Coroflot

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Tom Spayde
Dutch Hill Farm, 2534 State Route 97, Butler, OH 44822-9793
(419) 883 3501 (o/h) (419) 571 3079 (m)
www.tomspayde.com tom@tomspayde.com


Commercial / retail design veteran with proven productivity-based design and construction management, strategic, mentoring, communication, and visualization skills seeks to lead project-oriented design/build team.

Excellent written, verbal, presentation and client communication / management skills. Extensive creative development and design team leadership experience, high level of familiarity with construction processes and trades. 30 years domestic and international travel experience.

Fluent in Microsoft Word and Publisher, competent in Microsoft Excel and Design Studio, AutoCAD

the tom spayde studio, Butler, OH
Creative Director, 9/01 – present

Operation of retail consulting studio including client management, proposal generation, and contract administration. Develop in-store design, architectural, graphic, merchandising strategies, and managed vendor selection, procurement, fabrication, and construction / installation. Project highlights include:

Developed ground-up concept for American Standard bath showrooms in two The Home Depot Manhattan locations and Union, NJ, 2009-2010. Executed project merchandise plans, environmental design, fixture design, and coordinated fixture fabrication, fixture / product install, and on-site construction with vendors and GC

Invented design environment and plan concepts for Creative Host Services bid proposal packages consisting of twenty-one (21) F&B venues for the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority, 2003

Translated Boston Red Sox marketing/branding strategy into concept floor plan, merchandising, and graphic design for Fenway
Park’s 406 Club, 2007

Created, detailed, and vendor managed Lowe’s Home Improvement chainwide re-imaging end cap program, 2002. Spearheaded new kitchen department design, 2003

Revamped end cap and departmental merchandising with new layout and presentation strategy for Big Lots, 2004-2008

Translated in-store marketing strategy for Coca-Cola to invent new merchandising and fixture concepts for 7-11’s “Big Gulp” beverage center, 2007

Developed “green” fixture design strategy for Timberland Shoes, utilizing recycled and “old-growth” materials to create “one-off” merchandisers for selected retailers, 2006-2007

Reimaged Speedway (Marathon Oil) convenience stores merchandise floor plan, fixture, and graphics program, and exterior canopy/pump area merchandising and image standards, 2006

Synthesized new branding strategy into store and fixture design for Nationwide Insurance test stores, 2006.

Spearheaded new prototype retail design strategy for Radio Shack including storefront, interior design, and custom fixture program, 2006

Created and developed schematic fabrication for modular grocery end cap program for Lipton, increasing product density and merchandising flexibility, 2003

Developed merchandising strategy, design, and implementation guidelines for American Standard bath “suites” vignette displays at The Home Depot, 2001-2003


Chute Gerdeman Group, Columbus, OH
Creative Director, 6/99 – 9/01

The Chute Gerdeman Group is a leading retail design firm in the U.S. Hired as Studio Creative Director spearheading multiple simultaneous project efforts, leading inter-disciplinary teams of 4-12 associates, acting as creative, client communications principal and marketing partner for retail architecture, interior design, graphic design, merchandising, landlord/tenant criteria adherence, and fixture design, procurement, and installation. Project highlights include:

Led 12-designer team to create 40+ design and merchandising concepts for Detroit’s Metro Airport new Northwest Airlines hub, 2001

Developed speculative exterior and interior design concept for TGIFridays, including floor plan, interior environment, merchandising, and graphics / signage, 2001

Created initial speculative design and brand vision to secure $ 1.2 MM contract with MarineMax boating dealership co-op. Project lead Creative Director to manage architectural, interior design, and graphics program development, 2001

Initiated strategic design and merchandising plan, managed interior design and graphics team, client presentation lead for 90-day deadline Blockbuster test store install, 2000

Developed speculative design strategy and executive management presentation to win $800,000 project with CompUSA. Reinvented merchandising paradigm to turn the store ”inside-out” with lifestyle-based, software-driven merchandise plan, 1999


