Murray Russ

Experience

• 

  Visions Electronics

  Jan 1994 - Jan 2000

  Product Manager

  - Oversaw the P&L and prepared yearly and monthly budgets for Visions Home Office and cell phone product category. - In charge of product selection, pricing, sales, marketing and advertising, inventory purchasing and flow, communications and category strategy.- I worked closely with the 26 Visions store managers in implementing strategy and in the hiring and ongoing training of sales staff.- Attended conventions & tradeshows in Canada and the USA to acquire and investigate new product ideas and to negotiate deals with new and existing partners.- Negotiated numerous dealer contracts, which included best-column pricing, preferential shipping and extended payment term contracts, co-op advertising dollars, volume purchase back-end rebates, and over-and-above Market Development Funds.- Set strategy and direction as part of Visions’ Leadership Team for company wide initiatives and policies.- Instrumental as a key team member, in the creation, design, content and success, of all advertising campaigns.- Key member of the Visions store-expansion strategy team, taking the company from 16 stores to 26 stores during my tenure.- Visited all stores numerous times throughout the year, holding meetings and offering direction to store management and staff, in regards to overall operations and the customer experience with particular attention to the Home Office Category.- Attained category sales for my division of over $4 million dollars in 2000 in comparison to same sales in 1994 of $165K.- Recruited by President in 1994 to become Sales Manager/Product Buyer for the Home Office category after successful tenure in store management. Show less

• 

  The Brick

  Jun 2000 - Mar 2004

  Director of E-Commerce

  - Oversaw Profit & Loss (P&L) and prepared yearly and monthly budgets for the Brick’s e-commerce website (www.thebrick.com).- I was responsible for website development, marketing and advertising, sales, communications, and customer service.- Worked closely with the Brick’s various product buyers to ensure 100% of products and promotions were available and marketed online to customers.- Recruited, trained, and developed sales force in small call center.- Recruited, trained and developed customer service and administration staff.- Research and located new business partner opportunities in an ever-changing online e-commerce economy. - In 3 years, brought thebrick.com from sales in 1999/2000 of $600K (Cdn$) to over $7 million (Cdn$) in 2002/2003- Reported to directly to the President. - Attended conventions & tradeshows throughout Canada and the USA to acquire new technologies and to negotiate marketing initiatives.- Was a member and attended meetings of the Brick’s advertising committee, which was responsible for all ideas, concepts, and strategies for the Brick’s 20 million dollar advertising budget. This included massive Television and Newsprint exposure, as well as other media methods.- Implemented all advertising campaigns onto thebrick.com.- Oversaw the Brick’s content management system, which worked closely with the Brick’s advertising department and purchasing departments.- I was responsible for the implementation of ‘point of sale’ kiosks at all Brick store locations across Canada. The kiosks featured thebrick.com, which came to be the store management and sales staff’s favourite selling tool. Show less

• 

  Captain Van's Rentals

  Aug 2004 - now

  Owner/President

  Owner of Captain Van's Rentals. With two locations on the Caribbean island of Roatan.Specializing in Tourism transportation rentals and tours. Also operate an expanding retail location at the West Bay Mall selling all liquor and wines, beer. As well as snacks, beverages, etc..