Kelsey Cousar Email & Phone Number

Bentonville, Arkansas, United States

Bentonville, Arkansas

• Maintain, streamline, and oversee all quality testing stages for Wal-Mart apparel brands across all departments in the categories of active, seasonal, hunting, and basics.• Working with Product Development, Consumer Testing, and all affiliated Wal-Mart teams to insure and maintain quality test results for all products. • Staying alert to new opportunities, techniques, approaches, and trends in the market by competitively reviewing retailers in the market.• Maintain system for tracking testing and samples.• Ensure lab dip samples achieve the correct CSI color.• Ensure all graphics, prints, sublimation, etc. are to standard regarding hand feel, appearance, and color.• Extensive understanding in the testing life cycle stages from lab dip to top of production testing.• Maintain an understanding of how various fabrics and qualities of fabric handle certain techniques, colors, and washes.• Extensive understanding of sustainability as it pertains to sustainable clothing and sustainable practices at a mill level.• Maintain and monitor quality testing requirements across the retail industry.• Maintain relationships with factories in El Salvador, Guatemala, and China as a liaison for Walmart teams.• Maintain trim approval process across all categories and brands to ensure correct packaging is on products.• Maintain and streamline approval process and certification process in regards to all sustainability offerings at Intradeco. • Review testing scorecards for opportunities for improvement. • Possess training is Blue Cherry PLM• Possess training is Retail Link• Oversee Bentonville office in regards to all volunteer opportunities and charitable donations working with Rampy Trifest for MS, Boys & Girls Club, and the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter

•Supplier Communication. Communicate aesthetic approvals for items: i.e., color aesthetics, print strike-offs, handlooms, graphics, trims, embellishment techniques and placement.•Facilitate resolution of approval failures: component aesthetics, color, fabric or CTL LD and shade band failures in partnership with technical services •Participate in supplier development meetings with Product Manager and assist in the preparation for all meeting materials •Creation of trend, recap, and product development documents needed throughout a season.•Swatch seasonal color cards •Assist Product Manager in review and analysis of seasonal performance for categories •Physically assist in transport and set-up in all facets of Milestone Meetings/Walmart Presentations •Collect images and help construct boards for Milestone Meetings •Assist Product Manager in organizing samples for Milestone Meetings •Participate in Milestone Meeting events.•Assist Product Manager in initiation of PLM creation and product packs via Database. •Assist Product Manager in assigning style numbers and detailing product input sheets for seasonal SKU’s in development •Assist in creating technical spec sheets, pitch sheets, and spec sheets for products chosen for a season.•Update product input sheets as necessary •Weekly analysis of sales for each category represented•Generate supplier tracking log, updating throughout the entire approval process.•Involved in all stages of the Better Homes & Gardens packaging process alongside brand team and Walmart packaging team to insure all BHG packaging meets BHG standards.

•Review reports from Apparel, Home, Accessories, and Children’s Apparel to ensure they meet quality standards set by Walmart, Sam’s, and various outside vendors during the production process from start to finish•Assist suppliers in improving product quality if testing results in a failing score •Serve as the primary liaison between the New York Walmart Apparel team and Consumer Testing Laborites (CTL)•Streamlined internal processes for handbags and backpacks testing, resulting in improved efficiencies and increased daily targeted goals •Administer performance reviews and oversee time sheet and payroll concerns for approximately 20 employees •Accredited method expert performing audits for the laboratory to maintain quality, standards, and testing procedures throughout of laboratory locations.

•Performed extensive product evaluations for the Apparel and Accessories departments oTested garments and fabrics for fiber content, chemical safety, elasticity, dye bleed, etc. oAdhered to vendor-specific quality assurance standards in addition to government regulations, including the FTC, AATCC, and ASTM •Prepared and submitted technical reports for review based upon product evaluations

Visual Merchandising, Customer Service, Inventory Management

Greater Los Angeles Area

Stylist for movie sets and events, Inventory Management, Creating Visual Displays, Product Development, Financial Planning and Analysis