LAWRENCE H KING1000 Manchester Ave – Westchester, IL 60154

708-343-1895 (home) 708- 595-8630 (cell)guins0702@aol.com

PRODUCT / BRAND MARKETING PROFESSIONAL

SUMMARYI am a creative marketing professional with a strong work ethic and thorough knowledge of bringing consumer products to market from initial concept to product launch based on current trend research, VOC and trend reporting agencies. I have proven abilities in a team environment leading and directing a multitude of departments with a focus on quality and company profitability. I have vast experience in forecasting, negotiating, sourcing vendors, creating and tracking purchase orders, writing Bills of Materials, project timelines, specification sheets, analyzing market trends and sales, training Sales and Customer Service on all new products and features, presenting to all levels of customers and keeping track of every step regarding product development to guarantee on time delivery of quality products to set standards.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Home Products International – Chicago, IL 2016 - CurrentManufacturer of Home storage and garment care

Consultant - Channel Marketing Manager – StorageWorking with national accounts presenting injection molded plastic storage pieces

Consultant – Project Manager, ImportsResponsible for all correspondence with overseas factoriesWorking with Product Managers, Channel Managers, Import Coordinator and Industrial Designers

LDR Global Industries – Chicago, IL 2015Supplier of plumbing and bath products

New Product Development ManagerResponsible for developing new categories to compliment current product lines

Creating product roadmap showing category directions for 2016-2017 fiscal year Creating product landscapes to compare competitive lines for each category Daily interaction with Marketing, Sourcing, Purchasing, Graphics and Sales Daily interaction with Asian factories / Taiwan sourcing team Assisting Sales on customer sales calls / creating presentations Sourcing trips to Asia Writing copy for packaging and customer use Developing new products using textiles, wire, injection molding, etc.

Selling primarily to Hardware and Mass retail stores under the EXQUISITE brand, LDR is a reseller of plumbing supplies recently out of bankruptcy. My primary objective is developing new lines and categories to broaden the customer base and make LDR a one stop shop for smaller accounts and gain greater presence at Big Box retailers.

Taylor Precision Products – Oak Brook, IL 2008 – 2014Manufacturer of bath scales, kitchen scales, timers, thermometers, garden and weather devices

Sr. Product Manager – Weather and Outdoor DecorResponsible for all development of the Weather line of Taylor, Springfield and private label branded weather products geared towards adult consumers.

Daily interaction with Asian factories regarding design and production Daily interaction with all internal departments including Engineering, Graphics and Sales Directed all aspects of design, new innovations, price and packaging for line

Liaison with outside vendors and designers Responsible for trend research, competitive analysis and item specifications Working with all materials including plastic, metals, resin and glass Write copy for ALL categories, Weather, Bath and Kitchen for AMAZON.com and other online

customers

Weather is the original category at Taylor. We recently acquired Springfield Precision Instruments adding to our line. We are currently the Category leader at Ace Hardware, Do-It-Best and Amazon.com. We currently work with Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowes, Target, Tractor Supply, Fleet Farms, Wal-Mart, True- Value and various other Hardware Chains. This category also has many business to business customers.

Product Manager – Bath ScalesResponsible for all development of the bath scale line of Taylor, Salter, Biggest Loser and private label branded bath scales and a line of Home Touch branded Trouser presses geared towards adult consumers.

Daily interaction with Asian factories regarding design and production Daily interaction with all internal departments including Engineering, Graphics and Sales Directed all aspects of design, new innovations, price and packaging for line Liaison with outside vendors and designers Patent pending on bath scale design / concept Worked with various materials including plastic, glass, bamboo, metals and LED and LCD lights Developed private label, licensed lines for Bowflex, Homedics, Nautilus and Biggest Loser brands Project Manager for FDA certification of body fat scale line Wrote scripts and gave direction for product videos shown on AMAZON.com Responsible for trend research, competitive analysis and item specifications

Bath scales are largest category in the company worth $60,000,000 at retail. The bath scale category grew $11,000,000 while I ran the category. T a y l o r is currently the Category leader at Target, Kohl’s, Kmart, Amazon.com and Sam’s Club. New growth has happened at Wal-Mart, Costco, QVC and The Container Store.

InGEAR Corporation - Buffalo Grove, IL 2007 – 2008Manufacturer of luggage, sport bags, backpacks and insulated items

Director of Insulated ProductsResponsible for all development of insulated coolers and meal carriers geared towards both adult and adolescent consumers.

