Nick Carson

• Optimize pricing to meet sales and margin objectives through the use of new and legacy pricing tools in alignment with the Pricing Program with a focus on the IBM Pricing solution. • Maintaining relationships, communicating effectively, and building cross functional partnerships with merchants. • Developing pricing strategies, recommendations and guardrails for all product categories in a merchandising division. • Identifying areas of repetitive manual work and creating automation opportunities. • Working with management team on cost mitigation plans.

• Shortage root cause analysis and process improvement expert • Work with closely with AR on shortage disputes • Subject matter expert of the customer’s inventory position and goals as well as the customer fines and penalty programs. • Active participant in the relationship with replenishment teams, including system settings/FC changes/Order alignment/Direct Imports/etc…, to properly manage weekly orders and promotions. • Oversee customer service order processing (minimize product cuts & monitoring, tracking PO status). • Integrate with customer portal data and manage key data investigations. • Partner with the order processing team for direct online fulfillment customers. • Lead the Direct Import initiative with select customers

• Planning and overseeing new marketing initiatives. • Increasing the value of current customers while attracting new ones. • Attending conferences, meetings, and industry events. • Developing quotes and proposals for clients

• Drive key supply chain performance requirements for suppliers including Quality and On-Time-Delivery (OTD). Identify trends, problem solve, and monitor corrective action. • Monitor warehouse inventory levels to update MRP programs to ensure replenishment process efficiencies. • Create purchase orders for items needed to order and sent via email to respective suppliers. • Expedited all parts with suppliers as required, to ensure on time delivery, preventing stockouts and production downtime. • Negotiate with suppliers pricing, delivery schedules, and payment terms.

• Monitor purchasing operations and data to improve buying algorithms. • Analyze seasonal trends to maximize results from strategic buys. • Review all E-Commerce purchases to ensure accuracy, profitability, and decrease PPV (Purchase Price Variance)

• Department team lead of 8 employees with a total spend of $25M. • Develop demand forecasting models for all seasonal products in our 90,000 sku portfolio. • Assign tasks, review work, and provide direction to staff while ensuring purchasing processes are met within established timelines. • Establish metrics to measure and improve department performance, shortages, price changes, cost savings, and number of POs issued. • Manage inventory investments to maximize demand including initial buys, order adjustments, and excess inventory management • Align inter-connected auditing departments to maximize efficiency. • Maintained department processes; provided monthly analysis and reports. • Establish goals and priorities of the vendor management operation that ensure operational integrity, including compliance with all policies and procedures • Create, maintain, and develop relationships with vendors in multiple marketplaces

• Analyzed vendor pricing to determine which products would align with company business model and maximum revenue. • Cultivated vendor relationships while ensuring company compliance standards were met while setting up new accounts. • Communicated with vendors for accurate product information, upcoming products, and pricing policies.

• Assisted with worker’s compensation, automobile, and property claims, while learning the nuances of the insurance marketplace.

• Responsible for material management on a small team setting in the packing and shipping departments. • Manage orders, unload, and load freight that arrived at the distribution center.