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Product Development Manager

Engineering & Production

KURT GROEN
1141 Lincoln Highlands Dr							                    Phone 413.358.3719
Coraopolis, PA 15108					        			                    Krgroen@yahoo.com

Experience
2007 to	DICK’S SPORTING GOODS						     Pittsburgh, PA
Present	Product Development Manager
•	Areas of responsibility:
o	Water Sports: Life Vests, Behind the Boat, Inflatables, Toys, Water Fitness, Paddle
o	Lawn Games: Lawn Games, Toss Games, Disc Golf, Trampolines
o	Core Camping: Tents, Sleeping Bags, Accessories, Bear Resistant Coolers
o	Life Style Camping: Canopies, Grills, Grill Accessories, Furniture, Daypacks, Coolers
o	Indoor Games: Billiards, Dartboards, Table Games, Table Tennis 
o	Snow Sports: Inflatable & Foam Sleds, Alpine, Snowshoes
•	Analyzed trends and unique product options growing Private Brand product penetration every year in all categories while increasing or maintaining gross margin of the combined areas through innovation in design and features.
•	Manage and develop the widest array of product and categories while continually growing and improving product offerings.
•	Direct product designers internally and externally to create the desired function, feeling and design to meet the merchants’ needs.
•	Work directly with the factories, engineers and production staff from concept to final production insuring all product meets QA and QC standards.
•	Negotiate prices for product and set up production schedule with vendors.
•	Review and approve all preliminary samples, lab dips and production samples prior to full production.
•	Initiated online product video and QR program highlighting PD product specs.
•	Write and maintain Time & Action Calendars ensuring all parties stay on schedule to hit product receipt date.
•	Maintain communications with Hong Kong office to find new vendors or factories to source existing products and create new products.
•	Collaborate with merchandising team to set sales plans for season based on ladder plans and projections based on 3 year plan. 
•	Manage container quantities and flows of merchandise with the merchandisers to reach Full container loads maximizing freight costs.
•	Coordinate and adjust Purchase Order receipt dates based on production and shipping schedules.
•	Manage flow of inventory through 3rd Party Logistic warehouses for E3 and Domestic backstock enabling the merchant team to have inventory flexibility.
•	Brands worked on: DBX, Fitness Gear, Field & Stream Quest Sport, Reebok, Slazenger, Tailgate Gear and ESPN.

2003 to	KB TOYS 									       Pittsfield, MA
2007	CREATIVE INNOVATIONS & SOURCING (CIS) & Li & Fung		      
	Director Product Development
•	Instrumental part of the team that created a Product Development Department within KB Toys responsible for licensed and proprietary lines that can be retailed by KB Toys and sold by CIS to other retailers. 
•	Increased Private Brand product penetration from 12% to 19%.
•	Managed and directed the Baby Genius preschool toy license distributing and coordinating information between all parties.
•	Worked with buyers, sales reps and factories to create new or adjust existing products and packaging for KB Toys proprietary lines.
•	Analyzed cultural trends and review unique products that can be added to KB Toy stores.
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•	Created and manage budgets for internal and external R&D budget for team.
•	Initiated contact with possible licensors or partners for new business opportunities.
•	Facilitated brainstorms with buying team, setting parameters of the prep rotary work for the attendees.
•	Tested, tracked and analyzed results of product sales to determine which proprietary product should be pursued.
•	Reviewed and analyzed competition to find product that could be brought to KB Toys and modified to expand the customer base.
•	Directed Li & Fung, KB’s Hong Kong trading company to find new vendors or factories to source existing products or creation of new products.
•	Instrumental for introducing, creating and directing the design and production of Snugeez, KB’s hottest product of 2004, creating over 5 million dollars in sales for KB Toys increasing the plush category 87% from LY.
•	Worked with CIS to present the product to meet the needs of the different outlets such as QVC, Sears, CVS, Albertsons, Bed Bath and Beyond, Safeway and others.
•	Categories covered are Consumer Electronics, Plush, Male Action, RC, Die-Cast, Girls, Home Décor, Dress Up, Crafts, Preschool, Demo, Electronic Learning Aides and others.

