https://www.linkedin.com/in/profiledonmccreary/

A multi-talented home furnishings senior executive; experienced in international and domestic organizational business management, retail operations, manufacturing, sourcing, supply chain and quality assurance/compliance operations with extensive background in marketing, brand and business development including franchise development. Don has extensive B2B, E-Commerce and client/vendor relationship management as well as all facets of product/store merchandising management including direct sales management, customer acquisition and retention responsibility with the important experience focus of managing and helping redefine and elevate the customer experience.

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A resume with a broad portfolio of successful history of leading and implementing significant organizational protocols and procedures with innovative business changing, Lean/Six Sigma focused initiatives to drive operational efficiencies, quality metrics, standards/value, along with sales and profit growth. including increased customer satisfaction.

• Experienced innovative leader and creative team builder/motivator/mentor with extensive strategic business planning experience operating in a large corporate vertically integrated company who drives operational excellence.

• Extensive worldwide travel/operational experience and knowledge in manufacturing, business to business development, product design/development, engineering, sourcing, and supply chain management with a geopolitically diversified   vendor base in China, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Italy, India, Brazil, Mexico and USA. Achieved significant reductions in time frame from product design concept to market. Reduced specification noncompliance on sourced and internally manufactured product and improved on time delivery performance and operational efficiencies to reduce customer issues.

• International successful retail store franchise business development in China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Europe and the Middle East countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai and Jordan.

• Operates with Integrity and a passion for decision making action to seek challenges and genuinely enjoys finding innovative/creative solutions to change for progress and is proactive in diplomatic issue elimination.

• Enjoys developing management integration as well as team building and motivating people to achieve defined goals.  Excellent communicator verbally and in written formats.

• Excellent at developing marketing strategic plans and implementing them, along with the total company scope of operations, while balancing and successfully achieving multi new initiatives with self-structured short timeframes

• Adept at relationship management and understands the operational big picture and how profitability is advanced, while having practiced that all operations must be integrated and focused on improving the customer experience utilizing internal/external stakeholders cross-functionally.

• Extensive experience in defining/utilizing relevant performance KPI analysis, including P&L/Budget responsibility.

• Proficient in NetSuite, SaaS, SAP, CRM, ERP, EAMS, CAD, Microsoft Office, Dropbox, OneDrive, Facebook, social media, IP communication media such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Viber, WhatsApp, Skype.

• A member of the ISFD - International Society of Furniture Designers

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

McCREARY & ASSOCIATES (2014 – Current)

• Provide confidential, industry and company research, diversified executive operations management consulting in sales/marketing and business development/process problem solving, change brand development, product marketing, retail, manufacturing operations, supply chain, sourcing, quality assurance, logistics, demand planning, operational and strategic planning, strategy in product design, development, and sourcing,

• Excellent track record in relationship management in supply chain between retail, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, sales, and retail as well as in strategic product acquisition and marketing activities globally to improve profitability. Has extensive upholstery and wood products manufacturing operations experience.

• On an ongoing basis, have provided Private Equity companies industry analysis as well as extensive specific company research.

• Served in a CEO/President role in a longer-term retainer with an Asian investor vendor group to acquire, relocate and reposition a financially distressed company brand.  Developed and implemented strategic plan to relocate the assets from California to North Carolina. Identified, acquired and set-up the warehouse/corporate headquarters, information systems (SaaS), banking, showroom, website, and all related operational logistics in High Point N.C.

• Advised manufacturing businesses in China, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia to maximize quality assurance, operational efficiency, and customer relationships.

 

 

ETHAN ALLEN INC. Danbury CT.  A vertically integrated home furnishings retailer with 300 locations globally that produces/sources a complete range of products for the home, office, and contract/hospitality/GSA  

                     

Vice President, Product Sourcing/Product Development (1999- 2014)

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• During this period, I took on the major strategic directional supply chain change responsibility of developing and managing the transition from an exclusive internal manufacturing company to a blend of internal and outsourced supply chain, Created an integrated and focused organization in Asia and worldwide to source products directly with vendors (not working through agents) that also holds the manufacturer responsible for the execution of construction and quality standards that are one of the highest in the industry and including timely delivery. Responsibility for developing and managing an import operations group that was expanded to represent 30% of total Sales Volume.

• Responsible for developing innovative new products and managing project implementation timelines, product line profitability and overall product line lifecycle management.

• Responsibility for managing demand planning, production, inventory and determining where products are produced in corporately owned manufacturing facilities in the USA, Mexico and Honduras. 

• Responsible for developing best practices/managing the corporate quality assurance aspects in all key product categories and especially in Wood and Upholstery.

• Managed the successful transition of domestic casegoods manufacturing to “just in time” custom options with dramatically reduced finished goods inventory and directly involved in design, product development and merchandising.

• The cross functional management structure of EA also included a direct involvement in constantly redefining and improving the customer experience culture operationally.

• Played a direct role in negotiating and developing the Ethan Allen China retail relationship that is currently 100+ retail design centers with franchisee Markor, while also managing international retail development.

• which resulted in Ethan Allen ultimately reducing wood &upholstery manufacturing operations in the USA, and adding facilities in Honduras and Mexico. .

• Responsible for developing and managing an outsourced business that was the top profit contributor to the company. This included purchasing/developing/managing all vendor relationships and quality assurance.

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Vice President Retail Store Gallery Operations (1989-1999)

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• Responsible for retail operations, managed F/O regional/district, visual display/training managers, implementation of retail marketing programs, new store development, training programs as well as the private label credit card program.

• Responsible for developing opening managing international franchised retail stores in Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Dubai, Kuwait as well as the United States and Canada.  Managed ownership changes from franchised to corporate.  

• Facilitated updated operational P&L/budgeting to improve profitability, operations and created a n environment of identifying, developing, implementing, and sharing best practices to become operational standards.

• Had a key role in developing and implementing innovations, standards of operation and new image store façades/display and geographically varied size/store display protos for all retail stores and /operational structure using technology.

• Worked cross-functionally with CEO and all VP’s and associates to develop lifestyle focused, fashion forward new programs, products, services, to expand market reach, profitability, and revenue.

• Increased sales by 9% annually over a 10-year period that included the period the company executed a LBO change in ownership and high debt. Responsible for supervising General Manager of Knob Creek and overall company strategy.

 

KNOB CREEK (a division of Ethan Allen, Inc.)           Danbury CT.

                                                 

General Manager (1987-1989)

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• Responsible for all operations (Uph. manufacturing, product development, marketing, sales) and P&L

• Knob Creek manufactured upholstery (and sourced casegoods from EA as well as lighting products) that were marketed to retailers (not Ethan Allen)

• Developed and implemented a comprehensive business/marketing plan that tripled profitability and increased volume 50%.

 

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES                                  NATIONAL/MT. AIRY - Bassett, Virginia

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Held the following positions with the National/Mt. Airy division reflecting a continual increase in responsibility and knowledge base:

• General Manager    National Sales Manager         Regional Sales Manager   Production scheduling responsibility   /      Sales Administrator / Customer Service Manager

 

EDUCATION      Wake Forest University – Winston-Salem, NC Bachelor of Science - Business

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