Daily interaction with Asian factories and all internal departments including Graphics and Sales Directed all aspects of design, new innovations, price and packaging for both lines Liaison with licensors, outside vendors and designers Developed private label licensed lines for Rubbermaid, Blue Ice, Wilson, Champion and Laura Ashley Responsible for trend research, competitive analysis and item specifications Overseeing a staff of 1 Product Manager and 2 Assistant Product Managers

Position included frequent trips to Asia to work with factories for production and development, sales calls to all major Mass accounts and attendance at industry trade shows

Precious Moments Inc - Rolling Meadows, IL 2006 – 2007Established 30 year brand in the giftware industry now doing business on their own

Product Development CoordinatorResponsible for development of plush items, giftware and bisque porcelain figurines for mass market accounts, gift stores, catalogs and websites

Directed all aspects of development including product design, packaging, production and pricing Liaison with outside illustrators, sculptors and packaging designers Copywriting for packaging, catalog and website

Thermos - Rolling Meadows, IL 2003 – 2006Award-winning 100 year old company producing containers that keep food and beverages fresh and temperature controlled away from home

Marketing Manager, Soft Cooler LineDirected all aspects of marketing activity including product design, production, pricing and negotiations with factories in Asia

Took on additional responsibilities introducing a line of reusable ice products, developing a line of catering bags and designing soft lunch kits for youth and adult markets following set product development processes.

Developed licensed product with Barbie, NASCAR and Warner Brothers. Managed sales efforts including training, public relations, customer service, trade shows and key account

calls to major mass, specialty, warehouse and food & drug accounts all with national distribution. Produced all marketing materials including catalogs, sell sheets, hang tags, print advertising, press

releases and sales presentations. Led cross-functional teams for each project interacting with Purchasing, Graphics, Engineering,

Customer Service, Logistics, Quality Control, and Sales departments.

The insulated category grew from a 3 million dollar category to an 8 million dollar category from 2003 to 2006. The new lines introduced gained shelf space in new retail accounts like Target, Dick’s Bass Pro, Farm & Fleet, BJ’s, Lowes and were purchased by catering/hospitality accounts. Press coverage was attained through all major morning programs and major family publications.

H2O PLUS - Chicago, IL 1999 – 2003A manufacturer/retailer of water-based, oil-free skincare products and accessories

Brand Manager, Accessories (2000 to 2003)Managed an assortment of 80 permanent private label items including garments, personal care products, home products and bath products

Created seasonal lines for Holiday, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day including specialty gift sets for each season.

Provided all promotional items for the retail locations, website, and catalog including all Gift With Purchase and Purchase With Purchase items.

Generated 10% of store income through product assortment resulting in over one million dollars in sales. Introduced dog care line, children’s line and home fragrance line resulting in increased sales in the

accessories category. Negotiated with vendors including setting price, quantity and freight arrangements Coordinated in-house design team to develop packaging, assist with the design selection and writing

copy. Interacted daily with cross-functional team consisting of Design, Packaging, Materials, Logistics,

Production, Quality Assurance, Purchasing, Merchandising, Training, Marketing and International Sales.Purchasing Agent (1999 to 2000)

Placed purchase orders through an MRP system for tube components, accessories and in- house building supplies for all departments.

Arranged freight schedules, negotiated rates and ensured on-time delivery.

S a v ed t h e co m p a ny $ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 t hrough n e g o t i at i ng w i th c ur r e n t v e n d o r s a n d so u rc i ng n e w v e n d o r s both do m e s ti c a ll y and inte r nationa ll y

Bradner Smith & Company - Chicago, IL 1997 – 1999Purchasing AgentResponsible for purchasing all paper stocked in the facility and for all special orders

Tracked inventory levels, negotiated cost with paper mills across the United States and Canada. Processed orders, wrote purchase orders using an MRP system and file card system. Ensured 24 hour on-time delivery for all orders.

Donald Bruce & Company - Chicago, IL 1995 – 1997

Purchasing AgentPurchasing responsibilities for earrings, lockets, religious items and children’s line

Placed purchase orders for finished jewelry pieces with international vendors. Managed vendor relationships between two manufacturing facilities Placed work orders to produce jewelry pieces through manufacturing facilities

EDUCATION

Master of Science in Marketing CommunicationsRoosevelt University, Chicago, IL

Bachelor of Science in Retail MerchandisingNorthern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

Associate of Arts, emphasis in MarketingMorton College, Cicero, IL