Gary Hardwick
Customer Marketing Director · Central Garden & Pet
Rockford, MI
In My Own Words
Experienced and results-driven Sales and Marketing professional with over 16 years of experience in Consumer Packaged Goods. Adept at managing sales, marketing, and customer service teams, participating in cross-functional leadership teams, and delivering exceptional customer satisfaction. Proven track record of exceeding sales targets, reducing costs, and driving significant revenue growth. Skilled communicator and confident negotiator, with expertise in trade marketing, pricing, promotions, and other marketing initiatives. Achieved significant sales growth by increasing sales from $42 million to almost $70 million.
Work Experience
Customer Marketing Director
Central Garden & Pet2021 – 2023
- Managed customer pricing, trade promotions, and customer service with a focus on driving top-line sales, customer loyalty, and cost savings of $1.5 million by eliminating sales brokers - Trained Central sales teams as part of the acquisition of C&S by Central Garden & Pet - Executed plans for distribution, merchandising, pricing, and product placement - Oversaw Walmart and led line review process for C&S, consistently placed new items on shelf, grew share and increased Total Distribution Points - Contributed to a 98% OTIF rate through effective management of the customer service team - Led three price increase initiatives in 18 months with the most recent pricing action resulting $4.4 million annual increase
Trade Marketing Manager
Healthy Pet2014 – 2016
- Led the development, training, implementation and the monitoring of compliance as it pertains to sales and marketing team best practices for category management, trade spend optimization and sales operations - Managed the bidding and negotiation process and secured all appropriate syndicated data - Developed and implemented "One Source" view of POS using syndicated and retailer direct data - Successfully created and developed the Trade Promotion Management System - Developed business review process, presentations, managed trade publication budget, timing, and deliverables. Managed all aspects of major trade show planning
Associate Brand Manager II & Associate Product Manager
The Homax Group2007 – 2011
- Managed Interior Finishing product categories under the Homax Brand - Developed and coordinated the launch of new products, packaging changes, and point of purchase merchandisers at major retailers - Performed category management for major retailers - Trained professional contractors, sales resp and store managers on product benefits - Specialized in brand management, product development, promotions, packaging design, product pricing, training, trade show planning, product demo videos
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