Resume & Professional Credits
Developing physical product that sells, sourcing that works, brands that elevate, and strategies that get results.
Strategic physical product leader with a proven record of 300% increases in existing accounts, 200% increases in new business, 30%-40% increases in bottom line margin through trend, sourcing and branding.
An Architect and Industrial engineer with over a dozen national and international awards who has produced top-performing branded and private label physical product for Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Dillard’s, Sam’s, Costco, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, and many more using strategies that make sense and pay off.
Career
IMS: VP of Physical Product Development and Strategy – 12/18-Present
Responsible for setting strategic, trend, sourcing and physical product direction.
(Consulting) Tabletops Unlimited (TTU) Contract VP of Product Development, Tabletop 9/18-12/18
Contract position to re-build the company Tabletop category and Sourcing matrix.
PTS America/PT Sango Indonesia VP Merchandising, Product Development, Sourcing and Branding 8/17-05/18
Responsible for all company physical product development, merchandising, sourcing, branding and marketing. Managed and lead a team of 8 industrial designers, product developers, packaging designers and the factory development and QC team in China.
Godinger Silversmiths / Godinger Barware – VP Merchandising, Product Development and Sourcing 10/15-08/17
As first head of product for the company to step in upon the retirement of the founder, Arnold Godinger I was hired to impose some order and discipline in the Physical Product Merchandising and Design departments, to re-negotiate and overhaul supply chain and manufacturing partnerships, and to re-invent the Godinger brand as an upscale casual brand. Managed a team of 7. The implemented plan resulted in a 30% increase in sales, new private label partnerships with Macy’s and a 20% increase in contribution margin.
Product Development Business Director – Gibson Overseas 06/10-10/15
Hired as hybrid position half Physical Product Development and half Account Direction Key Account Sales. My expertise in executing large private label programs for fashion forward mass marketers resulted in a 300% increase in sales on the Target account and a 200% increase in sales with Bed Bath & Beyond as well as new landing new accounts at Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters and HSN.
Contract Consultant – Various Clients in Consumer Products Manufacturing and Importing Including: Celebrate Express/Costume Express and others 06/09-06/10
Example 1: Hired to make a company more attractive for potential acquisition. Led a staff of 25 across 3 departments. Reduced staff by 20%, retrained and developed key staff to absorb additional roles, outsourced logistics functions resulting in a 40% increase in merchandising ROI.
Example 2: Hired to bring a toy and novelty importer into compliance with CPSIA child products compliance.
VP of Merchandising and Product Development – THT Designs/Tenderheart Treasures 11/06-05/09
Hired into a ‘Turn-around’ situation for an omni-channel retailer to recover profitability from a sharp sales decline and over-investment in warehouse and distribution overhead. Led a team of 27 including buyers, designers, and category managers. Conducted 3 separate 15% staff reductions, re-focused merchandising toward growing rather than declining sales channels including DTC digital native brands, and overhauled sourcing to increase contribution margin by 35%. Integrated data analytics with the physical product development process.
Creative Director, Marketing & Promotions Studio – Hallmark Cards Corporate 6/04-11/06
As a rare ‘outside hire’ my expertise in mass market physical product development in consumer hardgoods Hallmark recruited me to increase innovation and decrease cost through integration of manufacturing and creative and logistics. Resulting in a 20% increase in buy-in from key partners including Walgreens, CVS and Kohl’s who found our product to be more price competitive and creative.
Chief Product Officer – Totem/Swat Products Chicago: 11/96-06/04
Built a $2.5 Million business with 3 employees as a trend forecasting, product development and manufacturing resource for Target Corp., Enesco, Department 56, FTD, Westfair/Loblaws, and others. Area of particular expertise was India.
Prior Experience: Architect – residential, commercial, interiors and redevelopment 1992-1996
Account Executive – Ogilvy & Mather Direct Marketing 1989-1991
Education
- Digital Marketing Certification, Columbia University School of Business, New York
- Master of Architecture, Illinois Tech, Chicago
- 2-year work-study in Austria – (United Nations, University of Vienna & University of Salzburg)
- Bachelor of Arts Foreign Language, Wabash
Expertise & Experience
- Style and behavioral trend forecasting.
- High taste level
- Ability to analyze a large amount of data to inform physical product development, category management, and branding.
- Extensive Sourcing expertise. I’ve Lived and worked in India and China up to 4 months out of each year for the past 15 years.
- Expert in consumer hardgoods trends, manufacturing and engineering in housewares, home décor, furnishings & packaging.
- Idea generator, Inspirational leader and passionate teacher.
- Expert-level knowledge engineering product for digital sales channels, digital native brands and digital marketing.
- Computer Skills: Proficient in all MS office applications, Oracle, Quickbase and Photoshop as well as Great Plains, Endeca and Discover.