Martin L.

Experience

• 

  Office Depot

  Feb 1994 - Jul 1998

  Directed division sales, gross margin dollars / percent, and inventory turnover. Managed $1.5B budget and 32-person buying and inventory management staff. Designed product merchandising strategies for retail, commercial, corporate and web-based sales channels. Prepared financial plans and forecasts. Improved organizational and administrative policies, optimizing customer service. Developed divisional marketing and advertising plans in conjunction with product launches and sales.• Established Strategic Alliance with Microsoft: Launched a significant Microsoft operating system software release, convinced senior management to open stores at midnight on first day available to sell new product, first time for Office Depot. Goal was to preempt competition. Negotiated funding from Microsoft to run full page ad in USA Today promoting event. Subsequently, accepted award from Microsoft due to sales performance.• Developed new PC Inventory Strategies: Devised a new strategy to address liquidation of obsolete PC's - a $300 million inventory investment. Initiated new 3-step markdown process, anticipated shelf life obsolescence and reduced price on outgoing models earlier, and at lower discounts, achieving higher sell-through at initial or secondary markdown prices. Liquidation inventory was reduced and resulted in a gross margin percent improvement of more than 20% on total annual revenue of $800 million. Show less

  • VP/GMM of Merchandising in Technology Products Division

    May 1995 - Jul 1998

  • Senior Buyer - Software, Peripherals & PC Accessories

    Feb 1994 - May 1995
• 

  Computer Generation, Inc.

  Jul 1998 - Aug 2010

  Principal

  Established manufacturer's representative firm selling consumer electronics & technology products. Leveraged previous experience and industry contacts, sourcing and securing new clients and accounts. Represented companies such as Maxell, Casio, Cobra Electronics and Panasonic. Top accounts included Office Depot, Home Depot and the Home Shopping Network.• Received 7 Representative of the Year awards from different client manufacturers for driving sales growth, new product additions, customer service and strong account relationships.• Awarded specific key accounts outside of sales territory due to strong performance track record. Show less

• 

  Maxell Corporation of America

  Sept 2010 - Jun 2020

  Regional Sales Manager

  Championed and managed over 30 Maxell accounts, including 20+ sales representatives and 4 Direct Accounts.• Managed customers in 26+ states. Led sales quota, profit achievement, new business development, communication and account financials.• Aligned with Product Marketing team; developing line of new headphones for the Education channel and emerging Work at Home market. Introduced 4 new items with better features and lower costs than competitors; projected to exceed profit goals, reaching $1M in sales in first 12 months.• Increased internal efficiencies and shortened order lead times by 3 business days through providing complex systems training to 50+ sales representatives over 10 years. Enhanced customer relations and satisfaction due to quick turnaround of product shipments.• Achieved sales goals and received sales bonuses 7 / 10 years.• Improved product margins by 20%. Analyzed and implemented cost increases for all accounts, adapting to government-imposed tariffs, while retaining product placement. Show less

• 

  Targeting Sales and Business Development Role

  Jul 2020 - now

  VP OF B2B REVENUE GROWTH & STRATEGIC ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT