Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Aaron M. Brown

Footwear Executive
Sacramento,California

Summary

Accomplished footwear industry executive with a successful 30+ year career spanning retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and manufacturing. Proven expertise in product development, purchasing, sales forecasting, merchandising, supply chain sourcing, trend anticipation, and contract negotiation. Skilled in leveraging technology and leading cross-functional teams to drive revenue growth and operational excellence. Excel at building strategic partnerships and delivering exceptional results. Proficient in Microsoft Teams, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience

Work History

Vice President Product & Sourcing

Bearpaw Shoes
Citrus Heights, California
05.2017 - 02.2023
  • Managed a team of over 20 in China, including QC, developers, costing, and auditing, ensuring product quality and consistency.
  • Strategically collaborated with 18 factories and 15 suppliers to streamline production processes and maintain exceptional product standards.
  • Developed and implemented new product strategies, resulting in significant 16% increase in revenue in 2018 and remarkable 19% increase in 2019.
  • Directly responsible for record booking and securing 83% of orders from 2020 to 2022 through effective Microsoft Teams meetings and persuasive in-person presentations.

Vice President of Merchandising

ShoeMe.ca - Onlineshoes.com - Shoes.com
Vancouver, British Columbia
04.2014 - 02.2016
  • Recruited, hired, and trained a team of 4 buyers and 2 planners for the emerging Canadian e-commerce market.
  • Successfully launched over 150 brands into the, including 2 private label, driving revenue increases of over $25 million in just 2 years.
  • Implemented strategic buy plans and optimized product flow to maximize profitability and enhance customer experience.

Partner/National Sales Manager

International Brand Partners
Santa Barbara, California
04.2009 - 04.2014
  • Leveraged market insights and industry trends to successfully launch three footwear brands into international markets, driving brand awareness and market penetration.

Owner/Principal

Pinnacle Sales Agency LLC
Sacramento, California
02.2008 - 12.2011
  • Established and operated an independent sales agency representing 8 footwear brands and 4 sunglass brands, covering Denver West.

Director of Merchandising

Zappos
Las Vegas, Nevada
02.2002 - 02.2008
  • Played a pivotal role in Zappos exceptional growth from $8.6 million to $1.2 billion in annual sales.
  • Negotiated and opened multiple successful lifestyle categories including Outdoor, Performance, Western and Work.
  • Negotiated and launched new categories beyond footwear including apparel, hardware, watches, glasses and bags.
  • Contributed to the recruitment, hiring, and training of a team of over 1500 employees.

Account Executive

Dr. Martens Airwair
Portland, Oregon
08.2000 - 01.2002
  • Developed and maintained strong relationships with major department store and independent retail accounts, exceeding sales targets and driving brand visibility.

Multi Department Manager / Assistant Buyer

Nordstrom
Sacramento - San Francisco, CA
12.1991 - 08.2000
  • Demonstrated consistent year-over-year growth as manager and assistant buyer, excelling in managing multiple departments and driving sales.
  • Improved customer satisfaction rates through attentive service, prompt issue resolution, and continuous process improvements.

Education

Spartan College of Aeronautics And Technology
Tulsa, OK

Skills

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Coaching and mentoring

Decision-making

Process improvement

Negotiation and persuasion

Business development

Presentations

Timeline

Vice President Product & Sourcing

Bearpaw Shoes
05.2017 - 02.2023

Vice President of Merchandising

ShoeMe.ca - Onlineshoes.com - Shoes.com
04.2014 - 02.2016

Partner/National Sales Manager

International Brand Partners
04.2009 - 04.2014

Owner/Principal

Pinnacle Sales Agency LLC
02.2008 - 12.2011

Director of Merchandising

Zappos
02.2002 - 02.2008

Account Executive

Dr. Martens Airwair
08.2000 - 01.2002

Multi Department Manager / Assistant Buyer

Nordstrom
12.1991 - 08.2000

Spartan College of Aeronautics And Technology

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