Erich Stauffer

Author: Erich Stauffer

  • Marketing Operations Director

    Marketing Operations Director

    As your marketing operations director, I will drive savings/efficiencies and operationalize new functions to drive profit return to the company. Specifically I will do Forecasting and Optimizations, Annual Planning, Management of Agency Relationships and Contracts, and Management of Departments/Projects related to communications that are in the “operationalizing” phase of development (ex: Shopper Marketing).

    Key Responsibilities:

    • Manager A&P process and related profit/volume returns. Representing divisional A&P to senior leadership via S&OP Reconciliation and monthly processes.
    • Lead CCI for Marketing Department.
    • Lead the Annual Plan process
    • Manage the Agency roster, relationships and contracts, including evaluations, audits, RFPs and negotiations.
    • Development, engagement & management of direct reports and associated departments they manage; mentoring of others (specifically Shopper Marketing & Promotions teams)
    • Leadership and collaboration across regions and functions.
    • Proactively identifying areas of opportunity to operationalize and drive efficiency and growth throughout the division processes.
    • Full supervisory responsibilities, contributing to motivation/development of the team; ensures team members are motivated and capable of performing at a high level. Sets vision, objective and goals. Coaches and manages team, departments and individuals. Mentors and serves as a leader in the organization.
    • Expectation to drive CCI and optimize contracts via negotiating with third parties. Works closely with procurement and acts as the internal expert in agency and marketing subject matters in these interactions.
    • Acts as the third party in agency – client (ME lead) conversations related to performance and scopes.
    • Drives divisional P&L choices via A&P management. Tracks A&P to P&Ls, finds profit opportunities and facilitates topline-bottom-line growth conversations across media team and business team. Additionally manages working/non-working targets, CCI targets, and efficiency of A&P related to leveraging 3rd parties (ex: agencies)
    • Operationalizing departments requires a willingness to establish a working knowledge of subjects to enable leadership and effectively operationalizing without losing quality (Ex: Shopper marketing, Agency Subject Matters such as Media, Creative, Data Analytics Systems, etc)

    Qualifications:

    • BSC Marketing or related field
    • Expert level understanding of concepts, principles and practices in Marketing/Finance/CCI and a sound understanding in other areas including Sales and Procurement
    • Defines standards and specifications around which others will operate.
      In-depth understanding of how own area integrates with other Marketing areas and with other functional areas such as Finance, Business Leads and Sales.
    • Deep understanding of the consumer package goods and working understanding of advertising agency industry
    • Exercises discretion regarding strategic recommendations, data and sources, analytic conclusions, and financial recommendations
    • Demonstrated relevant skills & results in consumer packaged goods marketing, P&L management, forecasting and business planning required.
      Management and development of direct reports and team require
    • Experience leading cross-functional teams and experience working across regions preferred
    • Strong leadership, strategic thinking, communication and teamwork skills.
      Manage internal relationships and influence business choices with Marketing, Finance, CCI, Procurement and Sales
    • Manage external agencies and negotiate contracts
    • Developed communication & diplomacy skills required to guide, influence & convince others; strong relationship with marketing, finance, procurement, sales, agencies and occasionally customers
    • Strong analytical and project leadership experience with ability to manage multiple projects
    • Expertise in syndicated databases, market research, business 7 brand planning, advertising, finance, promotional activities and consumer communications
    • Evaluates complex situations using multiple sources of information.
      High level analytical skills and evaluative judgment based on the analysis of factual and qualitative information in complicated or novel situations.
    • Filters, prioritizes, analyzes and validates potentially complex & dynamic material

    If you’re interested in hiring me, please send me a message or connect on LinkedIn. Also check out Director of Marketing, Operations, and eCommerce.

  • Shopify Operations Manager

    Shopify Operations Manager

    As an experienced and driven Shopify Store Manager, I will oversee your online store’s day-to-day operations and drive sales growth.

    As your Shopify Store Manager, I will be responsible for managing all aspects of the store, including product management and research, inventory management, order processing, customer support, marketing, reports, and analytics.

    Key Responsibilities:

    Manage the Shopify stores and ensure they are running smoothly and efficiently.

    Manage product listings and updates, including product descriptions, images, and pricing.

    Monitor inventory levels and reorder products as needed.

    Process orders, ensuring timely delivery and excellent customer service.

    Create and execute marketing campaigns to promote the store and drive sales.

    Optimize the store for search engines and monitor website traffic using Google Analytics and other tools.

    Monitor industry trends and implement the latest e-commerce technologies and strategies to improve store performance.

    Provide excellent customer service and handle customer complaints and issues.

    Manage a team of staff members and ensure they are performing their duties effectively.

    Monitor the store’s financial performance and implement strategies to improve profitability.

    Work with other team members to maximize performance and results.

    Complete weekly reports.

    Experience:

    10+ years of experience in e-commerce and Shopify store management.

    Strong technical skills in Shopify and e-commerce technologies.

    Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with a team.

    Strong analytical skills and ability to use data to drive decisions.

    Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively.

    Experience with marketing campaigns and SEO optimization.

    Strong leadership skills and ability to manage a team.

    Knowledge of industry trends and e-commerce best practices.

    Summary:

    I am a results-driven and experienced e-Commerce Manager who can manage an online store effectively and drive sales growth.

  • How to Add an Additional Color Scheme Option to Shopify Debut Theme

    How to Add an Additional Color Scheme Option to Shopify Debut Theme

    In order to add a new color to the color scheme in the Debut Shopify theme, there are at least 5 files that need to be updated:

    • settings_schema.json
    • settings_data.json
    • base.css
    • image.banner.liquid (or whatever section you’re updating)
    • theme.liquid

    The basic process is this:

    • Add settings in settings_schema.json for the new color picker in theme configuration settings. This is what allows the visual web interface to ask for the data. Specify the color ID.
    • Add properties in the settings_data.json file for the data values to be stored in both current and default forms. Use same ID as in settings_schema.json.
    • Add the new color ID to the theme.liquid file to translate the hex code into RGB numbers and assign it to a variable.
    • In the base.css file, create and assign the CSS class to the same variable used in theme.liquid AND add the CSS class to EVERY instance where you see other examples of other colors.
    • Update the schema and CSS code in the image.banner.liquid (or whatever section you’re updating).

    Here’s a visual:

  • My Experience Managing Salesforce and Other CRMs

    My Experience Managing Salesforce and Other CRMs

    When I worked at Marine Credit Union as a business analyst, I was also a product manager for the company’s CRM system. I then helped them to migrate to Salesforce’s CRM, but that wasn’t my first time administering Salesforce.

    At Skinny & Co., as their IT & Marketing Product Manager, I helped them migrate to – and then later administered – their Salesforce installation as a Salesforce administrator. This involved working closely with IT and Sales departments.

    How a CRM can help manage Sales

    The CRM helped the company stay organized about their sales process and pipeline by creating a mechanism for salespeople to document their activities. While a CRM can be helpful to the company, it’s not always loved by salespeople who dislike filling it out, which is where process optimization can come into play.

    People > Processes > Technology

    Once you have the right people, create processes for what you’ll do when you get a new lead or prospect. Be prepared for when you get them. Decide what information you want to collect from your website using the CRM.

    But you don’t have to use Salesforce for your CRM. It can be as simple as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, Google Sheets, Notion, or SugarCRM. The most important thing is to document all of your interactions with customers in one place.

    What is the best CRM software?

    BestVendor did a survey of 550 startup staffers — most in marketing and executive administration positions — on their favorite tools for email, accounting, web analytics, CRM, productivity, design, storage, payment processing, operations and so forth. Their answers, in aggregate, speak to the growing trend in startups moving toward predominately cloud-based operations, the most popular being Salesforce, which bested its CRM competition with 59% of respondents selecting it as the application of choice.

  • Why I Excel in the Role of Product Manager

    Why I Excel in the Role of Product Manager

    I am excited about innovation, efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and delivering exceptional user experiences. With over 15 years of professional experience in product management, project leadership, and fostering innovation, I am eager to bring my strategic thinking, leadership abilities, and passion for innovation to your team. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to lead cross-functional teams, develop customer-centric products, and drive business growth.

    In my most recent role as a Go-to-Market Product Manager at Blue Acorn iCi, I collaborated with diverse teams to bring new products and services to market. I am proud to have played a pivotal role in adding significant revenue and improving the performance of e-commerce sites. My ability to navigate complex problems, propose innovative solutions, and guide cross-functional teams has allowed me to consistently deliver results.

    My experience as an IT & Marketing Product Manager at Skinny & Co. honed my skills in developing product strategies aligned with market demands. I successfully launched new product lines, optimized e-commerce platforms, and implemented content marketing strategies that led to customer growth. These experiences have equipped me with a strong understanding of customer needs and market trends.

