Chris Phillips

Chris Phillips Email and Phone Number

Senior Merchandising Executive | Driving Global Brand Growth, Innovation & Omni-Channel Success | 25+ Years of Transformative Leadership in Retail & E-Commerce @ Christine Phillips NYC
Chris Phillips's Location
New York, New York, United States, United States
Chris Phillips's Contact Details
About Chris Phillips

As a Senior Merchandising Executive with over 25 years of dynamic experience, I thrive on crafting strategies that supercharge brand growth and drive exceptional results in global retail and e-commerce. With a passion for creating high-impact assortments and elevating brands, I’ve led successful initiatives across international markets, omni-channel integrations, and cutting-edge product innovations, consistently delivering increased sales, profitability, and brand loyalty.My expertise lies in seamlessly blending digital and physical retail to enhance customer experiences and optimize e-commerce growth. Whether managing seasonal trends, developing strategic partnerships, or leading cross-functional teams, I am driven by the challenge of achieving operational excellence while maximizing revenue and expanding market presence.What I Bring to the Table:• Global Leadership: Guiding teams across the world to execute game-changing strategies and drive business performance.• Creative Problem-Solving: Recognized for seeing creative opportunities and delivering solutions where others don’t.• End-to-End Merchandising Expertise: From product lifecycle management to market expansion, I lead with precision.• Customer-Centric Vision: Always prioritizing customer experience while scaling profitability and brand presence.• Digital Integration: Merging e-commerce & retail, unlocking new revenue streams through innovative digital marketing.I bring an unmatched ability to turn challenges into opportunities, aligning merchandising strategies with overarching business goals to fuel long-term success. Ready to continue leading innovation in the ever-evolving retail landscape, I am passionate about delivering transformational results that inspire growth across both luxury and mass markets.Let’s connect and explore how I can bring this vision to life for your brand!

