Independent
Consultant, Steven Beck and
Associates, 1994 – Present
Steven Beck was an acknowledged industry expert
and thought leader in both retail and retail technology. He is recognized
as one of retail’s leading operational and technology visionaries. Some of
his inventions included: Arthur Merchandise Planning; Impact, a software
which forecasts the impact of weather on consumer behavior; and IPO, a
price, promotion and markdown management and execution system. He was also
instrumental in the success and growth of The Limited and NEXT.
Was very fortunate to have been involved in a
series of long term consulting engagements under his mentorship. Although
some engagements were for retail software vendors, all activities were
focused on the evaluation and execution of retail client needs. Engagements
include the following:
§ Principal, P3: Planning and Pricing and Promotions,
Incorporated, 2009–Present (website: www.planningandpricing.com)
Highly proficient in improving plan
localization without straining the organization beyond its capabilities.
Complete understanding of the cross functional communications, data and
analytical requirements for pre-season planning, in-season re-planning,
managing the velocity of merchandise acquisition and liquidation through
the use of pricing, promotion and markdown strategies and methodologies, the
use of store clusters to improve plan precision and effectiveness, and
open-to-buy control and management.
Engaged by clients in need of change
management, business process review, merchandise planning, assortment
planning, pricing, promotion and markdown expertise. Most recently involved
in a long term engagement for a work wear manufacturer, wholesaler and
retailer in developing a planning methodology incorporating all aspects of
production, merchandise and assortment planning for store clusters through
to the delivery of product to retailers and company owned stores.
Assist clients in new software selection
process or in the improvement of current software system utilization, developing
dynamic store clusters; data analysis and exception reporting capabilities;
improving inter-organizational communications; streamlining data movement
as well as developing and implementing training programs and customizing
documentation.
Also consult to merchandise and assortment planning
and price optimization software vendors in both system validation and in
the creation of multi-media materials for training users and advanced
users. Presented a program for Revionic’s University on the use of dynamic
store clusters for various pricing and planning needs, particularly focused
on improving the sophistication of pricing methodologies. Other clients
include Groupsoft (GrMAP planning system) and Torex Retail.
§
VP Marketing/Sales Support, Profimetrics, Maia, Portugal, 2005–2009
Responsible for all client facing activities of
IPO (Integrated Profit Optimization™), a software suite that optimizes
product pricing lifecycles for the retail industry.
Products include the IPO Price, Promotions,
Cost and Markdown Optimizers, the Collaboration Workbench™ and the Wastage
Manager™.
Responsibilities included: sales support during
initial client contact; continuing support after sale completion in the
development of detailed strategic pricing, promotion and markdown
methodologies by interacting with all levels of the client organization;
developing generic as well as customized documentation and training
materials.
§
VP Client Services, Gateway
Data Sciences, Phoenix, AZ, 1998–2001
Responsible for all client facing activities
and the support of those activities for ERP, POS and warehouse retail
software developer.
Responsibilities included: managing Client
Customization team, managing Customer Support help line team, managing
Documentation team, and managing Quality Assurance and Product Testing
team.
§
Financial and Merchandise Planning Consultant, International, 1994-1998
Engaged by retail conglomerate operating chains
in the UK, South Africa and Australia for long term merchandise planning consulting
engagement.
Developed phased Arthur Merchandise Planning
implementation or reimplementation plans focused on improving plan
precision, level of detail and organizational best practices for several
Fashion, Jewellery and Accessories specialty chains (Foschini, Handbags
International, American Swiss Jewelers, Etam).
Assisted in hiring and training of planning
organization as well as improving cross-functional integration of
merchandise and assortment planning with allocation, distribution and
financial planning.
Senior
Merchandise Planning Consultant, Comshare Retail, Wilmington
DE, 1990-1994
Responsible for implementation of Arthur
Merchandise Planning and Assortment Planning at a variety of retail clients.
Clients included: specialty apparel, department stores, sporting goods, and
footwear retailers (Comark Group (Bretton’s and Clarks), Sports Authority,
Dots, Charming Shoppes, Meldisco).
Responsibilities included: developing
implementation strategy; determining data requirements, data integration,
software testing, implementation and roll out; developing training programs
and providing ongoing client on-site and telephone support.
VP
Financial/Merchandise Planning, J.
Baker Inc., Canton, MA, 1985-1990
J. Baker, a discount shoe retailer and
wholesaler, grew in this period from sales of $170 Million to sales of $400
Million through store openings, additional lease department clients, and
acquisitions of additional footwear and clothing chains.
Responsibilities included: implementation of
Arthur Merchandise Planning, hiring and training department of 10
Merchandise Planners, financial sales and inventory position reporting and
analysis, open-to-buy control, cross-functional coordination of finance,
buying, merchandise planning and distribution.
Initially hired to create excel-based financial
and merchandise planning and analysis for Parade of Shoes, a 200 store discount
footwear chain. Responsibilities included: store unit inventory management,
style/color analysis and open to buy management as well as financial
reporting and budgeting.
Promoted to VP in charge of 1000 store chain of
footwear lease departments and wholesale clients as well as 200 store
footwear chain, eventually implementing planning at the store, style/color
level for the 200 store chain and at the store cluster, style/color level
for the lease departments.
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