* Identify voids in the product assortment and be an expert on the competition and latest trends to introduce appealing new product to the wholesale, direct, Ecommerce, international and corporate customer. Meet company margin requirements.* Represent the Nambe brand, present breadth of product assortment and sales promotions to new and existing customers at industry trade shows 2-4x per year.* Conduct product presentations and showroom walk-thrus for wholesale customers and sales reps.* Manage the development & strategic sourcing of new product from product/design conceptualization, generating specifications, negotiating pricing, to final sample approval and production.* Determine product pricing by utilizing market research data, analyzing the competition and current market, reviewing product costs, anticipating volume, and identifying price gaps within the Nambé assortment and within customer assortments. * Possess technical knowledge of a wide range of materials and manufacturing techniques.* Actively manage 15+ freelance designers through the concept, design and PD process.* Independently manage and work closely with Graphic Design to create marketing materials and collateral across all channels, including product catalogs, packaging, print and Ecom advertising, social media coverage and retail signage.* Coordinate digital strategies, such as paid search, affiliate marketing, email marketing - to support website traffic, conversion, and social follower engagement.* Manage all product photography and act as art director on photo shoots.* Manage/supervise an assistant.* Evaluate potential new suppliers and designers to keep new product fresh. Search out suppliers and designers who can supply product in new materials, of utmost functionality, and with manufacturing efficiency.* International & Domestic travel to visit suppliers, designers and customers.* Manage department budget by keeping expenses in line with P&L expectations.

• Manage strategic sourcing of Hardlines product in an extremely price-driven B2C mid-range catalog and e-commerce business. Focus on Housewares, Tabletop, Cookware, Kitchenware, Small Electrics, Indoor and Outdoor Furniture, Seasonal items, Home Storage, and Home Decor.• Coordinate with Product Managers to research and competitive shop to establish Wish List catalog assortments. Initiate and send RFQ along with spec sheets, target pricing, requested MOQ, and Redcats testing protocol to suppliers to obtain offers. Manage product selection process, costing, product development, sample confirmations, PO issuance, product testing and production timelines, through to delivery.• Evaluate offers and negotiate costs based on target retail pricing/gross margin requirements, often suggesting changes to product materials and/or components to get better cost. • Work closely with QA manager to compile and issue Product Specification Forms to suppliers, and monitor comprehensive testing protocol for all initial and applicable re-orders. • Manage and supervise an assistant.• Travel to China 2x/year to visit current and new suppliers, attend Canton Fair to seek out interesting and exciting new products, check on production, conduct new vendor selection and audits, monitor vendor compliance and resolve operations/shipping issues

• Managed product development, design, strategic sourcing, new vendor selection, branding strategies and marketing for award-winning licensed children’s product lines, including The World of Eric Carle, The World of Beatrix Potter, Harley-Davidson, Charlie & Lola, Amazing Baby and Guess How Much I Love You • Aggressively expanded supplier portfolio and formed new vendor relationships to keep pace with Company goal to pursue new markets in non-plush children’s products such as wood toys, bath toys, tin toys, craft sets, photo albums, brag books and picture frames, foam play mats, backpacks, lunch bags, umbrellas, and melamine tableware sets• Worked closely with Sales force to assemble product assortments and formulate long-term product objectives, providing market research presentations, proposing branding initiatives, and furnishing competitive cost analysis to determine target pricing• Sought out and contracted freelance designers for new products, and worked closely with designers on product sketches, revisions, and final specifications. Monitored designer costs and maintained a proven track record of keeping designer costs within budget• Negotiated with suppliers to achieve best costing and comply with established gross margin percentage requirements• Developed a good understanding of U.S. children’s product and toy safety regulations, and worked with vendors to ensure all materials were in compliance with current laws prior to goods shipping

COMPANY CLOSED MAY 2008• Managed outsourced collateral product and packaging development and strategic sourcing, from spec stage through to delivery for Waterford Crystal’s complete product assortment for US distribution• Lead voice to vendors to communicate product and quality specs, development direction, forecast, and achieve timely delivery of collateral product; negotiated product costing with vendors• Managed IPS Asia representative, based in Shenzhen, China, in all areas relating to new product development, sourcing, and quality assurance• Traveled to vendors/factories in Asia 2x/year to check on production, conduct new vendor selection and audits, monitor vendor compliance and resolve operations/shipping issues

• Managed strategic sourcing and OEM product development from concept design stage for average of 900 new SKUs annually, across 3 distinct brands, adhering to two yearly product cycles• Lead voice to overseas suppliers to communicate product and quality specs, development direction, and forecasts• Managed new product sampling and approvals, production, monitored ship dates, quality control issues and vendor charge-backs, and functional test results/issues• Negotiated costs with vendors and oversaw the input and maintenance of costing in the Lenox Procurement system, partnering with Marketing to ensure profitable gross margins• Managed New Product Development tracking timeline and met regularly with the Finance, Planning, Marketing, Design, and Creative Services teams to ensure adherence to established deadlines• Managed and Supervised two employees• Traveled to vendors/factories in Asia 2x/year to check on production, conduct new vendor selection and audits, monitor vendor compliance and resolve operations/shipping issues