Julian Tran

Senior Global Sourcing Manager at Highline Warren

Memphis, Tennessee, United States

About

Multi-lingual MBA graduate with proven international business, global sourcing, product management successes and launch of award-winning consumer products.

Experience

  • Senior Global Sourcing Manager at Highline Warren
    Sep 2019 - Present · 6 yrs 10 mos

    • Manage & build effective win-win relationships with 40+ domestic & international suppliers with total annual Spend of $25M. • Lead new supplier research, evaluation, qualification, selection & recommendation. • Develop Request for Quotes with manufacturers across various automotive product categories including tools, filters & grease. • Perform financial analysis including Landed Costs & Purchase Price Variance calculations to determine estimated annual savings. • Cross-functional collaboration with Category Management, Sales & Pricing in Customer Line Reviews to determine optimal product assortment for profitability while meeting customer needs. • Despite 2025 tariff increases, achieving $500K in cost savings with expected 2026 carry-over savings of $700K+. • Cost savings realized in 2024 of $1.5M, 123% of annual savings target goal. Senior Category Manager, Manufacturing, 2019-2022 • Ownership of all Highline’s manufactured products including diesel exhaust fluid, windshield washer fluids, RV & marine antifreezes, charcoal lighter fluid & performance chemicals (fuel treatment, power steering fluid & oil stabilizer). • P&L responsibilities of $100M+ annual sales of Private Label, Proprietary & National Brand Manufactured products sold in Retail, Aftermarket & Installer channels. • Product life cycle management from strategic planning, project execution, launch, SKU rationalization to product discontinuance. • Daily cross-functional leadership, collaboration & support with Sales, Manufacturing, Operations, Procurement, Quality & FP&A. • Led complex integration of acquired businesses by analyzing mix, sales performance, SKU consolidation & brand transition. • Despite Covid interruptions in 2020, achieved $94M in invoice sales & generated $35M profit.

  • Senior Product Marketing Manager at Spectrum Brands, Inc
    May 2019 - Sep 2019 · 5 mos

    • Managed and responsible for P&L of Pfister Faucets’ bath product portfolio. • Led strategic planning, gap analysis, line logic assurance, competitive assessment, merchant collaboration and supplier negotiations in the annual Menards bath product line review resulting in incremental self-space and displacement of competitive SKUs at Menards chainwide. • Drove sales while maintaining profitability in Retail, Trade, Showroom & New Construction channels by determining product mix, price, mitigating competitive threats.

  • Senior Product Manager at Hunter Fan Company
    Feb 2018 - Feb 2019 · 1 yr 1 mo

    • Spearheaded Hunter’s $200 Million residential ceiling fan business. o Sold into Big Box and customers included: The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Costco, Menards and their respective Canadian and .com entities. • Led Hunter’s Big Box Product Development Team comprised of cross-functional team members from Sales, Industrial Design, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain. o Led the team through Stage Gates process, launched 87 new SKUs in 2018 including new product introductions, model extensions, special buy promotions, store tests and innovation endcaps. • P&L responsibility of the product portfolio, developed 3-year road map and conducted upstream marketing initiatives including strategic product planning, competitive assessment, SKU rationalization, industry compliance, and customer Product Line Reviews.

  • Category Manager at Hampton Products International
    Jul 2012 - Feb 2018 · 5 yrs 8 mos

    • Managed and responsible for P&L of Hampton’s $80 Million dollars door lock category in both domestic and direct import programs to US & Canadian retailers such as Walmart, ACE, Sears, Canadian Tire, Lowe’s US & Canada. o Organized and led an Innovation Summit where Sales, Marketing and Engineering brainstormed and brought forth product ideas; out of this Summit came the concept for ARRAY, a Wi-Fi smart lock. o To develop and commercialize ARRAY, led a New Product Development team comprised of members from Engineering, Industrial Design, Global Sourcing, Operations, Finance, and Manufacturing plus 10 international and domestic technology partners.  Conducted competitive analysis, customer requirements gathering, consumer insights and developed the Business of Interest case and presented to Senior Management.  Successfully launched ARRAY, a solar-powered, cloud based, Wi-Fi, mobile app-enabled smart lock controlled through iOS (Apple) and Android smart phones and smart watches. • Met commercial commitment with Amazon to launch on January 1st in time for CES2018 & IBS2018. • ARRAY won the coveted “Best Indoor Living Product” at the 2017 International Builders’ Show. • In 2013, launched an innovative door hardware line, Push Pull Rotate. o 2014: Won Best Indoor Living Product & Best of Show at the International Builders’ Show. o 2014: Parade of Products winner and The People’s Choice Award winner at the Pacific Coast Builders’ Conference. • Developed annual Product Line Review strategy, presentation and implementation plans specific to each customer. • Directed domestic and overseas suppliers on meeting product specifications, quality control, target costs & launch schedules. • Developed Statement of Work and contract negotiation with domestic and international strategic partners. • Led consumer learning initiatives such as concept, screener, discussion guide writing, surveys and focus groups.

  • International Product Manager at Black & Decker
    Aug 2006 - Jun 2012 · 5 yrs 11 mos

    • P&L for the $100 Million Weiser door hardware portfolio in US and Canadian markets. • Grew and sustained 70% market share for Weiser brand in Canada during an economic downturn. • Led a major international and cross-functional initiative involving department leaders integrating sub-brands to drive coherent marketing messaging across all channels. o Responsible for component harmonization, new product introduction, and packaging redesign. o Generated an annual variable cost savings of $4 Million. • Drove sales while maintaining profitability in both the Retail and New Construction channels by determining product mix, price, mitigating competitive threats. • Developed and drove product and commercialization plans for all Weiser product and promotional launches. • Worked with Supply Chain, Sourcing, and Manufacturing and reduced excess and obsolete products by $1 Million.