Brian Gabbai

Oversaw $30M in inventory and $60M+ in annual sales at Wholesale Import Export, managing 10–12 merchandise categories across North America. Reviewed and improved over 10 financial and inventory reports by identifying errors and inconsistencies, boosting accuracy to support better purchasing and pricing decisions. Built long-term vendor relationships by coaching teams on negotiation tactics and contract terms, ensuring steady supply while achieving cost savings that increased overall company profit. Led cross-functional projects aligning sourcing, product development, and sales strategies, expanding branded product offerings and driving incremental sales across key retail accounts. Purchased products costing $0.25 to $10, achieving 100% to 200% profit margins per item, significantly increasing category profitability. Managed $30M in inventory across 25 merchandise categories through category-specific buying strategies, growing profit margins from 27% to 33% within one year. Directed supplier negotiations with international factories to lower landed costs, reducing shipping and tariff expenses and improving bottom-line profitability. Specialist in General Merchandise Hard Goods (Toys, Kids Accessories, Licensed Goods, Baby, Housewares, Stationery, Home/Wall Decor, Bath, Candles, Pets, Gifts)

Guided teams to identify and purchase opportunity buys that expanded assortment variety for key retail accounts such as TJ Maxx, Five Below, Burlington, Dollarama, Dollar Tree, Sears, and Kmart, driving higher sales volume and customer retention. Established cost-saving initiatives by consolidating sourcing channels and managing direct import programs, improving efficiency in execution, and minimizing errors across multiple general merchandise categories. Responsible for generating over $25 million in gross profit for the business over the last 10 years. Accountable for creating over 10% of company's sales in the most recent year; generated $6 million in 2024 and on track to exceed $8 million in 2025. Currently contributing over 15% of total company sales while maintaining a gross profit margin above 30%.

Sourced closeouts, excess inventory, and obsolete merchandise to create a “treasure-hunt” shopping experience, maximizing value and boosting profit margins. Launched new product lines and introduced branded SKUs using trend insights to increase customer engagement. Built and maintained a global vendor network with performance tracking and accountability. Reduced freight and tariff costs by implementing landed-cost pricing with overseas vendors. Adjusted product mix to align with consumer trends, improving turnover and profitability. Introduced branded merchandise into underperforming categories and pre-sold high-demand items.