William Orr is a highly accomplished and results-driven Top Product Development Director Hardlines with broadly diverse ...
WILLIAM R. ORR Pataskala, Ohio 43062 C (614) 218-1797 H (614) 824-9861
[email protected] SUMMARY
A highly accomplished and results-driven TOP PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HARDLINES with broadly diverse expertise encompassing merchandising, team leading, regulatory compliance, strategic planning, buying, sourcing, calendar and sales support. An effective communicator with a proven ability to work well with all levels of an organization. A detail-oriented problem solver who identifies issues and provides lasting solutions. A forward thinking producer who consistently introduces new product assortments, demonstrating a proven aptitude for enhancing revenue growth while maintaining high standards. Utilizes an extensive skill set to position a business as an industry leader.
EXPERIENCE
JCPENNEY, Plano, Texas Product Development Director ................................................................................................................................................ 2009-2012 Provided business strategy for $175,000,000 upholstery business. Increased private brand upholstery percentage of business. Identified white space opportunities. Performed weekly sales reports. Drove product development calendar/progress with design, merchandising, sourcing, packaging, tech design and suppliers.
Increased private brand upholstery sales by 44% to $72,000,0000 in 2010. Grew gross profit percentage by 310 basis points. Developed possibilities custom order upholstery program and leather possibilities program. Proposed plan to merge into single program in addition to adding motion function, potentially doubling sales per square foot. Lead initiative to develop dye formulae to ensure 4.0 light fastness results on key fabrics for cost optimization Provided strategy for decorative accessory program within furniture department. Lead cost optimization initiative to consolidate fabric supplier matrix across soft and hard home categories. Traveled up to four trips annually to China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia for final line review.
DECORRA, INC., Pataskala, Ohio President .................................................................................................................................................................................... 2004-2009 Held responsibility for business strategy development. Conducted client sales meetings as well as merchandising meetings with clients’ international business offices. Handled product development for Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, The Home Decorators Collection and Sam’s Club among others. Assumed responsibility for handling factory sourcing and compliance. Lived in China to perform factory visits.
Built company into $14,000,000 furniture and $15,000,000 seasonal business. Traveled to China to identify trustworthy factories in furniture/home décor industry. Provided consultation to key retailers in compliance, ethical standards issues. Re-engineered mail order packaging resulting in less than 2% damage rate.
AMERICAN SIGNATURE, INC., Columbus, Ohio Divisional Merchandise Manager, Accessories ..................................................................................................................... 1998-2004 Held responsibility for product development, buying, sourcing, visual merchandising of decorative accessories including lamps, wall décor, area rugs, florals, accent furniture and traffic items for both Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture. Served as key member of upholstery and case goods product development teams. Traveled internationally to source products. Worked with planner, and possessed full P&L GP responsibility.
Re-imagined total store accessorization.
William R. Orr, Page 2
Partnered with two leading visual display/decorative accessory lifestyle experts to create/execute ten lifestyle assortments, appropriate for two pricing tiers of Value City and American Signature. Grew total sales from $21,000,000 to $31,000,000. Increased GP dollars $3,000,000 on $30,000,000 sales base. Played instrumental role in building American Signature brand to point of opening first American Signature Furniture store in Nashville, Tennessee in 2003. Developed key traffic items which achieved unit sales of up to 8.000 pieces per 10 day promotion in 120 stores. ADDITIONAL
EXPERIENCE
BATH AND BODY WORKS, Columbus, Ohio, Group Product Manager, 1996-1997. Developed new business strategies for six categories. Traveled to India, UK, Indonesia, Germany, Bali, Hong Kong, Philippines and Thailand. Held responsibility for product development, merchandising and sourcing. SUMMIT NAKED FURNITURE, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, Director of Merchandising, 1994-1996. Provided business strategy for furniture. Built and implemented strategy for home accents program. Communicated daily with store personnel and franchisees. Conducted company-wide manager/owner’s meetings. Handled product development with internal/external suppliers. Managed visual merchandising. Discontinued low performers. THE BOMBAY COMPANY, INC., Fort Worth, Texas, Director of Merchandising, 1990-1994. Held responsibility for merchandising, product development and buying. Re-merchandised categories. Hired and trained buying staff. Developed assortment for larger format stores. Handled P&L responsibility. Oversaw seven catalogs annually. Built existing business strategy and identified white space opportunities.
EDUCATION
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, Raleigh, North Carolina B.S., Environmental Design in Product Design
LICENSURE
Licensed in Interior Design, State of Texas
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Product Development Academy, JCPenney
AFFILIATION
American Society of Interior Designers
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WARDS
Recipient of Chairman’s Award JCPenney, 2010 Recipient of Jerome Schottenstein Humanitarian Award, 2003
COMPUTER SKILLS Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Flex PLM
