Robert Dyer

Experience

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  The Vons Companies

  Jan 1978 - Jan 1983

  Store Director
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  The Vons Companies

  Jan 1984 - Jan 1987

  Manager, Information Resource Center

  Provided training and support for the mainframe, mini and micro-computer user groups, including decision support systems programming and implementation. My responsibilities included hardware and software product evaluations for existing micro computers and proposed micro computer applications; micro computer products acquisition, installation, inventory, and maintenance; coordination of data sales and related analysis, projects, and contracts; and training buyers and buyer's assistants on how to use scanner sales data to analyze their categories.Special Projects: Personal Computer Project: Performed hardware and software analysis for the implementation of personal computers at the headquarters facilities of Vons Grocery Company. Negotiated the purchase agreements and oversaw the acquisition of personal computer hardware and software. Established and coordinated company-wide PC training program, including the acquisition of state funding for PC skill development. As co-chairman of the PC Steering Committee, I oversaw and developed the company policies and procedures for personal computers.Metaphor Management Information System: Served on the project group to implement this mini-computer system. I coordinated the implementation, training, operation, and application development for the system. Show less

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  Information Resources

  Jan 1988 - May 1990

  Director, Sales and Client Services

  Responsible for the management of sales/account managers charged with sales, account management, training, and consulting to Food Industry manufacturers, brokers, and retailers. Emphasis was upon the APOLLO Space Management System and related project and consulting services. Additional sales products included Infoscan data files, reports, software and services. I also conducted seminars on Category Analysis, Direct Product Productivity usage and analysis, Merchandising with a Space Management System, and Shelf Management Sales Presentation Preparation.Clients: Pepsi-Cola, General Foods, Nestle Foods, Lever Brothers, Colgate-Palmolive, Bristol Myers, Pathmark, Wakefern, Kroger, Stop & Shop, Star Markets, and Hannaford Brothers. Show less

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  Catalina Marketing

  May 1990 - Dec 1990

  Senior Director, Retail Marketing

  I worked closely with the sales and retail account executives in designing and coordinating event and ad promotions with the retailers using Checkout Coupon as an electronic marketing media. I had a consulting role with the consumer package goods companies and retailers in maximizing the performance of electronic coupon programs.

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  Reckitt & Colman

  Mar 1991 - Mar 1993

  Trade Marketing Manager - Sales Technology & Communications

  Responsible for the development, implementation, and support of all technology projects as they apply to the Sales function. This included the management of Sales/MIS reporting systems, reporting, and projects; field sales target development and incentive program management; IRI Infoscan sales and promotion analysis, usage, training, and data delivery system support (headquarters and field); Apollo Space Management System usage and support; and Sales Automation development. I worked closely with the VPs of Marketing and Brand Management on the development of sales programs in support of marketing initiatives.I reported directly to the Vice President of Sales, and was part of the corporate sales management team charged with sales strategy, organization, and sales plan development. I had 2 direct managerial reports, a staff of 10 additional people, and "dotted line" responsibility for 5 Field Sales Region Technologists and 9 Division Technologists (space management, analysis, and fact-based selling).Special Projects:Rolled out laptop PCs to the Field Sales organization to support fact-based selling and business review development.Delivered IRI's Sales Management System to the Sales organization for the purpose of reporting and analyzing shipments to customers. This included the establishment of the largest SMS database in the country (at that time). Designed an automated PC LAN-based slotting allowance model for use by the Sales force in determining cost justification for retailer slotting fees.Developed and implemented standard Infoscan sales reports for use by the field sales organization. Implementation included training in the analysis and sales presentation uses of the data.Designed a LAN-based Trade Marketing Fund Tracking System to provide Field Sales with the tools to plan their trade spending and manage their expenditures to budget. Show less

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  PIA Merchandising Company

  Apr 1993 - Jan 1998

  Vice President, Category Management

  Responsible for setting the direction and managing retail sales technology. Most specifically this involved the acquisition, training, and support for all space management systems and data analysis tools (Apollo, Spaceman, Intactix, SpaceMax). On a broader scale, I was charged with setting the corporate direction for Category Management, and the development of personnel, tools, and business surrounding all Category Management initiatives. During my tenure I oversaw PIA’s role in the Safeway Category Optimization Program and participated in the first session, assisting in the development of work processes and managing one of the categories under review. As an officer of the company, my other duties included strategic partnership and acquisition activity with members of the board of directors. Show less

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  Advantage Sales & Marketing

  Jan 1998 - Jul 1998

  Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

  Responsibilities for this major national food brokerage company included all new principal interview presentations, category management training, development and analysis, category/business review preparation support, syndicated data access and analysis, business process improvement as well as brochure development, advertising and promotion.

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  Winston Weber & Associates, Inc.

