mar 2022 - Jul 2023

  • Category Manager

    Apr 2019 - Mar 2022

  • Category Space Manager

    Feb 2017 - Apr 2019

  • Trade Marketing Coordinator

    Jun 2015 - Feb 2017

  • Business Development Representative

    Oct 2011 - Jun 2015
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  E. & J. Gallo Winery

  Jan 2024 - now

  Category Development Manager

  • Data-Driven Analysis and Recommendations: Utilized analytical skills to conduct in-depth analysis, translating data into actionable insights for retail partners. Regularly provided recommendations and suggestions to enhance business opportunities for Gallo products. This involved interpreting and disseminating results, offering strategic guidance that aligned with market trends, consumer preferences, and industry best practices.• Direct Engagement with Customer Category Decision Makers: Established direct communication channels with customer category decision makers to provide informed recommendations on category development practices. Acted as a trusted advisor, leveraging a deep understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior to guide retailers in optimizing their category strategies. • Promotion of Best Practices and Innovations: Proactively sold "Best Practices" concepts, philosophies, and innovations to retail partners, emphasizing the value proposition and competitive advantages for Gallo products. By showcasing industry-leading strategies and innovative approaches, I contributed to the differentiation of Gallo's offerings in the market and fostered a culture of continuous improvement among retail partners. Show less