Valerie Benkov

Strategic thinker driving top account management, pushing revenue and profitability, achieving company budgets and contribution margins. Categories covering an extensive assortment in Feeding, Gear, Bath, Potty, Safety and Nursery. Successfully growing business and relationships year over year in the discount channel and specialty accounts. Strong strategic partnership with buyers, planners, GMM at each account. Understand each account culture for successful assortment recommendations. Best in class relationship with buyers. • Work cross functionally with Product Marketing and Development teams in ensuring for my customers I am delivering product, packaging and strategies that are in line with my retailer needs. • Team with finance on margins goals for both sides to ensure contribution margins are meeting company goals. • Align with sourcing team via Demand Solutions to ensure forecast are supported with current and forward trends, as well as anticipated seasonal, promotional or merchandising changes. • Responsible for budget management and spend for each account. • Partner with brand marketing team to partner with retailer marketing teams to deliver best digital and social media plans to drive best return on investment for both sides. • Develop strategy for driving direct import opportunities • Communication with logistics team on supply and demand in order to achieve timely delivery to hit buyer plans and internal sales budgets. Train store associates as well as field trainers on full breath of product assortment in stores.

Successfully developed, implemented and insured execution of business strategies for Feeding, Safety and Diaper Pails, delivering increased sales, productivity of space, margin and overall profitability. Monitored trends ensuring marketability of product • developed business strategies for strength, weaknesses, new opportunities and risks in assigned product category • negotiated with vendors, cost, products, packaging, timing, to achieve sales and margin goals, over 2500 skus maintained • negotiated terms of business for new vendors coming on board, as well as grow existing terms of business and portfolios for existing vendors • built strong vendor relationship, lending to some strategic partnerships, 110 different vendors managed • established department standards and communicate with field partners expectations • developed , motivated, Assistant Buyer • worked with Planner on driving the business, in depth analysis of item productivity and profitability, balance of assortment • strong communication written and verbal with vendors, corporate, and stores • Responsible for item selection, marketing, copy and presentation of products for circulars, registry books, email blast and triggers • Leveraged relationships with Vendor Operational Performance Team to assist in identifying vendor supply, shipping issues, resulting in improved inventory ownership and operational cost.

Worked directly with and supported the President as liaison to stores and vendors, ensuring smooth business operations on a daily basis. • Implemented item set up, new vendor set ups, and price changes allowing buying and report tracking • Assisted in the buying support of the opening of 3 new stores, ensuring timely merchandise delivery and assortment. • Acted as key player in assisting with merge of buybuyBABY systems with Bed Bath and Beyond. • Managed Accounts Payable function, ensuring smooth work flow and reviewing invoices and cutting checks. • Collaborated in the start up of the company’s e-commerce business late 2000 allowing the ecommerce venue to come to life to the customer, while driving additional revenue for the company

• worked directly with President/Buyer of the company • assisted the Vice President with advertising, working directly with local papers and coordination of samples to our advertising agency • supported in Accounts Payable, reviewed and cut checks for invoice payments • helped in the start up of the companies ecommerce business • coordinated the opening of 1 new store, total of 4 stores end of 2002

• supported Merchandise Manager in strategic planning of private label program and designer label program • pulled reporting together for Federated Stores for monthly sales review • worked directly with designer showrooms on product review and collection of samples

• part of store opening team, department floor set, interviewed, recruited and trained staff • responsible for team of 20 sales associates, motivate • responsible for assortment selection, merchandising, signing standards • Approximately $7 million in sales • open and closing the building • daily interaction with receiving team • weekly feedback / communication exchange with buying office in Plano, TX