Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings, Inc. announced that Jon Barker has been named president and chief operating officer of Sportsman’s Warehouse, effective March 31, 2017.
Barker will direct the marketing, supply chain, operations, compliance and technology functions of Sportsman’s Warehouse, and will also lead the expansion of the company’s e-commerce business. He will report directly to John Schaefer, chief executive officer.
Schaefer commented, “I have known Jon for almost 20 years and not only is he an excellent retail executive, he is also a passionate user of our products. I am very pleased that he is joining Sportsman’s Warehouse at a pivotal time in our growth trajectory when we have reached 77 stores and we believe we still have substantial store expansion opportunity ahead of us. His leadership skills and proven track record of success combined with his extensive knowledge of multi-channel retail and ecommerce make him a perfect fit for Sportsman’s Warehouse. I have no doubt that Jon will quickly bond with and add tremendous incremental value to our existing management team.”
Barker stated, “I am very excited to join Sportsman’s Warehouse and believe that there is a significant opportunity to build upon the successful growth of the Company and achieve even greater store and ecommerce expansion in the future. Sportsman’s Warehouse is well positioned within the outdoor sporting goods industry with a differentiated shopping environment, unique localization strategy, and a breadth of product with important growth opportunities ahead that I am proud to help develop to further strengthen its positioning.”
Barker is a highly accomplished executive with 25 years of multi-channel retail experience. He held leadership positions with several high profile retail companies, most recently as VP Global Officer for Walmart. At Walmart, he served in dual roles including President and CEO of Hayneedle.com, a leading online Home Furnishings retailer, as well as group leader for Home and Outdoor furnishings categories for U.S. ecommerce across Walmart.com, Jet.com and Hayneedle.com. In this position he helped develop a strategic vision for Hayneedle.com, including realigning structure and resources for a more merchandise focused strategy. From 2008 to 2013, Barker was Chief Operating Officer of Hayneedle.com.
During this time, he was instrumental in building Hayneedle’s supply chain, fulfillment network, care center, customer advocacy and the overall business platform. Prior to Walmart from 1999 to 2008, Barker served as SVP of Distribution-Logistics at Cornerstone Brands, which is comprised of home and lifestyle brands including Frontgate, Ballard Designs, Garnet Hill, Grandin Road, and Improvements. While at Cornerstone Brands, he was responsible for all supply chain facets of the business. Barker also held various leadership roles in operations and business development for United Parcel Service.