    Additionally, my time at Marine Credit Union and GoServicePro has provided me with insights into business analysis, technical project management, and fostering collaboration among diverse teams. My proficiency in various technical tools, coupled with my strong analytical and problem-solving skills, will allow me to effectively contribute to your company’s endeavors.

    Software or new features I have helped build as a product manager and how many customers it serves

    At Blue Acorn iCi (BAiCi), one of our large, dog treat clients wanted a new, direct-to-consumer site built with a product recommendation quiz that would allow people to enter information about their dog and it would recommend a treat. Working with the development team, the client, and the client’s vendors, I worked to create and build a solution that met the client’s specifications. It involved custom code and metafields within Shopify; the Bold Subscription app; and integrations with Salsify. Because of the name brand of the site, it gets thousands of visitors to it a month.

    Another BAiCi example is a flash sale site that needed to be both “open” and “closed” at the same time depending on how someone accessed the site. Working with the developer, we came up with a method that uses a landing page to store a cookie that when present, chooses a different theme experience for the user. Absent that cookie the site appears to be closed, but with the cookie the site appears open. This served tens of thousands of visitors a month.

    At Skinny & Co. I worked with Fedex to develop a new 3PL order management interface that allowed us to send them our orders for fulfillment. I was able to do this because when they were first getting into the 3PL space, we were their first customer. I worked with the UX designer at FedEx and the people working in the warehouse to optimize the system (Manhattan). This system is now in use with all of their other FedEx Fulfillment customers.

    Additionally at Skinny & Co., I helped a company design custom middleware between Fishbowl Inventory (on premise software) and our web-based order management software, Brandwise, which allowed the elimination of a whole FTE. This was later replaced by Synqware.

    At Marine Credit Union I was the product manager for checking accounts, which included online banking, the mobile app, ACH, and debit cards. I also was responsible for the company’s CRM system. I  helped get a module built for our core processing software that automated business rules for ACH transactions, eliminating all but the outliers, which saved the ACH department 10s of hours a week. I also launched a new overdraft protection software to increase revenue and decrease risk and I added the ability for loan borrowers to make one-time loan payments online and by phone (prior to that they could only pay via mail or in branch). And in addition to working with data analysts to create many different, new reports, I also created a system to automatically email branch, regional, and district managers in escalation when issues were not resolved in a timely manner. This automation saved hours of manual intervention. And finally, I created a system that linked check images from the item processing system into the core software, making it easy for employees to look up check images (rather than doing manual searches).

    New functionality release schedule to customers (and which development methodology I follow (agile, scrum, kanban, etc.)

    At Blue Acorn iCi, Skinny & Co., and Marine Credit Union, we followed 2 week sprints with releases about every 2 sprints. These releases were accompanied by detailed documentation and at Skinny & Co. and Marine Credit Union, also had to go through a change control process. Blue Acorn iCi used a customer demo approach to explaining the changes to the client.

    All 3 places used Agile methodologies with the goal of delivering value in each sprint, however at Blue Acorn iCi, waterfall was also used at the beginning of a project and at Marine Credit Union (and at GoServicePro), the work was worked in a kanban style rather than scrum.

    My most recent major product release, the new functionality that was delivered, and my role in the launch 

    My most recent major product release was the creation of the new, Go-to-Market Team at Blue Acorn, which involved creating a business case, forming job descriptions, creating a RACI diagram, and creating processes. One of the features of the new department was an online form that allowed new ideas to be submitted from inside the company and the corresponding review process and reward system that went along with it. I helped create slides for the launch at our company meeting, but my peer is the one who ultimately gave the presentation.

    My experience working directly with customers and my reasons for considering a consultative and customer-facing role

    At Blue Acorn iCi, I regularly worked directly with clients and I loved it. While it can be challenging at times, the filter-free access adds both added responsibility and clarity. I also worked directly with clients at GoServicePro.

  • IT & Marketing Product Manager at GoServicePro

    IT & Marketing Product Manager at GoServicePro

    GoServicePro makes field service software. As the IT & Marketing Product Manager, I was primarily responsible for improving the product.

    From client demos to working with developers, sales, and marketing teams – this cross-functional role at GoServicePro provided me with insights into business analysis, technical project management, and fostering collaboration among diverse teams. My proficiency in various technical tools, coupled with my strong analytical and problem-solving skills, will allow me to effectively contribute to the company’s endeavors.

