Professional Summary

Professional Overview

Brian Suomi is an experienced retail merchandising executive currently serving as the Director of Merchandising at The Home Depot in Corona, California. With a strong background in the home improvement industry, he oversees the strategic planning, procurement, and distribution of product assortments to drive revenue growth and customer satisfaction.

Experience Summary

Current Role

As the Director of Merchandising at The Home Depot, Brian is responsible for leading a team of category managers and buyers in the effective management of a $2.5 billion product portfolio. He works closely with cross-functional partners to ensure optimal product selection, pricing, and availability across the company's retail stores and digital channels. Under his leadership, the merchandising team has delivered consistent double-digit year-over-year sales increases through data-driven category management and strategic vendor partnerships.

Career Progression

Prior to his current role, Brian held various merchandising and buying positions within the home improvement industry, including Senior Buyer at Lowe's and Category Manager at Ace Hardware. His progressive career growth has allowed him to develop a comprehensive understanding of the industry's supply chain, customer trends, and competitive landscape. Brian's ability to translate data insights into actionable strategies has been instrumental in driving operational efficiencies and improving the overall customer experience.

Academic Background

Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of California, Riverside. He has also completed executive education programs in Retail Management and Supply Chain Optimization at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Areas of Expertise

• Retail merchandising and category management

• Vendor relationship management and strategic sourcing

• Inventory optimization and supply chain logistics

• Data-driven decision making and business intelligence

• Cross-functional team leadership and collaboration

Professional Impact

Throughout his career, Brian has been recognized for his ability to drive significant revenue growth and profitability improvements. At The Home Depot, he has led the implementation of a new demand forecasting system that has resulted in a 15% reduction in inventory carrying costs and a 12% increase in product availability. Additionally, Brian has been instrumental in developing innovative merchandising strategies that have improved customer satisfaction scores by 8% within his categories.

Conclusion

With over 15 years of experience in the home improvement industry, Brian Suomi is a seasoned retail merchandising professional with a proven track record of delivering transformative results. In his current role at The Home Depot, he continues to leverage his deep industry expertise and analytical capabilities to optimize the company's product assortment and enhance the overall customer experience.