THERESA M.

CONBOY-SHANNON
142 Old US Hwy. * Candler, NC 28715 * 828-980-8411 * tmconboy@aol.com
SENIOR MANAGER ~ OPERATIONS ~ CUSTOMER SERVICE ~ SALES
National Sales Leadership * Strategic Merchandising * Human Resource Manageme
nt
Results-driven senior manager with a career history of success directing core in
itiatives for leading national retailers.
Visionary change leader able to provide strategic direction and execution of ret
ail operations, sales and
merchandising solutions, and HR initiatives to drive GMROI, cost reduction and s
ervice goals. Decisive business
manager able to thrive in dynamically changing environments while building stron
g internal, customer and vendor
relationships. Strong motivational team leader adept at developing high-performi
ng management and sales teams.
* P&L/Budget Administration
* Sales/Profit Forecasting
* Buyer/Vendor Relations
* Training & Development
* Operational Turnaround
* Key Account Management
* Cost Reduction/Negotiation
* Market/Product Trend Analysis
* GMROI Performance
* Global Sourcing
* Recruitment/Hiring
* Mass Merchandising
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
DONCASTER RETAIL & OUTLETS (Division of Tanner Companies LLC) a" Rutherfordton,
NC, 2007-Present
Privately owned, third-generation direct sales organization providing a high-end
line of womenas apparel via
consultants nationwide and Southern retail outlets.
Director of Retail Division and HR (2007-Present) / District Manager (2007)
Recruited as District Manager and promoted within six months to Division Directo
r, reporting directly to the
President of Tanner. Perform a dual role leading both retail and HR operations f
or a division with 10 core stores, a
20-member management team and up to 100 associates. Direct sales, merchandising,
marketing/advertising, and
customer service; new store openings, relocations, and closings; and recruitment
, and hiring, training, and coaching.
* Turned around a division with a five-year trend of reduced revenue, overstock,
and 50% downsizing to
achieve a profitable margin above the national average in a challenging retail e
conomy.
* Realized sales of more than 325,000 units in two years; led the opening of two
aAa stores, the closing of four
poor performing stores less profitable stores, launched five temporary stores, a
nd established a seasonal store.
* Implemented key operational changes: decentralized process management function
s, revised shipping
procedures (introduced direct ship), and established new merchandising sales pre
sentations.
* Saved $720+K in supply costs and reduced labor expenses 37% over three years v
ia cost control initiatives:
eliminated product retagging, launched recycling/reuse programs and right-sized
box sales to payroll.
* Built a strong, high-caliber management team via re-staffing, coaching (P&L, s
ales, service), revising the
performance review process to focus on accountability, and leading national meet
ings across the U.S.
BON MOTIF COMPANY ? Emeryville, CA, 2005-2007
National Sales Director
Directed nationwide sales initiatives for this wholesaler/manufacturer of home g
oods and textiles. Administered P&L,
forecasting, budgets and inventory. Managed 45 mass merchant, discounter and dep
artment store accounts.
Developed merchandising, product, and three-tiered pricing strategies to drive D
C/warehouse programs, import sales
volume and GMROI performance of proprietary/private label lines. Hired and train
ed field sales reps. Partnered with
customers to produce assortment, overstock/markdown and liquidation strategies.
* Integral in growing year-to-date sales 8% across mass merchant, discount and d
epartment store accounts.
* Implemented strategic sales plans and orchestrated a successful Market Week at
tracting 50+ clients to close
five new accounts with leading national retail chains and mid-level department s
tores.
* Leveraged relationships with retail buyers to restore four accounts, including
a major mass merchant retailer.
* Recommended launch of new Outdoor and Pillow categories targeting mass merchan
ts via Belgium- and
Brazil-based vendors.
LOWEaS, INC. Mooresville, NC, 2001-2005
Buyer-Merchandiser: Rugs and Woods
Managed $265M product group to maximize category sales, revenue, and GMROI. Deve
loped and executed
merchandising and marketing plans. Administered inventory turns, planograms and
product group reviews.
Implemented promotional schedule, negotiated purchase rates, analyzed product tr
ends and monitored customer
satisfaction. Secured sourcing opportunities with global manufacturers. Attended
nationwide market/trade shows.
* Leveraged experience in Rug category to turn around department with a five-yea
r negative increase to realize
double-digit growth for four consecutive years; received 2004 Department of the
Year award.
* Redesigned presentation fixtures implemented across all 800 stores and negotia
ted 42% decrease in cost of
goods, increasing annual Area Scatter Rug sales 100% in year one and 25% increme
ntal growth.
* Introduced promotional bay for Packaged Rug category, increasing units 21% wit
hin one year.
* Increased inventory turn and reduced cost of goods by orchestrating rollout fo
r eight line reviews.
NAVY EXCHANGE SERVICE COMMAND (NEXCOM) Virginia Beach, VA, 1998-2001
Buyer Soft Home Goods
Managed department-wide purchasing of eight product lines for 175 stores with vo
lumes ranging from $100,000 to
$1.3M. Initiated and executed joint buying strategies with Army and Air Force to
drive GMROI performance.
Administered procurement aligned with needs of all levels of military personnel.
Oversaw global market planning,
merchandising direction, planogram development, inventory stock planning and cus
tomer satisfaction. Analyzed
warehouse data sales, trends and projections. Extensively traveled across the U.
S. and overseas.
* Consistently achieved all financial plans via strategic negotiation of unit co
sting with vendors to improve
margins as well as negotiating advertising and markdown funds
* Received two awards from Rear Admiral for performance opening two California-b
ased exchange stores.
* Executed two global training seminars and developed department training manual
implemented worldwide.
LINENaS N THINGS ? Virginia Beach, VA, 1993-1998
General Manager/Training Manager
Recruited by Executive Vice President to direct store operations and P&L of $7M
store for this leading North
American retailer. Led implementation of corporate initiatives to drive revenue
and growth goals. Directed a team of
50 to 75 personnel. Managed store openings and mentored new managers across the
Southeast.
* Awarded 1995 Prototype Store award for opening first location with design of a
ll nationwide stores.
* Achieved District Choice Award in 1996 for growing annual sales $2M over proje
cted revenue.
BLOOMINGDALEaS (Division of Federated Department Stores, Inc.) ? West Palm Beach
, FL, 1986-1993
Manager, Home Store
Managed store operations, P&L and sales for this high-volume, upscale retailer w
ith 36 stores and 50 million
customers across the U.S. Built a loyal team of associates to meet and exceed al
l sales and budget goals throughout
tenure. Achieved a rapid seven-year advancement from sales position to Store Man
ager.
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
Accounting Studies TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, Philadelphia,. PA
EMCC , LPN Nursing tranining
Loweas Sponsored Management Development Seminars:
Leadership in Business * Bottom Line Buying
Merchandising * Negotiating Skills * Delegating Effectively * One-Minute Manager
* Diversity in the Workplace
Customer Service * Seven Habits of Highly Effective People * HazMat
Volunteer Citations, Special Olympics, MWR, First Response Hurricane Relief, Hab
itat for Humanity
Member, National Retail Associations (Zonta and WHW)
Technical Proficiencies: Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Out
look,
WordPerfect, LotusNotes, DART, Ad Layout, Freelance, Lotus, Data Warehouse