Valerie Mathews

A dedicated and results-oriented category manager and analyst specializing in retail, with extensive expertise in category insights, forecasting and inventory management, financial planning, business development, process improvement, profit optimization, value proposition, reporting and analytics, team training and mentoring, key event planning, forecasting, and inventory oversight. A proven track record of building solid working relationships with peers and leadership to remove redundancies while more effectively planning for success. A driven producer who provides strategic consultation on pricing and competitive markets while maintaining financial stewardship for merchant and the company in its entirety. Category Manager Advantage Solutions 2020-current Serves as the internal primary owner of the Walmart forecast as part of the overall Category Management Church & Dwight (Arm & Hammer) Oral Care ($190m), Antiperspirant and Deodorant ($130m) and Dry Shampoo ($31m). Provides quantitative and qualitative feedback to improve overall forecast accuracy of the organization. • Managed the Personal Care Category Management entire portfolio at Walmart. • Actively participates in cross-functional IBP monthly planning meetings. • Projects sales plans, consumption and ships, based on trends, modular matrix, and promotional planning. • Provided Category assessment, including insights on assortment gaps, merchandise decisions and areas of opportunity based on market trends, attributes & category examination. • Avid user of Nielsen, IRI, Power BI and Power Pivot to complete appraisal, leading an additional 11 items of which six were incremental to the assortment, totaling $9MM increase. Category and Modular Development Manager Walmart Stores, Inc /2012-20 Strong analytical abilities provide the framework for the merchant’s category management strategy. Extensive background in developing, implementing, and measuring strategic and business planning initiatives. • Recognized for category management, modular support, analytics, and strategic plans for categories worth $8.3 Billion in annual sales by evaluating category and segment activity, streamlining solutions, and improving the process which grew market share by 300 bps. Awarded Modular Development Manager of the Year for Fresh Merchandising in 2015. • Collaborated with various teams to modify assortment to drive sales via customer-centric regional solutions for Hot Dog and Sausage Category. My direct actions lead to my buyer getting promoted from Buyer to Senior Buyer.