Tom Connell

Senior Buyer · Sport Chalet

Foothill Ranch, CA

In My Own Words

A performance-driven buying professional with a track record of improving profits, sales and gross margins. Expertise includes outstanding supplier relationships, negotiation strategies, contract execution, cost reduction, project management, category restructuring and marketing skills. Experienced partnering with senior management across functional areas for replenshiment, operations, marketing and distribution to improve and maximize profits.

Background includes retailers in sporting goods, home improvement, commercial audio and pet supply industries.

Work Experience

Senior Buyer

Sport Chalet

2007 – Present

Full-service sports specialty retailer with 48 stores in four Western states, with over $362.5 million in revenue. Responsibilities include managing West Coast buying office which includes; all athletic equipment assortments and outdoor equipment; purchases including Bikes, Fitness, Golf, Tennis, Baseball, General Athletics (team sports), Cycling Apparel, Car Racks, License Product, Sunglasses, Gift Center, Hardgoods Snow, Skateboards, Watersports, Scuba, Fishing, Camping and Mountain Climbing. • Exceeded sales and gross margin plan five years in a row in primary buying areas: Bikes, Fitness, Car Racks, Cycling Apparel, Gift Center, Sunglasses and Food. Attained highest score in merchandising on last five appraisals. • Surpassed sales plan for the past two years in Baseball and General Athletics, when categories were added as areas of responsibility. • On trend to beat current plan for Bikes, Fitness, Tennis, Gift Center, General Athletics and Sunglasses. • Took initiative to lower aged inventory in Bikes, Racks and Cycling Apparel from 8% to 3.6%; and in Fitness from 5% to 1.3% of total inventory. • Analyze and negotiate with over 250 suppliers: assortments, co-op advertising, rebates, return policies, pricing, dating and returns of aged inventory. Oversee all aspects of the business from sales planning to advertising. • Attained procurement of major specialty high-end brands including: Precor Fitness, True Fitness, Matrix Fitness, Life Fitness, Manduka Yoga, AFG Fitness, Fuji Bikes, SE Bikes, Haro Bikes, Masi Bikes, Santa Cruz Bikes, Rocky Mountain Bikes, Honey Stinger Food, Twin Labs and Swobo Bikes. • Manage eight direct reports (buyers and assistant buyers); and coordinate with planner and replenishers. Reports directly to VP/DMM in East Coast office. • Facilitated Open to Buy with planner to invest inventory dollars for the best returns. • After first 18 months was promoted from Bike and Fitness Buyer to Senior Buyer. • As of April 2015 was placed in charge of the West Coast buying office in La Canada.