Dena Schmitt

A successful background in sales, marketing, and merchandising. Extensive knowledge and experience in every aspect of the sales process including forecasting sales volume for new and existing products. Superior presentation skills. Highly motivated and self-managed individual with the ability to work well in a high-pressure, team oriented, creative environment. Superior communication and negotiation skills.

Mens Suiting Department at Nordstrom Corporation (2025-10 – 2026-01)

Personal shopping and styling specialist in men's suiting department

• Worked with clients helping with personal shopping, styling, ties, shirts, pants, belts, etc.
• With collections such as Canali, Peter Millar, Jack Victor, Emporio Armani among others
• Often times opened the Men's suiting cash registers
• Made sure the sales floor as well as register was clean at all times
• Approached new clients and helped them with their tailoring needs
• Suggested referrals as much as possible
• Assisted with suggestions for new style ideas
• Organized all apparel in my department
• Attended all 'rallies' for the company
• Had enthusiasm for what I did and serviced at all times
• Worked the floor at all times to generate sales

Senior Outside Sales Specialist at Classique Eyewear (2023-09 – 2025-09)

Senior outside sales specialist representing luxury eyewear brands

• Represented TAYLOR MORRIS, GLEN LANE Radley of London, ZEN, CAT, Lisa Loeb, Laura Ashley
• Received Rookie of the year award

Senior Luxury Outside Sales Specialist at MARCOLIN USA (2016-06 – 2023-08)

Senior luxury outside sales specialist managing high-end designer eyewear collections

• Represented TOM FORD, Omega, Moncler, Longines, Pucci, Bally, Kenneth Cole, Diesel
• Hosted several trainings and eyeglass events as well as appointment sales
• The days of sit-down, face-to-face interactions through social events and preset meetings to form the perfect environment for building long lasting business relationships
• Personally launched several new successful high end designer collection through strong sales efforts and expertise
• Within a year was highest dollars in the region
• Troubleshoot any issues arising for any reason or account big or small
• Prospected / Cold called in person, by phone, by email or Facebook for new customers while maintaining relationships and servicing existing customers
• Exceeded sales quotas consistently
• Researched, then met and opened new clients daily
• Won TOM FORD pandemic mask contest highest sales during that crisis
• Won Moncler wallet sales contest
• Made President's Club first year
• Collected payments owed to the company
• Promoted and represented my collections accurately and properly
• Excited clients about the collections and promotions
• Wrote follow up handwritten thank you notes
• Opened, sold and closed multiple location accounts throughout Chicago

Luxury Outside Sales Specialist at Safilo USA (2004-10 – 2016-07)

Luxury outside sales specialist managing premium eyewear brands and building client relationships

• Represented: Gucci, YSL Max Mara, Bobbi Brown, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tommy Hilfiger, kate spade
• Gucci Division producer
• Largest volume growth first year in the field
• President's Club $800k plus -2005 - 2010
• $2.5 million my last year of service
• Million Dollar President's Club 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
• Managed and maintained all accounts tending to whatever needed assistance or attention
• Consistently booking appointments on telephone / in person
• Prospected new accounts on a daily basis
• Produced and created marketing materials / promotions
• Set up and executed displays, window clings and custom graphics
• Prepared presentations, proposals and sales contracts for practices in territory
• Identified and resolved customer concerns
• Prepared a variety of status reports including activity, closings, private equities and follow-ups
• Did several lunch presentations within office trainings
• Cold called and opened new clients throughout the lower third of Illinois
• Found a way to successfully and creatively find myself into the business

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative at Pharmacia Corporation (1999-08 – 2001-12)

Pharmaceutical sales representative achieving top national rankings

• Nationally ranked top of the country for sales of Detrol LA, Pletal and Arthrotec respectively
• Won several sales contests for highest market share with the new products we launched
• Built strong relationships with staff and target physicians
• Launched a new pharmacological therapy for the treatment of intermittent claudication (Pletal) and achieved 164% of goal

Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science / Kinesiology Specializing in Corporate Fitness – University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign (1995-05)