Expert Details
Footwear Industry
ID: 733617
New York, USA
Expert excels at product development and creating and optimizing processes for product design, commercialization, and production, particularly for the U.S. market. His comprehensive approach encompasses quality assessment and improvement, cost optimization, and vendor relationship audits. He has a proven track record of enhancing factory production processes and improving product quality and profitability for global brands.
As a brand positioning strategist, he offers profound insights into market and competitive analysis, long-term growth strategies, and the creation of distinct value-based positioning statements. He assists brands in identifying their High Expectation Customers (HXC) and crafting strategies for sustainable growth and differentiation in competitive markets.
With a deep understanding of product line concept creation, Expert specializes in trend analysis, strategic planning, and developing product lines that align with brand ethos and profitability goals. He is adept at designing streamlined seasonal calendars and ensuring the right mix of core, seasonal, and statement products.
He brings a wealth of experience in global sourcing, including factory and vendor audits, and recommendations for critical components such as leather, linings, heels, and outsoles. His expertise ensures brands achieve the optimal factory mix to meet production and quality standards efficiently.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1996 | Degree: Masters | Subject: Marketing | Institution: Universite des Sciences Economiques |
| Year: 1994 | Degree: Masters | Subject: Finance | Institution: Universite des Sciences Economiques |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2017 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Product Development and Global Sourcing | Department: Footwear |
Responsibilities:• Identifies voids in the market based on brand’s aesthetic, price point, customer base and competition and present a merchandising plan if requested by the brand.• Build time & action calendar, KPIs and implementation roadmap. • Redefine vendor matrix if requested by the brand. • Direct the product development process with product creation team and on-site at factories and to ensure that design intent, ex-factory dates and market viability are optimal. • Build, design and develop lines for private label brands (DJ Pliner, Veronica Beard, Oliver Cabell) based on brands aesthetic, existing sales, market trends and targeted customers. • Source factories in Spain, Portugal and India based on quality, cost, aesthetic, and volume requirements. • Establish and manage business relationships with new or prospective clients and factories. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2013 to 2017 | Employer: Jack Erwin | Title: Head of Product - Co-founder | Department: Footwear |
Responsibilities:• Built Jack Erwin’s brand concept.• Designed and developed all products from inception, seasonal market research to costing, sampling, pre-production and production. • Built time & action calendar, KPIs and implementation roadmap for all product lines. • Built supply chain from the ground up. Source, expand and control sustainable supply chain to reach best possible quality/cost ratio and on-time deliveries. • Exceeded company’s profitability target by increasing IMU from 48% to 70% in 2 years while also improving product quality. • Implemented new production and QC processes at factory level. • Hired & trained product team on all aspect of product cycle, factory relationships, KPIs and cross-functionality. • Led Nordstrom sale’s meetings resulting in first season test orders of $700k with no mark down money and a season 2 roll out option of up to 60 doors. • Work cross-functionally to leverage product knowledge. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2013 to 2014 | Employer: Saks Fifth Ave - Off Fifth | Title: Private Brands Director | Department: Footwear |
Responsibilities:• Created seasonal business/concept strategy based on 9 box grids, classification balance and GM target to achieve overall strategic goals.• Redefined vendor matrix to use current vendor partners within their strengths as well as sourcing additional vendors / factories. • Delivered Saks Brands line that is commensurate with target customer demographics, lifestyle, and aesthetic. • Partnered with retail team to develop strong offering and help to sell vision and positioning. • Used key customer insight and competitive findings to influence seasonal strategy. • Developed and managed core and seasonal merchandise assortment for each brand that is in line with merchandise strategy and meets financial targets. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2011 to 2013 | Employer: Ralph Lauren | Title: Sr. Product Manager | Department: Footwear |
Responsibilities:• Created and executed time & action calendar to meet all critical dates.• Managed WIP with agents/factories to ensure that design intent is intact while reaching Gross Margin targets, meeting deadlines and quality requirements. • Sourced necessary components during development and pre-production. • Negotiated cost with vendors to ensure FOB/IMU targets are met. Accountable for overall IMU. • Conducted fit sessions and communicated corrections to agents/factories. • Created and communicated tech packs to agents/factories. • Reviewed and commented on CFM samples. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2011 | Employer: Tommy Hilfiger | Title: Product Manager | Department: Footwear |
Responsibilities:• Created seasonal segment merch. plan to include category, classification, pattern and sku needs as well as target costing and preliminary forecasts.• Supervised two designers in order to translate merch. plan into a balanced and profitable collection. • Built and executed seasonal time & action calendar. • Negotiated costs with agents/factories to achieve line plan’s wholesale margin projection through regular weighted margin assessment. • Managed line development from merch. plan through CFM samples working directly with agents/factories. • Developed and managed relationships with agents/factories, set up development procedures and quality standards. • Merchandised cohesive collections that incorporate the right mix of core, seasonal and statement product and limit over development for TH Specialty stores, big box retailers, TH outlets and international accounts. • Worked on pre-lining with 2nd and 3rd tiers buyers to develop profitable SMU programs. • Present final collection with sales to key accounts during market appointments. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2008 | Employer: Giraudon New York | Title: Line builder / Buyer | Department: Footwear |
Responsibilities:• Built seasonal line plan based on market trends analysis, niche behavior, sales reviews, receipt flow, inventory, factory production capabilities and GM goals to maximize profit and minimize risks.• Sourced, built and managed relationships with factories in Spain, Portugal and Brazil: price negotiation, booking orders and delivery deadlines. • Partnered with the designer/owner each season for design, product development and production. • Visit factories (Portugal / Spain / Brazil) to ensure quality control and timely production. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Expert's work was featured in a Forbes, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Business Insider articles. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| - Trade dress infringement - Depositions - Leather assessment in insurance claim |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| French | Fluent |
| English | Fluent |
Fields of Expertise
brand repositioning, competitive analysis, market assessment, market positioning, footwear, strategic planning, product line concept creation, factory, vendor quality auditing, vendor auditing, product cost reduction, quality evaluation, product improvement, new product development, international sourcing, leather