Bruce Cooper

Expertise in sourcing, product development, packaging development, assortment planning, vendor negotiations, merchandising, and presentation preparation.

- Sourced and developed private-label and national brand appliances for US-based retailers including factory negotiations, client sales presentations, creation of manuals, testing protocols and production supervision.
- Developed strategy and sourced replacement products as part of a gadget category refresh for a national retailer with over 750 stores.

- Joseph Mimran & Associates is the product development and buying office for housewares at Loblaws, sourcing and developing product for the PC at Home and Everyday Essentials brands.
- Categories: appliances, cookware, bakeware, kitchen gadgets, water filtration, storage, spice, patio and barbecue

Responsibilities
- Sourced/bought all product for cookware, bakeware and appliance planograms for 600+ Loblaw stores.
- Developed product worth $83M in total retail sales in 2010.
Researched factory direct vendors and identified new products for seasonal and in-line assortments.
- Negotiated improved pricing of existing and new products to increase profit margin and sales.
- Developed packaging and marketing material by directing the graphic design team, PC test kitchen, copywriters and translators.
- Reviewed and approved third-party quality testing results and printer proofs for quality control;
- Managed offshore and domestic vendors to ensure ship dates were met and product reaches stores on time.
- Revised planograms and set-ups at concept stores for a more customer-focused layout.

Achievements
- Sourced new and innovative water pitchers to compete with market-leading Brita line, increasing pitcher sales by 43%, filter sales by 37% and gross profit by 23% from 2008 to 2010.
- Increased kitchen gadget sales by 50% in concept stores by rationalizing kitchen gadget planogram, eliminating under-performing products and introducing top national brands.
- Generated 20% sales increase in fondue category from 2008 to 2010 by introducing a new PC-branded product line from a single Asian factory-direct source in place of national brand products.
- Took an outdated lunch kit and food storage category and refreshed all private label items, resulting in a 11% increase in sales and 12% increase in profit over last year during the key back-to-school season.

Responsibilities
- Managed custom office furniture and interior orders, with a special focus on accessories and architectural products.
- Conceptualized, designed and engineered products based on client specifications and international safety and accessibility standards.
- Coordinated pricing, modelling, testing, manufacturing and factory/on-site assembly.
- Worked with clients and sales managers to identify cost savings opportunities.
- Met with suppliers to assess and test new materials and technologies and explore usage possibilities.

Achievements
- Using SolidWorks, designed and engineered “Smart Glass” window panelling system for executive boardrooms of Fortune 500 company.
- Designed and engineered flexible data cabling system for top video gaming company.

- Created concepts for new products, including emergency lights and branded conveyer belt housing.
- Produced technical drawings for manufacturing.
- Designed presentations and CAD renderings in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Responsibilities
- Brought unique, stylish, and functional kitchen tools and housewares to market for Cuisipro brand.
- Conceptualized and developed products and product lines for Williams-Sonoma.

Achievements
- Designed in-line stainless steel measuring cups and spoons for Williams-Sonoma.
- Conceptualized and designed Cuisipro “Mighty Magnet” line.