Laurie Clark - Consultant
Laurie
Clark has 27 years of retail experience with an emphasis in Consumer
goods including electronics, office supplies and entertainment
products. She brings experience in Strategic Partnership Development,
Category Management and Assortment Planning, Catalog Marketing,
Product Profitability Modeling, Brand Development, Procurement,
New Business Development, and Merger/Integration.
BUILDING
STRATEGIES: Laurie is able to identify and execute long term
strategies that deliver both top line and bottom line growth while
maintaining the highest level of customer service and product
quality. Laurie excels at identifying new and innovative ways
to bring products to market.
BUILDING
ORGANIZATIONS: Laurie is a proven leader who has developed
organizational structures through a team approach. She is skilled
at recognizing talent and developing those associates to their
fullest capabilities.
STAPLES
EXPERIENCE: Laurie has served in several key positions at
Staples including Sr. Vice President of Merchandising where she
grew the business tenfold and contributed to the development of
Staples as a world class retailer. She has had an ongoing working
relationship with Staples throughout the company's lifespan.
Accomplishments at Staples include leading:
- A strategy
and operational plan that greatly improved ROI year over year
as a result of determining efficiencies and taking cost out
of the business.
- Development
of an office supplies private label program.
- Development
of a contract commercial business.
- The initiative
to unite worldwide merchandising teams on negotiating global
programs.
- Realignment
of merchandising and planning organizations unifying the retail,
direct and .com business segments.
Positions
at Staples include:
-
SVP Corporate Merchandising - Staples SVP Merchandising
- Merger
and Integration -Staples VP Contract and Commercial Merchandising
- Replenishment
and Catalog Marketing - Staples VP
- Office
Supplies - Staples EVP Merchandising
OTHER EXPERIENCE:
Laurie has lead a full rebranding initiative for 700 Transworld
Entertainment Stores. She has successfully lead a foreign manufacturer
in the launch of an import paper line into the United States resulting
in a new industry segment.
CONSULTING
EXPERIENCE: Laurie started consulting in January 2002 with
manufacturers as well as retailers. As well as consulting to large
and small companies, Laurie has also served in Executive roles
while recruiting qualified candidates. She easily adapts to different
cultures and can build an organization that is cohesive and functionally
successful.
Clients
Include: Grays Harbor Paper Mill, Ideastream, Gould Paper,
Case It Consumer Products, Tops Office Products, Staples, Circuit
City, Musicland, and The Sports Authority.
EDUCATION:
Laurie has a BS in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts
and is a Harvard Business School Alumni having successfully completed
the Program for Management Development.