Jason Engel

Category Manager

2022 – 2025

Category Manager/Buyer Cycling Hard and Softgoods and Outdoor Hardgoods. Category Manager/Buyer Footwear and Eyewear. Vendor Buyer Ski Hardgoods and Softgoods. Assortment planning, Min Max Seasonal planning. Consolidated Reporting from multiple sources. Database maintenance, Category and Product naming conventions and importing. Pricing. Fulfillment/ PO creation and Backorder Maintenance Buyer training and education. Vendor relations. Distributor and Vendor direct sourcing analysis. New product introductions/Trade shows.

Consultant. Purchasing and POS Database Management. Retail Operations.

2021 – 2022

Category Merchant

2020 – 2021

Assortment Planning, Vendor relations, Category Manager New Product introduction Reporting/ Novel Excel doc creation from Database Sourcing Analysis presentation to CEO. Product presentations to Marketing Team

Buyer

1997 – 2020

• Buyer for 6 locations hard and soft goods including parts, apparel, and accessories in support of 4.3 million in annual category sales. Includes 10 years of accountable, disciplined, remote/VPN work experience. • Worked closely with owners, sales and service teams, company controller, and vendors in product planning, selection and promotion. • Recognized for achieving and maintaining company profitability goals. • Created and maintained efficient systems of purchasing and analysis to optimize sales, open to buy, margins, and cash flow. • Effectively negotiated with vendors and representatives for strategic pricing, terms, and fulfillment. • Developed creative sales opportunities and incentives for staff and customers. • Involved directly in the marketing of category items including customer outreach, website promotion, and special programs and packages. • Maintained SKU database for store and online inventory. • Represented the company locally, at trade shows, and internationally

Sales/Assistant Manager/Store Manager

1987 – 1994

We built an amazing and motivated sales and service team, and a profitable store. I am proud to see how our work together spawned a successful career arc for our staff.

Hopkins Senior High School

Bachelor's degree

University of Minnesota