Clare Apps

Setup and/or fix and streamline procurement, vendor onboarding, SKU optimization, inventory control, and NetSuite/ERP integration for new or scaling wine/DTC or Wholesale businesses. Wine & Specialty Food Retail Sets Fractional Procurement or Inventory Ops (Remote) Strategic Big Picture solutions driven.

Created SKU optimization for 33,500+ SKUs by restructuring wine categories, contributing to clean data for detailed analytics and consumer marketing segments. Created scalable procurement processes for domestic e-commerce, wholesale and house brands, ensuring compliance and readiness for 2X growth. Created new supplier onboarding procedures/best practices for international and domestic partners re

Implemented cross-functional procurement workflows across brands and departments. Streamlined procurement and buying categories for internal reporting and performance analysis.

Enhanced visibility for the merchandising team, leading to improved ready-to-ship numbers and reduced out-of-stock instances. Streamlined logistics and purchase order management, optimizing efficiency and cutting tail-end spending costs. Managed Purchasing Budget 1.5 to 2 million monthly.

Provided holiday & seasonal wine recommendations via chat using Zendesk (SaaS). Utilized Microsoft Teams for communication and collaboration.

Managed Hawaii Division operations, including marketing, forecasting demand and supply, and brand management. Built import containers and stateside shipments, and handled direct imports, invoicing, and category management.

Led all operations, sales, marketing, and purchasing for European/Domestic Wine, creating a yearly retail promotion calendar and implementing 3-way matching processes for accounts payable. Developed a Rebate & QD tracking system, uncovering over $150K in lost credits, while negotiating long-term contracts with suppliers and vendors for best pricing.

Transformed Wine, Liquor, Cheese, and Specialty departments into a destination feature, significantly increasing sales and reducing shrink levels. Managed all food services, including Deli, Seafood, and Beer departments, implementing ordering systems to track costs and variable profit margins.

Wrote freelance wine reviews for a local paper. Focused on providing insightful and engaging content for readers.

Established 20 new high profile and key accounts during OND, breaking into multi-state placement with Whole Foods. Started the first Wine Keg Program in the East Bay.

Served as an independent sales representative for the East Bay region. Focused on building client relationships and driving sales.

Responsible for all decision making, purchasing, operations, sales, marketing, community events/outreach, musician bookings, special events, advertising, fundraisers, in store tastings, wine education and wine club. Focused on networking and marketing to increase pre-sales and cash flow.

Managed projects for 4 statewide fundraising campaigns across 9 regions in California. Handled sourcing & contract negotiations with multiple vendors for various fundraising initiatives, including e-revenue for MSABC and Gala Events.

Serviced Costco's for wine sales promotions on a commission basis. Focused on driving sales and promoting wine products within the retail environment.

Served as an Account Coordinator/Junior Underwriter in the Cargo and Maritime Insurance division. Responsible for BOL issuance for carrier liners and assisting with junior underwriting and accounting tasks.

Worked as a Division Accountant in a temporary capacity. Gained experience in accounting practices and financial record keeping.

Served as Head Service Controller/BSA, ensuring compliance excellence and managing document control. Handled business systems administration for securities and compliance, including options, IRAs, and trades.

Purchased Italian specialty cheeses and applied current sales trends while cross selling and pairing with wines and various gourmet food items. Cooked, prepared, sold and organized On and Off-Site events, eventually working in all stores as a floater, cross trained in every aspect of all positions.

Started as a teller and advanced through telephone banking to GL research at DPSS, excelling in bank reconciliation. Promoted to Senior Researcher responsible for POD and ATM GL, eventually training what is now referred to as ATM & Fraud.

Obtained an Associate of Arts degree with a focus on General Education from Diablo Valley College. This provided a broad foundation in various academic disciplines.

Earned an Associate of Occupational Studies degree with a focus on wine from the California Culinary Academy. The curriculum covered various aspects of culinary arts and specialized wine knowledge.

Pursued a Diploma in Wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, indicating advanced studies in the field. This program involved rigorous examination of wine production, business, and tasting.

Completed the WSET Level 3 Advanced certification, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of wines and spirits. This involved in-depth study of viticulture, winemaking, and global wine regions.