Jackson, NJ 08527 (732)833-1251 (908)692-2634 cell jd70ec5e@westpost.net Summary Creative executive with extensive experience in buying, licensing, produ ct development, retail and wholesale management and marketing Experience 2007- 2010 Drew Designs Jackson, NJ Product Development and Licensing Products Consultant * Consult companies on product and packaging lines for bedding, bath products, t oys, jewelry, keychains, hair accessories, men's accessories, novelties, car acc essories, cosmetics, gifts, pet accessories and stationery items. Companies inc lude: Franco Manufacturing, Metuchen, NJ, Silver Links, Lakewood, NJ and VHI, Po int Pleasant, NJ, Creative Minx Marketing, Westlake Village, CA. * Work with creative and marketing and teams to develop new product opportunitie s and pricing/margin plans and strategy for implementation. Develop timelines t o meet market week product launches. * Communicate with Asian suppliers and offices to coordinate new suppliers and n ew development projects. Review and approve samples. Negotiate costing and ter ms. * Conduct focus groups and consumer research for new product concepts to identif y profitable strategic growth opportunities. * Source and design quality products with overseas suppliers compliant to social and safety standards. 1996 - 2007 Buy Rite Designs Freehold, NJ Senior Vice President Product Development, Marketing and Licensing * Directed product and marketing plan for all product lines including jewelry, k eychains, hair accessories, novelty toys, car accessories, pet accessories, cosm etics, gifts, room decor, and stationery items for $25 million dollar company. * Develop and implement business plans that include new product, pricing, packag ing, merchandising/promotion strategies and plans. * Identify new product opportunities and corresponding cost/price/margin targets and launch timing. * Extensive travel domestically to assist with customer presentations to mass ma rket and specialty stores and overseas for trend research and sourcing of produc ts and factories. * Guided art team on creative packaging and copy to create a point of difference in marketing of products. Utilized different packaging and POP materials to ut ilize products in numerous channels of distribution including, department and sp ecialty stores, mass market, c-stores, supermarkets, dollar stores. * Worked with purchasing and logistics to guide them in handling changing busine ss environments. Assisted them in social compliance issues, factory audits, pro p 65 compliance and testing issues. * Secured and managed licensing programs including Marvel, Sponge Bob, Fairly Od d Parents, Family Guy, Happy Bunny, GM, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Develop ed projections and negotiated deals through deal memo stage. * Developed new product plans for business development. Built novelty categori es from 0 base to $13 million in sales. * Managed all aspects of product development from trend research to concept to p rototype to final product. Directed art and marketing teams. * Managed POP program implementation, package development, developed plan-o-gram s for retailers, sales materials, website and tradeshows. 1998-2002 TeenShop Freehold, NJ (A Division of Buy Rite Designs) President * Created and implemented business plan to cater to "tween" and teen consumers w ith distribution focus of mass and specialty stores. Buy Rite previously sold o nly wholesalers. * Successfully developed branded licensed products for target consumer with Teen Magazine, All About You, Hot Rod, Kim Anderson and MTV and distributed in Wal-m art, Target, K-mart, Claire's and Spencer Gifts. * Created marketing program that included advertising in trade and national maga zines. Secured models, managed photo shoots and ad layouts. 1992-1996 Afterthoughts New York, NY Buyer * Responsible for open to buy for $40 million dollars in sales in jewelry, gift and seasonal categories. * Extensive overseas travel to develop and source product in factories to increa se margins. * Development of plano-grams for categories purchased.
1988-1992 Accessory Place Albany, NY/Paramu
s, NJ District Manager/Store Manager * Directed 11 stores in Northeast. Member of new store opening team. Trained n ew managers and staffs. * Assisted in the creation of monthly company plano-grams * Managed highest volume store in chain in Paramus, NJ Education 1985-1989 College of St. Rose Albany, NY * B.S., Business Administration Accounting and Marketing * Graduated magna cum laude. Interests Baseball Youth Coach, running, biking, gardening, golf. Member NJAWBO, BNI