    GoServicePro used Agile methodologies with the goal of delivering value in each sprint, however we sometimes used a waterfall approach at the beginning of a project. Work was mostly in a kanban style (in Trello) rather than scrum.

    My experience working directly with customers and my reasons for considering a consultative and customer-facing role

    At GoServicePro, I regularly worked directly with clients and I loved it. While it can be challenging at times, the filter-free access adds both added responsibility and clarity. I also worked directly with clients at Blue Acorn iCi.

  • Go-to-Market Product Manager at Blue Acorn iCi

    Go-to-Market Product Manager at Blue Acorn iCi

    As a #productmanager, my ability to navigate complex problems, propose innovative solutions, and guide cross-functional teams has allowed me to consistently deliver results over time.

    I have been a Go-to-Market Product Manager at Blue Acorn iCi, a leading digital customer experience company, for over two years. In this role, I collaborated with delivery, strategy, marketing, and sales teams to bring new products and services to market with the goal of adding an additional $500M in revenue over seven years. I have a strong background in product development and user-centric thinking, allowing me to create innovative products that are market-centric and meet customer needs.

    As the senior product manager, I collaborated with diverse teams to bring new products and services to market. I am proud to have played a pivotal role in adding significant revenue and improving the performance of e-commerce sites. My ability to navigate complex problems, propose innovative solutions, and guide cross-functional teams has allowed me to consistently deliver results.

    Software or new features I have helped build as a product manager and how many customers it serves

    At Blue Acorn iCi (BAiCi), one of our large, dog treat clients wanted a new, direct-to-consumer site (Greenies) built with a product recommendation quiz that would allow people to enter information about their dog and it would recommend a treat. Working with the development team, the client, and the client’s vendors, I worked to create and build a solution that met the client’s specifications. It involved custom code and metafields within Shopify; the Bold Subscription app; and integrations with Salsify. Because of the name brand of the site, it gets thousands of visitors to it a month.

    Another BAiCi example is a flash sale site (NBC’s TODAY Steals & Deals) that needed to be both “open” and “closed” at the same time depending on how someone accessed the site. Working with the developer, we came up with a method that uses a landing page to store a cookie that when present, chooses a different theme experience for the user. Absent that cookie the site appears to be closed, but with the cookie the site appears open. This served tens of thousands of visitors a month.

    New functionality release schedule to customers (and which development methodology I follow (agile, scrum, kanban, etc.)

    At Blue Acorn iCi, we followed 2 week sprints with releases about every 2 sprints. These releases were accompanied by detailed documentation. Blue Acorn iCi used a customer demo approach to explaining the changes to the client, which I also employ.

    We used Agile methodologies in a scrum style with the goal of delivering value in each sprint, however at Blue Acorn iCi, waterfall was also used at the beginning of a project.

    My most recent major product release, the new functionality that was delivered, and my role in the launch 

    My most recent major product release was the creation of the new, Go-to-Market Team at Blue Acorn, which involved creating a business case, forming job descriptions, creating a RACI diagram, and creating processes. One of the features of the new department was an online form that allowed new ideas to be submitted from inside the company and the corresponding review process and reward system that went along with it. I helped create slides for the launch at our company meeting, but my peer is the one who ultimately gave the presentation.

    My experience working directly with customers and my reasons for considering a consultative and customer-facing role

    At Blue Acorn iCi, I regularly worked directly with clients and I loved it. While it can be challenging at times, the filter-free access adds both added responsibility and clarity. I also worked directly with clients at GoServicePro.

    Experience

    • Collaborated with Delivery, Strategy, Marketing, & Sales to bring new products & services to market
    • Responsible for adding an additional $500M in revenue over 7 years to meet $1B revenue goal
    • Managed a $65M/yr e-commerce site with a 10% average increase in performance YoY
    • Created a custom, product recommendation quiz app that integrated with the PIM, Salsify
    • Co-developed a solution for a “closed” flash sale site to be “open” via a ‘key’ URL being visited
    • Continuously improved the product development process in partnership with key stakeholders
    • Communicated and maintained the vision, strategy, and roadmap for current and future products
    • Created diagrams, visualizations, and presentations for key stakeholders and executives
    • Played a pivotal leadership role managing new initiatives across cross-functional teams
    • Guided and supported teams while taking direct responsibility for initiative components
    • Navigated ambiguous problems, proposed innovative solutions, and executed them
    • Managed a cross-functional team including Analytics, Marketing, Development, IT, and Finance
    • Operated both strategically and tactically between big-picture thinking and attention to detail
    • Effectively communicated, bridging the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders
    • Had a track record of building positive relationships, mentoring others, and influencing others
    • Managed Jira projects and feature planning, roadmapping, and backlog management
    • Showed strong quantitative, analytical, and problem solving skills

