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.