Stratus Retail Design, Columbus, OH
President & Creative Director, 6/88 – 6/99

Founded in 1988 after forging marketing relationships with Canadian and German retail research firms, springboarding multi-year project and income stream. Expanded to 4 person firm in 1990. Creative lead for internal and external collaborative project teams with extensive European project management and travel for long-term, detail-intensive assignments. Project highlights include:

Led project team to develop prototype design and merchandising concept or Toys R Us, 1999

Leveraged new Dairy Queen brand identity into prototype store design for Texas franchise group, 1999

Concepted new showroom and merchandising module strategy for Toyota, 1998

Injected visual impact into the Wal-Mart Superstore music and electronics department with a chainwide kit-based drop-ship fixture and graphics program, 1998

Developed exterior design and interior floor and merchandise plan for Fidelity Investments Chicago flagship, 1998

Created prototype franchise exterior identity and interior design plan, and merchandising program for Ziebart, 1997

Led design partnership with Trane/American Standard China to create Trane air conditioning retail showrooms in Shanghai market, 1996

Reinvented floor plan and merchandising presentation format for Boston Market retail stores, 1996

Rehabilitated dealer in-store merchandising and fixture design for Armstrong World Industries, developing modular/expandable system to increase market share, 1992. Led to creation of on-site marketing “fair” and exhibit design at Armstrong HQ in Lancaster, PA, 1993

Facelifted exterior design and managed brand program for Continent (ASKO Group hypermarkt), 1992

Revamped exterior architecture and branding for CORA (Delhaize Group Belgian hypermarche’), leading to interior re-design and graphic branding program, 1989 - 1990

Created prototype architectural and interior design, fixture development, and merchandising lead for Prodega (Hofer-Curti Group 45,000 sq. ft. Swiss cash & carry food store). Revamped 100% of end cap and in-line merchandising standards, instituted merchandising guidelines, coordinated fixture install and merchandise set, 1989 - 1990. First year results showed 15% sales increase.


Retail Planning Associates, Columbus, OH
Vice President / Creative Director, 5/84 – 6/88

RPA practically invented retail design for the masses, inroading the big-box mass-market retail industry in the early 80’s. Hired as creative lead for 10 person inter-disciplinary team structure including marketing, branding, and interior, storefront, merchandising, fixture/display design, and graphic design. Promoted to Vice-President with responsibility for productivity analysis, team project and budget management, and profit / expense goals. Project highlights include:

Creative concept and graphic design lead for initial Wal-Mart “Hypermart USA” prototype, including planning and design of 200,000 sq. ft., 1988

Developed prototype retail design concept for Towers Department Stores (Toronto) and led concept integration into Halifax, N.S. flagship location, 1987

Authored “store of the future” concept for Kroger, 1986, including critical perimeter shop placement and design. Implemented chain-wide and in use until 2001

Envisioned and developed initial Toronto area electronics superstore concept for HQE, including space planning, interior design, and merchandise “superwalls” and custom floor fixtures, 1985

Overhauled Fuller O’Brien commercial-based paint stores with bold, impactful, award-winning end use consumer-targeted retail concept. Oversaw initial group of San Francisco market store installations, including on-site construction management, fixture and graphics installation, 1984-1985


Design Forum, Dayton, OH
Creative Director / Senior Designer, 5/78 – 5/84

Design Forum has evolved into one of the country’s most successful retail design firms. Hired as the first design director, the firm grew from an initial group of six to over thirty during my tenure. Creative lead with emphasis on product design and display, graphic design/advertising/communications, packaging design, and merchandising/retail store design. Instrumental in firm gaining national exposure through design excellence. Project highlights include:

Reformat of O. M. Scott’s Burpee Seed in-store merchandising program, fixture design, and roll-out coordination, 1981

Developed groundbreaking dealership merchandising and branding program for Mercury Marine outboard motors. Coordinated dealer conference display mock-up in Phoenix, 1980


Education

BFA Industrial Design / Interior Design, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, OH, 1977

Personal / Volunteer

Member, Worthington Township Zoning Commission 2004 – 2005
Guest lecturer, Columbus College of Art & Design Visiting Professional Series, 2004
Guest lecturer, The Ohio State University, Interior Design, 2000
Interests include DIY remodeling and building, drawing, painting, jazz, golf