Larry E.

McGraw
10951 Kennesaw Drive
Bentonville, AR 72712
(479) 426-8179
lm92a1aa@westpost.net

BUSINESS & MERCHANDISING/OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

- BUYING / PURCHASING / PROCUREMENT -

- INVENTORY MANAGEMENT & CONTROL -
- DISTRIBUTION - LOGISTICS & TRANSPORTATION -
- ADVERTISING & SALES PROMOTION -
- MARKETING MANAGEMENT -
- CUSTOMER SERVICE -
A Dependable, Conscientious Professional Experienced In The Creation Of Effectiv
e Merchandising Programs... A Competitive, Profit-Minded Organization Builder..
.
Garden State Growers, Pittstown, New Jersey.
Merchandise Coordinator/ Account Manager, March 2010 - July 2010
Managed the Kmart account in the annual and perennial live plant categories. In
cluded 70 stores located primarily in NJ, PA, and MD. Interfaced with Kmart buy
ing office, district managers. and store managers.
* Re-energized sales and provided professional customer service to garden center
s, which included guidance in display techniques, effective signage, care direct
ives, cross-merchandising, and advertising support.
* Supported Market Managers, spearheaded their seasonal promotional efforts, and
participated in district-level meetings.
* Regularly visited with store managers and department managers to discuss sales
, upcoming shipments and possible adjustments, scheduled events, product variety
and placement.
* Constantly provided feedback to the Kmart buying office as to condition of the
ir stores, sales reporting, and updates to seasonal forecasting.

Walmart Stores, Inc, Bentonville, Arkansas.

Business Analyst- ISD (Information Systems Division), December 2008 - June 2009
Translated high-level business requirements into detailed function specification
s, managed requests for changes to the specifications, assisted the business in
determining which requirements should be automated and how these automated funct
ions were to be integrated into the rest of the business and technical process.
* Wrote technical specifications and documentation for ISD developers.
* Worked closely with customers to document their needs, processes, and issues.
* Provided initial time, cost, and ROI assessments for projects.
* Determined a course of action to solve problems to satisfy customer needs.

Horticulture Buyer, March 2007- December 2008

Bought live plants for 600 stores. Categories included annuals, hanging baskets,
 perennials, shrubs, and trees. Category captain for the shrub category; bought
Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees for entire country. Selected suppliers based on bids
, the ability to service stores, and quality of product. Negotiated pricing, te
rms, and delivery. Created a marketing plan. Analyzed turnover, return on inve
stment, profitability, and issued timely markdowns. Communicated plans with fie
ld, stores, Market Management, and Corporate Management. Developed a total busi
ness plan, and evaluated trends.

* Developed professional relationships with suppliers by keeping in constant com

munication, monitoring their performance, and by visiting their facilities.
* Monitored Walmart garden center operations and their competition by visiting t
heir field locations.
* Maintained up-to-date knowledge of new developments by attending trade shows a
nd reviewing trade journals.
* Using departmental and category budgets, planned product needs by item, and by
store, and supplied these needs prior to each season to each supplier. Commitm
ents were issued to suppliers, and they in turn were able to supply stores with
specific items on a timely basis.
* Developed innovative packaging and tagging program, resulting in uniform shelf
appearance.
* Negotiated additional "opportunity buys" with suppliers, providing additional
sales and profit.

Shipping Connections, Inc, Centerton, Arkansas

Account Manager, 2006 - 2007
Brokered transportation truckloads and LTL's on a commission basis.
* Developed customer base with cold calls and web-based leads. Provided a high
level of professional customer service.
* Set and exceeded gross profit goals. Consistently was a top sales/profit prod
ucer, utilizing strong negotiation skills with both customers and carriers.

Sam's Club, Division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, Bentonville, Arkansas.

Floral/Live plant Replenishment Manager, 2004 - 2006
Managed staff of replenishment specialists who purchased floral and plant produc
t from nationwide vendor base. Analyzed investment levels, in-stock, and gross
margin.
* Initiated Inforem-based replenishment system, resulting in in-stock levels rea
ching 98.5%.
* Worked with buyers to develop and reach turnover and profitability goals.
* Coordinated special purchases, while communicating with field and upper manage
ment.
* Utilized Retail Link to analyze sales and profit at club and departmental leve
ls.

Kmart Corporation, Troy, Michigan.

Horticulture Buyer, 1997 - 2003.
Bought live plants for the Southeast United States involving 450 stores. The ca
tegories of plants purchased included annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, indoor
, and holiday.
* Developed professional relationships with vendors by having constant contact w
ith the supplier network.
* Developed service programs, including signing and promotional programs for sto
res.
* Planned product needs by item, and by store, and supplied these needs prior to
each season to each vendor. Firm commitments were issued to vendors, and they
in turn were able to supply stores with specific needs on a very timely basis.
* Was also instrumental for vendors being able to create store PO's via "reverse
" EDI. Vendor signing and service programs improved merchandise presentation at
the store level, resulting in 6% sales increase (last year) while improving gro
ss profit levels by 3%.

Planning Manager, 1994 - 1996.

Supervised professional staff of Merchandise Planners. Interviewed, hired, and
trained staff of 12, delegated work assignments, reviewed progress, and worked w
ith upper management to implement new procedures.

Merchandise Planner, 1986 - 1993.

Ordered merchandise from vendors utilizing INFOREM, monitored receipt in Distrib
ution Centers, tracked store volume and turnover, and conducted detailed studies
of item turnover, shelf life, and profitability. Communicated extensively with
vendor base and store management.

Prior To Being Promoted Based On Professional Performance, Valuable Experience W

as Gained By Successfully Serving Kmart Corporation As General Store Manager.

FORMAL EDUCATION
Northeast Louisiana University
Monroe, Louisiana
Bachelor of Science
Major: Mathematics
Minor: Psychology
Additional Professional Training
Excel - Microsoft Word - Outlook - PowerPoint
Dale Carnegie
Sam Walton Institute
Rope & Associates, Effective Business Communication
Karrass, Effective Negotiating