Senior retail executive with experience improving organizational design and efficiency with a proven track record of specific measurable success. Strong business planning and execution skills highly tuned for profitability and productivity. Broad understanding and hands on experience with industry leading tools and processes related to pricing, replenishment, allocation, assortment, planning, financial planning, business intelligence, and optimization.
1. MIKE SABLOWSKI
110 Indian Meadow Rd
Mars, Pennsylvania, 15275
H:(630) 584-2709 W:(724) 273-3342 M: (412) 225-4609
Email: mjsablowski@ymail.com
SUMMARY
EXPERIENCE
Senior retail executive with experience improving organizational design and efficiency with a
proven track record of specific measurable success. Strong business planning and execution
skills highly tuned for profitability and productivity. Broad understanding and hands on
experience with industry leading tools and processes related to pricing, replenishment, allocation,
assortment, planning, financial planning, business intelligence, and optimization.
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS – Pittsburgh, PA (2009 – Present)
Dick’s Sporting Goods is the nation's premier sporting goods retailer with nearly $6 billion in annual
revenues and approximately 600 specialty retail stores in the United States.
Senior Vice President Planning, Allocation, and Pricing August 2013- July 2014
Vice President Planning, Allocation, and Pricing March 2009- April 2013
Leads 240+ planning, allocation, reporting, system, and analysis associates responsible for $6B in sales.
Revers ed 7 years of turn erosion at Dick’s (2002-2008) by implementing strategies within merchandising to
drive increasing turn (2009-2012) during periods that included declining comp sales.
Rebalanced store inventory from unproductive stores into under-realized stores driving productivity in the
chain up 9% while maintaining visual display standards in stores.
Improved inventory quality by implementing standardized process driving clearance ownership down by
30% and aged inventory down by 40% leading to further inventory productivity and margin expansion.
Partners with CEO and EVP of Merchandising on strategic planning and direction for merchandising.
Chief architect for process and s ystem utilization for merchandising at Dick’s Sporting Goods rolling out SAS
Assortment and Financial Planning, Revionics Price Optimization, JDA Size and Pack.
Implementing JDA Demand and Fulfill currently piloting in 17 departments.
Developed and rolled out omni-channel planning and execution functions to leverage unproductive store
inventory fulfilled online through “ship-from-store”.
Integrated store satisfaction measurements into organization to assess quality of work.
Developed and implemented the “RISE” associate training and certification program to raise level of
execution in planning and allocation which has subsequently cascaded to the organization more broadly.
Implemented and rolled out SAS assortment planning to a 90% adoption/utilization rate.
Implemented a multi-year strategic merchandise planning process.
Implemented markdown optimization tool from Revionics driving $6M in profit.
Interim Managing Director, Vice President Hong Kong Sourcing Office April 2013- July 2013
Managed the Dick’s Sourcing Office from Hong Kong while searching for a permanent candidate.
Identified and led improvement task force to address operational inefficiencies in the sourcing process
related to planning and merchandise flow.
SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION – Hoffman Estates, IL (2005 -2009)
Sears Holdings Corporation was the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with over $50 billion in annual
revenues and approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada.
Vice President General Merchandise Manager –Menswear February 2007- March 2009
Business owner responsible for all aspects of merchandising Menswear (approx $1B).
Redesigned the store experience of Men’s basics with new fixtures, new navigational and lifestyle signing,
and secured vendor funding for re-launching denim, underwear, and furnishings.
Established new quality standards for on floor product.
Led organization to adjust size packs to account for selling trends and introduced customized packs.
Commissioned first panel interviews in many years within Apparel to understand the core customer’s
viewpoints and implemented strategies to address the eroding market share.
Implemented tiered assorting strategies to support diverse customer demographics.
Implemented capacity planning into merchandising process to account for rack and floor space.
2. Vice President, Merchandise Finance & Merchandise Controller, SHC April 2005- February 2007
Managed P&L for all Business Units under Kmart and Sears formats (over $37B in annual sales).
Partnered with EVP of Merchandising on strategic planning and direction for merchandising organization.
Led organization of 50 finance professionals through multi-year strategic planning processes.
Designed and implemented a standardized merchandising process across Sears Holdings.
Key leader responsible for driving conversion to a new integrated financial and unit planning suite (SAS).
Merchandise Controller responsible for Open to Buy accuracy and inventory quality.
Directed analysis, including cash flow and NPV reviews, of capital expense projects for the board.
Implemented control processes around seasonal buy investment, inventory quality, and aging status.
Part of leadership team that integrated Sears and Kmart into one planning process.
Drove SAS markdown optimization analysis and system integration to improve clearance recovery rates.
KMART CORPORATION – Troy, MI (1992 – 2005)
Kmart Corporation was the nation's 3rd largest discount retailer with over $24 billion in annual revenues and
approximately 2,000 discount and super-center stores in the United States and Canada.
Division Vice President, Inventory Management – Kmart Apparel February 2003 – April 2005
Managed 70 planning, replenishment, and allocation professionals for a $5B Apparel Business Unit.
Served as key manager for training the open to buy controls rolled out from Kmart to Sears in merger.
Built business case for implementing an integrated unit and financial planning suite - SAS.
Standardized all planning functions across the Apparel organization.
Division Vice President, Merchandise Finance –Home & Apparel March 2001 – February 2003
Managed P&L for an $8B Business Unit comprised of 48 different buying teams.
Led organization through multi-year strategic planning processes.
Led personnel of 100+ through weekly and monthly planning using Hyperion and Makoro systems.
Set and approves financial buying and sales plans from product and category line reviews.
Directed analysis, including cash flow and NPV reviews, of capital expense projects for the board.
Director of Finance, Merchandise Finance –Soft Home June 1999 – March 2001
Provided strategic planning, accounting support and financial controls for divisions with $2B in sales.
Manager of Planning and Allocation – Sporting Goods April 1998 – June 1999
Standardized ladder plan formats / developed tiered assortment packs by volume groups.
Manager, Supply Chain Analysis August 1997–April 1998
Managed teams responsible for analyzing, designing and implementing supply chain process
improvements in distribution and transportation reducing logistics costs $26M annually.
Manager, Vendor Compliance and Performance Management January 1996–August 1997
Developed processes and managed teams that monitored and improved supplier compliance to Kmart's
operating and logistics requirements contributing $42M to the bottom line annually.
Merchandise Planner – Electronics September 1994 –January 1996
Provided purchasing and planning support for a $300M buying office and 2,000+ stores.
Store Management May 1992 – September 1994
Steadily increased responsibility over 2 years in operations and field management.
EDUCATION
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI 1995-1998
MBA, General Management, 1999
University of Florida – Gainesville, FL 1988-1992
BA, Economics 1992