Started by the creative team that founded Native Shoes, People Footwear is based on re-creating classic styles of the past with construction techniques of the future. As the General Manager I was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company including key performance indicators for all departments. Directly responsible for the output of sourcing & production deliverables, reconciling financials, and overseeing the marketing, operations, and sales teams. Reported directly to the CEO.The Director of Product role responsibilities included style, material, print, and colour direction for all product categories. I directly influenced visuals for retail displays, trade shows, catalogues, and all consumer facing imagery.

As the operations/production manager I oversaw all aspects of the business in China. This included vendor selection, price negotiations, samples, pre-production, production management/timelines, quality control, and shipping. I managed a team of four in China whose responsibility included production, product development, and quality control. Vancouver head office duties included company calendars, order processing, purchase orders, and the implementation of the ERP system Bright Pearl.

As Native Shoes’ head merchandiser I was responsible for creating the themes, colors and overall feel for their first 6 collections. This role included trend forecasting, colour theory, retail market research, line planning, and sales presentations. I maintained a SKU strategy that was aligned with the needs of our global distribution partners and conducted line reviews with key accounts and sales managers. Within this position I also had the opportunity to work with other brands to create unique Native product. From the initial design concept to the delivery of the finished shoes I oversaw all aspects of the special projects. Clients included Coca Cola, Marc Jacobs, Hypebeast, Catalog, Lululemon and Aritzia.

As the designer assistant I worked directly with the designer/founder to bring his ideas to the retail market. I was responsible for identifying target market demands within the denim/apparel sector and creating garments to reflect the current trends. Daily duties included trend forecasting, technical flats, sketching, tracking lab dips and fittings.