  Jul 1998 - May 2007

  Senior Consultant

  Provided specialized business consulting to major clients throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Asia. Primary clients included H.E. Butt Supermarkets, CVS, Walgreens, Wegmans, Wellcome Supermarkets (Hong Kong), Liquor Control Board of Ontario (Canada), Super Valu, Gigante (Mexico), Pennzoil-Quaker State, Hormel, Constellation Wines, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and Del Labs (Sally Hansen).* Major merchandising organization restructuring, training, store cluster process design and other business process re-engineering initiatives for H.E. Butt Supermarkets.* 18 month assignment in Hong Kong developing merchandising applications and category management tools for Wellcome Supermarkets. * Built supplier planning processes and provided category management and analysis training to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. * Developed and delivered four Category Management training modules for CVS Drugstores, integrating their existing core merchandising business processes.* Implemented brand planning and customer planning processes and systems applications for Del Labs, Hormel, Pennzoil-Quaker State, and Constellation Wines. Show less

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  Save Mart Supermarkets

  May 2007 - Jan 2010

  Vice President - Center Store

  Responsible for all category management activities and P&Ls for the Dry Grocery, Frozen Foods, Dairy/Deli, Liquor, General Merchandise, and HBC departments. This responsibility covered 249 stores across 3 banners – Save Mart and Lucky (conventional formats) and Food Maxx (price impact format), with stores primarily in Northern California and inclusive of Reno, Nevada. My financial responsibilities covered sales, gross margin, and contribution of approximately 61% of our $5.1 Bil business.Oversight of a staff of 4 Category Directors, 16 Category Managers, and supporting administrative support personnel. * Key leadership through the acquisition of 130 retail stores and 2 distribution centers* Designed the senior management and Merchandising organizations for the new company.* Re-structured the merchandising organization 3 times, as we adjusted our go-to-market strategies across our 3 banners.* Re-engineered the core business processes of ad planning, promotion management, item management, deal management, supplier planning, and category business planning.* Developed new merchandising guidelines and tactics for the company.* Developed innovative annual promotion programs and themes for our overall advertising plan, and for the rollout of 2 additional tiers of private label.* Drove the launch of our Bringing It Home weekly TV cooking show, with vendor sponsorship, and featuring local growers.* Continually drove gross margins in a positive direction and held or grew market share during an extremely tough economic climate and changing competitive landscape. Show less

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  Dyer & Associates, LP

  Jan 2010 - Jun 2010

  Principal Consultant

  Strategy and business management consultant to the investment community, retailers, CPG companies, and services companies serving the Food, Drug, and Mass Merchant Industries.

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  Wal-Mart

  Jun 2010 - Sept 2015

  Division Merchandise Director - Pacific Division

  Responsible for new/remodel store layout and merchandising, store merchandising execution, customizing store assortments to their market demographics, localized vendor sales programs, and sales/merchandising focused strategic initiatives. Key Accomplishments:* Merchandising layout planning and competitive market review for the successful rollout of 60 Neighborhood Markets in CA/WA/OR, which included the establishment of an on-going planning/review communication process with the Small Formats Planning team in Bentonville, AR. * Lead the rollout of a modified Produce/Bakery assortment to over 130 Discount stores, including store layout design, fixtures, presentation, shelf layouts, training, and signage. Achieved $55M sales and $14M profit annually through the Produce initiative alone. The Bakery initiative added new sales of $8.4M annually, with continued growth.* Subject Matter Expert in the development of content for Fresh training across all stores in the division, including the establishment of markdown goals, presentation standards and production standards. In doing so, improved Total Fresh Department (Meat/Produce/Service Deli/Bakery) net profit by 80bps, with 30bps improvement in IMU-to-Maintain Margin leverage, through an improvement of $3M in throwaways resulting in +$17M in additional comp store profit.* Guided the space and assortment expansion of Liquor across new/remodeled/existing stores. This initiative continues to grow double digit year-on-year growth in Wine/Spirits. Show less

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  Blue Yonder

  Jan 2016 - Jun 2022

  Key Blue Yonder liaison with the Save-on-Foods account, Vancouver, BC; in providing industry expertise, implementation guidance and thought leadership for an end-to-end supply chain multi-year transformation project utilizing Blue Yonder Solutions. This is inclusive of the development of account strategic vision, integrated with Blue Yonder account planning and sales initiatives, focusing primarily on consulting and education services in support of the implementation of Blue Yonder software solutions across our suite of products. Show less Key Blue Yonder liaison with the Walmart account in providing industry expertise, implementation guidance and thought leadership. Focus is on strategic relationship building with our largest account, while overseeing the implementation of end-to-end supply chain initiatives utilizing Blue Yonder Solutions. This is inclusive of the development of account strategic vision, integrated with Blue Yonder account planning and sales initiatives, focusing primarily on consulting and education services in support of the implementation of Blue Yonder software solutions around the Demand & Fulfillment and Category Management suite of products. Show less

  • Senior Customer Success Partner

    Jul 2020 - Jun 2022

  • Senior Global Services Director

    Sept 2018 - Jul 2020

  • Senior Global Services Director

    Jan 2016 - Dec 2018
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  Freelance

  Jun 2022 - now

  Retired