Michelle Baxendale

About Michelle Baxendale

Action-oriented and growth-driven consumer products professional with comprehensive product management and retail buying experience in diverse industries. Builds respect and trust with direct reports, as well as partners in critical non-report areas or external partners. Able to get up to speed quickly on unique drivers specific to industry and/or products.Recognized as three-time finalist for American Greetings Chairman’s Award—for Product Ingenuity (2017), Innovation (2015), and Creativity & Innovation (2012).Skills-Strategic planning Financial managementP & L ownershipProduct knowledge Manufacturing knowledgeProduct line management New product developmentExternal partnershipsLicensingConsumer productsConsumer insights Market analysis Market trends Analytics-based merchandisingSales

Experience

1. Director Occasion Lead

   American Greetings

   Feb 2023 — Present · Cleveland, OH, US

   Strategically drives the 4P’s for in- and out-of-department spaces across retailers. Plans & executes strategies to drive retail productivity, market basket growth & trip conversion across all product categories. Drives profitable growth while delivering on retailer-specific needs & insights. Collaborate cross-functionally to influence partners to meet the needs of our retailers and consumers.Key Accomplishments-Brought occasion-based merchandising strategy to life in nearly doors in the first year leading development of merchandising, product selection and playbook. Rollout resulted in 6-10% sales trend increase.Evolved business in key retailer to allow full in-store offering to be available thru the omni-channel enabling online ordering for both pick-up and delivery.Developed new outpost selling program and sales materials to drive incremental placements of both new innovation launches and top performing products.Partnered cross-functionally to stand up new project management process to bring rigor to evaluating initiatives ensuring profitable actions within capacity constraints. Continue to have a lead role in evolving the process optimizing results.

Education

• Baldwin Wallace University

  Bachelor of Art, Marketing & Management

  1995 — 1999

Skills

• Marketing
• Sales Analysis
• Product Management
• Sales
• Inventory Management
• Retail
• Merchandising
• Profit
• Pricing
• Open to Buy Management
• Retail Buying
• Consumer Products
• Driving Profitability
• Line Management
• Strategic Planning
• Management
• Purchasing
• Product Development
• Packaging