Ken Spence - Resume 2010

1. Ken Spence, B. Comm.
97 Brownridge Place ♦ Whitby, Ontario L1P 1W1
Home: (905) 444-9382 ♦ Cell: (416) 418-3543 ♦ Email:ken_spence@rogers.com ♦ www.linkedin.com/in/kenspence
Objective
To obtain a sales or marketing management position with a consumer packaged goods market leader that
utilizes my experience in branding, product management, sales, and account management.
Account Management and Marketing Professional
Seasoned profit-driven sales professional who excels at identifying opportunities, recently increasing
planogram sales at Wal-Mart by 15%, and EB Games by 28%. Over 8 years of significant achievements in
retail marketing and account management, working with category managers at accounts that also included
Zellers, Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Best Buy, Future Shop, CostCo, Toys “R” Us, Indigo Books and Music,
and others.
Core Competencies
 Promotions & Merchandising  Customer Relationship Management
 Strategic Marketing  Competitive Product Positioning
 Budgeting and Expense Management  Inventory Management
“Ken combines solid sales and marketing instincts and a strong work ethic with many years experience in sales and
marketing. His tenacity, focus, intelligence and professional approach to his work combine with an engaging
personality that give him excellent leadership skills. I feel he would be an asset and strong addition to any
company.” - Ed Carson; Former President, Penguin Books Canada (A division of Pearson Education Canada)
Professional Experience
The Canadian Group October 2009 – January 2010
The Canadian Group sells it’s own Sure-Lox® brand of puzzles, while also acting as the Canadian distributor for other
toy and game manufacturers from China, and the United States.
WALMART CANADA ACCOUNT MANAGER
 Saved the organization over $50,000 in year-end markdown dollar requests, through effective negotiation.
 Presented key items from our many vendor partners to buyers during the annual China buying trip to
finalize the Fall 2010 toy, and game modulars.
Sandylion Sticker Designs October 2007 – April
2009
As the world’s largest designer, and sticker manufacturer, product categories include juvenile, scrapbooking, and home
décor lines. Sandylion maintains licensing arrangements with partners such as Disney, Mattel, Marvel and Nickelodeon.
KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER
(Accounts included: Wal-Mart, CostCo, Mastermind, Buck or Two, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sears, Rite Aid, and Dollar Tree.)
 Effectively refreshed the planogram assortment, and increased sales of sticker products within Wal-Mart
Canada by 15% during 2008.
 Secured first ever seasonal placement of product within Wal-Mart during Easter, and Valentine programs.
 Responsible for management, sales, and meeting budget targets in excess of $10 million within mass, drug,
dollar, and value channel accounts within Canada, and the United States.
 Co-ordinated new product introductions; developing merchandising programs for new product launches.
 Implemented new replenishment program to increase sales, and launched merchandising team to update
program, and reduce excess inventory at store level.
 Negotiated terms, discounts, and markdown allowances upon yearly renewals of vendor agreement forms.
 Provided support and guidance to representatives, and sales agencies in order to achieve account targets.
 Worked with departments (marketing, production, credit, and shipping) to ensure account plans were met.

2. Ken Spence ♦ Home: (905) 444-9382 ♦ Email: ken_spence@rogers.com ♦ Page 2 of
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Pearson Technology Group Canada January 2001 – October 2007
As the premier distributor of books and training materials, PTGC represents the publishing industry’s leading imprints
for authoritative technical and professional information. Lines include: Financial Times Press, Addison-Wesley,
Prentice-Hall, Peachpit, and Que. PTGC also represented BradyGames, a leading video game strategy guide publisher.
.
SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER - January 2004 – October 2007
(Accounts included: Wal-Mart, EB Games, Toys “R” Us, Zellers, Best Buy, Future Shop, Blockbuster, and Loblaws.)
 Increased sales of BradyGames at EB Games by 28% in 2006, achieving 120% of overall sales budget.
 Co-ordinated the first ever outdoor poster campaign within Toronto’s financial district for a business book,
surpassing yearly sales goals by 20%.
 Responsible for marketing, strategies generating sales of over $2.7 million of video game strategy guides.
 Planned the yearly advertising and publicity plans for strategy guides, business and computer titles,
generating over $5 million in revenue.
 Selected as one of three participants to represent Canada at 2005 Pearson Forum in New York City to
discuss worldwide corporate issues along with representatives from all of Pearson’s international offices.
NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER; MARKETING MANAGER - January 2003 – January 2004
(Accounts included: Chapters Indigo Books & Music, and video game retail accounts.)
 Represented professional level technology book lines to the largest book retailer in the country.
EASTERN REGIONAL SALES MANAGER; MARKETING MANAGER - January 2002 – January 2003
 Managed two sales representatives maximizing sales of computer book lines within national, independent,
library wholesalers, and educational bookstores.
MARKETING MANAGER - January 2001 – January 2002
 Launched the PowerStore program, and achieved participation from 25 new independent bookstores.
Gage Educational Publishing Company April 1997 – January 2001
Gage was a leading private owned publisher of educational reference books, primarily for the K-12 marketplace. It has
since been acquired by Nelson Publishing, and is no longer in business.
PRODUCT MANAGER
 Marketed textbooks and related educational material to community, and private college course instructors.
 Designed targeted direct mail campaigns for key book titles, providing customer service when required.
Mosaic (Formerly: Sales & Merchandising Group) April 1996 to August 1996
(Summer)
Provide merchandising, direct selling, product knowledge transfer, and experiential marketing at retail store level.
SALES AND MERCHANDISING REPRESENTATIVE
* Ault Foods Limited
 Launched three new ice cream products to the market while increasing sales by 10% of existing products.
 Exceeded program objectives by 15% while maintaining a territory of 200 convenience store accounts.
* The Dairy Bureau of Canada
 Promoted the use of Canadian cheese while situated within grocery stores in Greater Toronto Area.
Education / Professional Development
• University of Guelph – BACHELOR OF COMMERCE DEGREE, Marketing Major ~ December 1996
• Centennial College – MARKETING MANAGEMENT (CO-OP) DIPLOMA ~ December 1993
o Awarded Warner Lambert Canada Ltd. Scholarship for highest grade point average.
• KARRASS SEMINARS – Effective Negotiating ~ March 2005