2001 to	THE BRADFORD EXCHANGE/BRADFORD AUTHENTICS
2003		      SPORTS TEAM	 			                                                                   Niles, IL
	Senior Product Development Manager
•	Instrumental part of the team starting the new Bradford Authenticated/Sports Division creating product for the Professional Leagues and Major Colleges.
•	Wrote and managed schedules and milestones for products and designers.
•	Designed and directed many forms of product such as die-cast, dolls, plates, ornaments, steins, mugs, figurines, music boxes, furniture and any product related to Sports and other licenses.
•	Created and managed budgets for internal and external R&D budget for team.
•	Recognized and determined product and new business opportunities for collectible lines.
•	Coordinated and managed projects internally and externally with designers and artist.
•	Implemented and negotiated costing for product with vendors for manufacturing dealing directly with the vendors.
•	Initiated contact with possible licensors or partners for new business opportunities.
•	Reviewed and critiqued advertising determining layout, copy and backgrounds.

1998 to	BENSUSSEN DEUTSCH & ASSOCIATES
2000	TOYSITE					                                                      Woodinville, WA
	Product Development Manager/ Marketing Manager
•	Instrumental part of the team starting ToySite as a new division of BD&A.
•	Created and maintained schedules for projects to meet deadlines for a staff of 5 designers.
•	Determined product line and reviewed marketing plan for licensed and intellectual properties.
•	Designed and directed product for lines such as Pokemon, Chicken Run, El Dorado, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Men in Black, Jurassic Park and Shrek.
•	Designed computer bags, accessories and in store displays for the Intel Gear line and directed the packaging.
•	Presented drawings, concepts and models to management and clients.
•	Created and managed relationships with Asian vendors for development of product samples, art, copy and product displays for retail.
•	Implemented standards for packaging that enhanced the product and branding.


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•	Directed photo-shoots for packaging, advertisements and catalogs.
•	Visited and inspected Asian facilities for service and manufacturing capabilities.
•	Implemented tougher safety and quality control standards to ensure safe and durable product.
•	Reviewed and critiqued advertising to ensure the branding and legal requirements for ToySite and licensor were met.
•	Instrumental in increasing ToySite sales from $3 mil in 1998 to $20 mil in 1999.
•	Worked with major clients such as Microsoft, Boeing, Intel, Pepsi, Bank of America, Loews Cinaplex-Odeon, Blockbuster, Nintendo, Wal-Mart, Sears and others.

1989 to	HASBRO TOY GROUP					                               Cincinnati, OH
1998	HASBRO INC.							                   Pawtucket, RI
Senior Designer
•	Directed and designed the G.I. Joe action figure line and re-introduced the 12” segment.
•	Recruited and negotiated the rights of likenesses of military and Hollywood personalities such as Colin Powell, Bob Hope and Tom Hanks for “Saving Private Ryan”.
•	Designed product for action figure lines such as Starting Lineup, Street Fighters II, Mortal Kombat, Dinosaurs, Vor-Tech and Jurassic Park.
•	Implemented new and unique methods to interact plastic and soft goods to achieve a greater play value.
•	Coordinated information between design team, RI soft goods, engineering, marketing, service gr

•	Areas of responsibility:
o	Water Sports: Life Vests, Behind the Boat, Inflatables, Toys, Water Fitness, Paddle
o	Lawn Games: Lawn Games, Toss Games, Disc Golf, Trampolines
o	Core Camping: Tents, Sleeping Bags, Accessories, Bear Resistant Coolers
o	Life Style Camping: Canopies, Grills, Grill Accessories, Furniture, Daypacks, Coolers
o	Indoor Games: Billiards, Dartboards, Table Games, Table Tennis 
o	Snow Sports: Inflatable & Foam Sleds, Alpine, Snowshoes
•	Analyzed trends and unique product options growing Private Brand product penetration every year in all categories while increasing or maintaining gross margin of the combined areas through innovation in design and features.
•	Manage and develop the widest array of product and categories while continually growing and improving product offerings.
•	Direct product designers internally and externally to create the desired function, feeling and design to meet the merchants’ needs.
•	Work directly with the factories, engineers and product

Find out detailed information about Kurt Groem, Product Development Manager in Coraopolis, PA

Kurt Groem: Product Development Manager in Coraopolis, PA

Kurt Groem

COUNTY COLLEGE of MORRIS

THE JOE KUBERT SCHOOL OF CARTOON AND GRAPHIC ART