Chris Phillips's Current Company Details
Christine Phillips NYC

Christine Phillips Nyc

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Senior Merchandising Executive | Driving Global Brand Growth, Innovation & Omni-Channel Success | 25+ Years of Transformative Leadership in Retail & E-Commerce
Chris Phillips Work Experience Details
  • Christine Phillips Nyc
    Principal Consultant
    Christine Phillips Nyc Jul 2020 - Present
    With 25+ years of strategy and leadership experience in fashion merchandising, I guide clients to act quickly and confidently as they pivot to future operating models.My consulting expertise includes: • Branding: Develop end-to-end branding strategy around product lines, expansions, collaborations, USP, customer profile, voice, digital, social and in store marketing• Agile Product Development: Maximize the design, creation, and commercialization of relevant product for the consumer in a nimble, responsive and seasonless manner• Portfolio Management: Benchmark and design omni channel merchandising operating models including organization structure, roles, processes, KPIs• Price Optimization: Analyze assortment and promotional activities to drive higher sales, margin, and profitability
  • Kenneth Cole Productions
    Chief Merchandising Officer
    Kenneth Cole Productions Jan 2022 - Dec 2024
    New York, Ny, Us
    In this role, I led global merchandising strategies, product assortments, and high-profile collaborations to drive significant sales growth and brand relevance. I was responsible for overseeing design approval, managing licensed partnerships, and transforming eCommerce and wholesale strategies to optimize market performance.Key Accomplishments:• Sales Growth: Drove over $1B in sales by leading trend strategies and product assortments for 40 global licensed partnerships.• Strategic Collaborations: Spearheaded high-profile collaborations with Pantone, Lingua Franca, Sofia Chang and more, elevating the brand’s product offering.• Market Strategy: Developed and executed a comprehensive label and distribution strategy for Kenneth Cole and Reaction, addressing both full-price and off-price market segments.• Category Revitalization: Relaunched Women’s and Men’s Sportswear categories, increasing global sales by $20M and enhancing brand relevance.• E-Commerce Optimization: Boosted sales by 50% by revamping the eCommerce strategy, introducing exclusive products, and reducing promotions, while using data-driven insights to optimize product assortment and inventory.• Wholesale Transition: Transitioned the women’s footwear business to licensed partnerships, generating $40M in wholesale sales.• Profitability Growth: Achieved a 100% increase in profitability by overseeing global product experiences and shifting eCommerce operations from third-party to owned platforms.
  • Hugo Boss
    Senior Vice President, Omni Channel Merchandising, Americas
    Hugo Boss 2017 - 2020
    Metzingen, Baden-Württemberg, De
    In this role, I led omni-channel merchandising activities across the Americas, overseeing a team of 9 Managers and 40 indirect reports. I was responsible for driving sales, optimizing assortments, and implementing strategies across a diverse range of retail locations, wholesale businesses, and eCommerce platforms.Key Accomplishments:• Sales Leadership: Championed $400M+ in annual sales by managing merchandising for 228 full-price and outlet locations, 75 wholesale concessions, and 5 eCommerce sites across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.• Revenue Growth: Drove a 125% increase in sales and a 200% growth in gross margin by launching Macy’s online/store concessions.• ECommerce Success: Achieved a 40% surge in eCommerce sales by leading a successful site re-launch and optimizing the merchandise mix.• Outlet Business Expansion: Delivered $25M in growth for the Outlet Business and improved gross margin by $10M within two years.• Regional Transformation: Reversed a double-digit downtrend, achieving a 35% YoY sales increase and a 20% improvement in gross margin within 12 months by transforming the underperforming Americas region.• Assortment Optimization: Improved sell-through by 5 points by optimizing assortments in athleisure, sneakers, knitwear, and outerwear, while reducing formalwear and suits.• Concession Store Growth: Increased concession store sales by 45% by recalibrating assortments based on account and location, alongside updated promotional and digital strategies.
  • Michael Kors
    Vice President, Global Omni Channel Merchandising
    Michael Kors 2015 - 2017
    New York, New York, Us
    Key Accomplishments:• Sales Leadership: Drove $2B in annual sales by developing and executing eCommerce and omni-channel strategies, overseeing merchandising for stores and the eCommerce site across multiple regions.• Seasonal Strategy Development: Formulated seasonal merchandise strategies and storytelling, leading cross-functional teams in creative, site merchandising, social media, visual merchandising, and store operations.• Sell-Through Improvement: Improved sell-through by 5 percentage points by leading a task force on markdown promotions and assortment planning tools.• Ecommerce Growth: Achieved a 60% increase in sales and a 40% boost in traffic by playing a key role in revitalizing eCommerce sites.• Cost Reduction: Reduced overhead costs by $750K by establishing an omni-channel merchandising team and restructuring buying offices.• Global Brand Consistency: Increased full-price sell-through by 8 percentage points by enhancing and optimizing global brand consistency across channels.• Leadership: Led a team of 5 Directors and 30 indirect buyers, guiding the development and execution of strategies for digital and eCommerce channels.
  • Ny Brands Studio
