Brett Ryan Mense Email & Phone Number

New York, New York, United States

London, England, Gb

• Led a team with responsibilities across visual merchandising, print production, retail marketing, and store design.• Spearheaded the transformation of print production, ensuring alignment with global standards and customization for the North American market, enhancing brand visibility and market appeal.• Managed a diverse team and collaborated cross-functionally to streamline print production processes, optimizing efficiency and reducing costs.• Cultivated strong partnerships with print vendors, fostering collaborative relationships that enabled the prompt delivery of high-quality materials while staying within budget.• Provided advisory support for store design projects to ensure brand direction and guideline compliance.• Spearheaded efforts for localization programs for store openings, engaging third-party entities for community-centered projects.• Managed on-site execution of store openings, including visual merchandising and general store dressing.• Provided education and training for store teams on visual merchandising strategies, primarily through regular calls between the team and the field.• Directed projects for pop-up shops, trade shows, festivals, and retreats, ensuring brand representation and meaningful engagement.• Orchestrated creativity, planning, budgeting, and vendor management for these projects.Core Accomplishments:• Collaborated with local artisans and community groups for store openings in Vancouver, including a project where plastic was collected from shorelines to create sculptural artwork featured in six stores.• Organized localization projects for store openings in Vancouver, such as murals by local artists, quilts by community groups, and a vintage t-shirt auction that supported a local youth organization.• Collaborated with VM Manager, North America, and VM Coordinator to develop and execute the North America VM strategy, creating planograms, renderings, directives, and info packs aligned with market strategy.

London, England, Gb

• Led all visual merchandising activities, overseeing planning, execution, store training, and troubleshooting to maintain consistent customer experiences and VM standards across all brand touchpoints.• Created clear and compelling visual directives for seasonal setups, ensuring accessible implementation in-store.• Established and maintained strong relationships with Retail, Marketing, Commercial, and Supply Chain teams, aligning VM strategies with overall business and product strategies.• Provided valuable input into the development of in-store signage and marketing assets.• Played a pivotal role in store development and new store opening programs, integrating VM into store design.• Managed the VM budget and procured and allocated props and tools.

Dodgeville, Wi, Us

• Supported over 50 stores across 4 districts, ensuring consistent brand execution and compelling visual presentation in specialty and wholesale shops.• Trained District Managers and store teams on visual execution, merchandising, and business acumen through regular store visits, walkthroughs, and workshops.• Executed showroom set-up and styling for editorial and market events, enhancing brand visibility and appeal.• Partnered with the HQ studio team and merchants/buyers to develop seasonal merchandise presentation strategies aligned with the global brand strategy.Core Accomplishments:• Collaborated with District Managers to identify global and market opportunities, developing sales-driven solutions that delivered positive comps in 3 out of 4 districts.• Strategized with Design, Merchandising, Marketing, Allocation, PR, Finance, and senior leadership to build consensus around strategic direction.

San Francisco, Ca, Us

• Spearheaded visual direction at the company's flagship and concept store, showcasing decisive management in visual merchandising, styling, and window displays.• Partnered with HQ to develop and implement store flow, merchandising, styling, and creative strategies for each season, ensuring a cohesive brand experience.Core Accomplishments:• Pioneered prototyping and innovative thinking within the field team, fostering a growth-focused mindset and successfully launching new initiatives.• Played a crucial role in developing manager-level talent across the NYC district, identifying internal candidates to fill over 10 positions in less than 6 months.• Provided visual execution support for 3 other top 20 stores, ensuring proper training and planning for consistent brand representation.

San Francisco, Ca, Us

• Orchestrated the execution and development of all visuals and creative elements at the brand's Midwest flagship store.• Built, trained, and led a highly skilled product team, including visual merchandisers, stylists, and stock associates, ensuring a visually appealing store environment.Core Accomplishments:• Collaborated closely with HQ partners to refine styling as a critical part of the brand's evolving aesthetic, driving a consistent and engaging brand experience.• Analyzed financial and product reports to maximize the store's performance in winning product categories, resulting in quarterly comps with significant gains in key categories.• Regularly photographed and documented store floor sets, creating seasonal decks shared across brand channels for best practices and consistent visual standards.

Ba, Communication, Gender Studies

Mpa, Metropolitan Planning And Urban Affairs