    Skills

    • Agile Methodologies
    • Business Development
    • Product Management
    • Project Management
    • Analytical Skills
    • Product Lifecycle Management
    • Sales Pipeline Development
    • Business Analysis
    • Marketing Strategy
    • Business Strategy

    About Erich Stauffer, Product Manager

    With over 15 years of professional experience, including executive-level expertise, I am well-equipped to tackle complex and ambiguous challenges. I leverage my credentials as a Shopify+ certified professional to manage and optimize e-commerce platforms, integrate software solutions, and implement data-driven decision-making practices. I am passionate about driving innovation and growth, fostering collaboration, and promoting continuous improvement. I am seeking meaningful challenges that will offer personal and professional growth opportunities, enabling me to make a significant impact on your business.

    I am excited about innovation, efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and delivering exceptional user experiences. With over 15 years of professional experience in product management, project leadership, and fostering innovation, I am eager to bring my strategic thinking, leadership abilities, and passion for innovation to your team. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to lead cross-functional teams, develop customer-centric products, and drive business growth.

    Contact me on LinkedIn to hire me.

  • How I Helped FedEx Launch their First Fulfillment Service

    How I Helped FedEx Launch their First Fulfillment Service

    As a product manager at Skinny & Co. I added several new features to the order management system that led to the elimination of a FTE, but one of the other things I’m proud of was how I worked with Fedex to develop a new 3PL order management interface that allowed us to send them our orders for fulfillment.

    When FedEx was first getting into the 3PL space, they bought GENCO in Greenwood, Indiana and we were their first customer. FedEx asked me to work with the UX designer at FedEx and the people working in the warehouse to optimize the order management web interface and the system (Manhattan).

    Similar to the middleware I developed for Fishbowl Inventory, the FedEx Fulfillment order management portal used CSV file exports from Fishbowl to import into Manhattan. At first it had basic, limited capabilities but over time, more features were added in subsequent sprints and releases.

    As the key stakeholder at the client level, I was in a unique position to give feedback and have influence over the design and process decisions made. Normally I’m the product manager so this was a different type of experience, one I’ve also done for a Celigo by participating in feedback sessions with them.

    This system is now in use with all of their other FedEx Fulfillment customers.

  • Time-Saving (and Money-Making) Product Improvements as a Product Manager

    Time-Saving (and Money-Making) Product Improvements as a Product Manager

    When I worked at Marine Credit Union as a business analyst, I was also a product manager for checking accounts, which included online banking, their mobile app, ACH, and debit cards. I was also responsible for the company’s CRM system (before I helped to migrate the company to Salesforce’s CRM system).

    During my time at the credit union I made several key product improvements to checking products:

    • Synergy Check Image Sync
    • New, Online Loan Payments
    • ACH Rule Automation
    • New Overdraft Protection Software
    • Automated Error Reporting
    • Loan Payments in Mobile App

    Synergy Check Image Sync

    I created a system that linked check images from the item processing system into the core software, making it easy for employees to look up check images (rather than doing manual searches), which saved time and helped customers.

    New, Online Loan Payments

    I added the ability for loan borrowers to make one-time loan payments online and by phone. Prior to this, they could only pay via mail or in person at a branch.

    ACH Rule Automation

    I helped get a module built for our core processing software that automated business rules for ACH transactions, eliminating all but the outliers, which saved the ACH department in Deposit Operations 10s of hours a week.

    New Overdraft Protection Software

    I launched a new overdraft protection software to increase revenue and decrease risk. Instead of giving everyone a flat amount, it was calculated.

    Automated Error Reporting

    And in addition to working with data analysts to create many different, new reports, I also created a system to automatically email branch, regional, and district managers in escalation when exceptions with new accounts were not resolved in a timely manner. This automation saved hours of manual intervention.

    Loan Payments in Mobile App

    And finally, I added the ability for customers to make loan payments from within their mobile app using a web page managed from the corporate website.