    Senior Vice President, Gm - Private Brand Development For Coles Supermarkets
    Ny Brands Studio 2011 - 2015
    Key Accomplishments:• Brand Development: Created a $100M proprietary lifestyle brand for Coles, focusing on product expansion, customer targeting, brand identity, and in-store presentation.• Team Leadership: Led a team of 5 Directors across design, visual merchandising, creative, marketing, merchandising, and production, as well as 25 indirect associates, to drive growth in the Australian market.• International Expansion: Spearheaded the company’s international retail expansion, managing a $5M administrative budget and a $2.5M marketing budget for various product categories.• Profitability Growth: Achieved a 5% annual increase in profitability by optimizing pricing, quality, and overseas product sourcing.• Customer Engagement: Boosted customer spend per basket by 24% and increased dwell time by 40%, surpassing targets by 10%.• Sales and Margin Growth: Delivered a 120% increase in sales and 130% growth in gross margin dollars by securing new business with Coles and redesigning in-aisle packaging for hosiery, underwear, and baby programs.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue
    Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager
    Saks Fifth Avenue 2005 - 2011
    New York, Ny, Us
    In this role, I was responsible for driving results across multiple categories, including Women’s Sportswear, Private/Proprietary Brands, Evening, Special Sizes, Coats, Swimwear, and Children’s.Key Accomplishments:• Merchandising Leadership: Led merchandising strategies for a $300M business, overseeing 200+ vendors across 60 stores and digital channels.• P&L Management: Managed a $2.5M P&L, leading a top-performing buying team of 6 direct reports and 25 indirect reports.• Sales Growth: Contributed to a $6M sales increase by creating and implementing effective product merchandising strategies.• Brand Development: Developed branded and private label products, launching a new bridge sportswear segment with brand development, marketing initiatives, and in-store programs.• Private Label Success: Boosted private label and proprietary brand sales by $25M, achieving the highest gross margin with a 500 basis point improvement.• ECommerce Expansion: Expanded Saks.com sales from 10% to 30% of total sales by diversifying brand options and introducing promotional items.• Gross Margin Improvement: Improved branded gross margin by 100 basis points and achieved a 10% sales uplift through exclusive products, consignment agreements, and vendor allowances.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue
    Buyer, St John
    Saks Fifth Avenue 2003 - 2005
    New York, Ny, Us
    Key Accomplishments:• Team Leadership: Led a team of 4 in managing Saks Fifth Avenue’s largest vendor, St. John, across 58 stores and online, overseeing an $80M annual sales volume.• Sales and Margin Growth: Achieved a 24% increase in sales and a 25% improvement in gross margin through strategic product classification, fringe sizing initiatives, and enhanced marketing strategies.• Turnaround Success: Reversed a double-digit sales decline, delivering 25% year-over-year growth and surpassing sales plan targets.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue
    Buyer & Product Developer - Designer Sportswear
    Saks Fifth Avenue 2001 - 2003
    New York, Ny, Us
    Key Accomplishments:• Sales and Margin Growth: Achieved a 32% sales increase and a 400 basis point margin improvement by successfully launching new private brand categories.• Vendor Management: Oversaw 8 vendor businesses with a team of 3 associate and assistant buyers, driving over $60M in annual sales across omni-channel platforms and 45 retail stores.• Key Item Success: Increased Ralph Lauren sales by 30% through a focused key item cashmere program.
  • Saks Fifth Avenue
    Buyer - Designer Sportswear | Store Planning Manager
    Saks Fifth Avenue 1997 - 2001
    New York, Ny, Us
    Key Accomplishments:• Team Leadership and Vendor Management: Led a team of 4 in managing a $55M+ annual volume across omni-channel platforms and 45 retail stores, including a vendor portfolio with Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, and Donna Karan.• Business Growth: Drove 24% year-over-year growth in the Armani business while increasing full-price sell-through by 10 percentage points.• Planning and Forecasting: Led the planning and forecasting for $800M in annual sales of designer apparel, setting and achieving sales, turnover, and profit objectives through effective inventory management.

Chris Phillips Skills

Merchandising Apparel Retail Fashion Visual Merchandising Trend Analysis Sportswear Assortment Luxury Goods Management Merchandise Planning Marketing Styling Inventory Management Store Management Trend Product Assortment Planning

Chris Phillips Education Details

  • Northwestern University
    Northwestern University
    History

Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Phillips

What company does Chris Phillips work for?

Chris Phillips works for Christine Phillips Nyc

What is Chris Phillips's role at the current company?

Chris Phillips's current role is Senior Merchandising Executive | Driving Global Brand Growth, Innovation & Omni-Channel Success | 25+ Years of Transformative Leadership in Retail & E-Commerce.

What is Chris Phillips's email address?

Chris Phillips's email address is ch****@****aks.com

What schools did Chris Phillips attend?

Chris Phillips attended Northwestern University.

What skills is Chris Phillips known for?

Chris Phillips has skills like Merchandising, Apparel, Retail, Fashion, Visual Merchandising, Trend Analysis, Sportswear, Assortment, Luxury Goods, Management, Merchandise Planning, Marketing.

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