Karen Mainenti Email & Phone Number

New York, NY, US

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Chair of the board of directors for this not-for-profit organization working to support, promote, and advocate for local artists and a sustainable arts community in Gowanus, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Greater New York City Area

From mass market to luxury, I am an experienced designer within the home, fragrance and gift categories for brands, licenses and retailers. Skilled at building strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders, I am also accomplished in determining relevant on-trend opportunities in the marketplace to create incremental business growth. A capable leader.

Brooklyn, NY

My artwork is often a re-engagement of appropriated text and images from consumer products, advertising and media. By reframing these messages—often with humor—I attempt to reveal the absurdity and unnatural expectations that society has come to accept as commonplace. I am specifically drawn to exploring gender identity, because of its exceedingly elusive.

New York, New York, United States

Teach portfolio classes to prepare college seniors for their careers in the arts, with a focus on exploring and clarifying aspirations, portfolio development, brand identity, social media, interviewing and networking.

Greater New York City Area

• Joined PartyLite as part of a new strategic leadership team to turn around this declining business with design innovation to increase global growth. Responsible for setting the global creative vision and strategy for.
• Introduced the new PartyLite Signature branded candle collection to the market with… Show more Joined PartyLite as part of a new strategic leadership team to turn around this declining business with design innovation.
• Introduced the new PartyLite Signature branded candle collection to the market with innovative product and packaging design to drive brand loyalty and uniqueness within the market.
• Partnered with the leadership team to shape and design the new Find Your Signature home party concept built on the idea of combining fragrances, driving sales towards the more consumable business of candles and.
• Broadened creative resources to elevate design of seasonal home décor to appeal to a younger, more sophisticated consumer base in order to capture new sales consultants and customers.
• Travel globally to execute product, trend and color development.

Greater New York City Area

• Newly created role to help lead the company in diversification of customer base. Created private-label designs to generate new business with retailers and brands in the home fragrance category. Directed strategy.
• Partnered with VP Business Development in diversification strategy, identifying targets and initiating… Show more Newly created role to help lead the company in diversification of customer base. Created private-label.
• Partnered with VP Business Development in diversification strategy, identifying targets and initiating relationships and contracts with new partners.
• Conducted gap analysis to determine white space at retailers.
• Acquired exclusive licensing agreement with the Lenox brand for home fragrance collection by providing strategic creative development. Built product lines and art directed all photography.
• Acquired new customers by developing private-label, custom, proprietary home fragrance programs, growing the business by over 20%. New customers include: Anthropologie, Bed Bath & Beyond, Cracker Barrel, Francesca’s.

Greater New York City Area

• Led creative direction on holiday product lines across all business channels: mass market at Home Depot; specialty markets at Macy’s; catalog business with Grandin Road. Ensured a cohesive brand vision throughout.
• Led design of 500 SKUs generating over $20M in sales.
• Leveraged knowledge of the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday assortment at Kmart to demonstrate to senior management the… Show more Led creative direction on holiday product lines across all business channels: mass.
• Leveraged knowledge of the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday assortment at Kmart to demonstrate to senior management the viability of a holiday category at Home Depot stores.
• Launched introduction of 200 SKUs of Martha Stewart Living Holiday collection sold at Home Depot stores, including ornamentation, trees, home décor, lighting and textiles.
• Partnered with editorial, crafts and television departments to extend brand content across all merchandising platforms.

Greater New York City Area

• Lead designer for the Martha Stewart Collection holiday product line at Macy’s stores. Created initial concepts, technical drawings, and design specifications for buyers and vendors. Provided design direction to.
• Led design of over 150 SKUs of ornamentation and home décor products.
• Revived the holiday business at Macy’s by turning around a weak relationship. Partnered with the Macy’s team to propose products that resonated with the Macy’s customer… Show more Lead designer for the Martha Stewart.
• Revived the holiday business at Macy’s by turning around a weak relationship. Partnered with the Macy’s team to propose products that resonated with the Macy’s customer, while also maintaining a strong brand identity.
• Conceptualized and designed the new product categories of mini trees, tree picks, floral décor, and shatterproof ornaments to build incremental business with the potential to double category sales.
• Managed freelance designers in developing designs from concept to finished product. Show less

Greater New York City Area

• Designed products for the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday & Candle categories at Kmart stores. Created on-brand product for the ornamentation, gift wrap, home décor, textiles (stockings, ribbon, tree skirts), candles.
• Created mood boards, color palettes and design concepts for overarching thematic product collections, and led presentations to senior management and Kmart merchants for buy-in.
• Conceptualized and designed products: initial concepts… Show more Designed products for the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday & Candle categories at Kmart stores. Created on-brand product for the ornamentation, gift.
• Conceptualized and designed products: initial concepts, technical drawings, design specification packages, reviewing samples and issuing final approvals.
• Single-handedly designed the gift wrap category of 30 wrapping paper designs, coordinating gift tags, ribbons and bows. Generated original artwork and surface designs, created pattern repeats, finalized files, and.
• Created custom hand-lettering featured in the 2006 Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday in-store signage and PR campaign.

Greater New York City Area

• Designed products for the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday & Candle categories at Kmart stores. Created on-brand product for the ornamentation, gift wrap, home décor, textiles (stockings, ribbon, tree skirts), candles.
• Created mood boards, color palettes and design concepts for overarching thematic product collections.
• Create technical drawings and design specification packages for buyers and vendors
• Travel overseas to Asia to work directly with… Show more Designed products for the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday & Candle categories at Kmart stores. Created on-brand product for the ornamentation, gift wrap, home.
• Travel overseas to Asia to work directly with vendors on product revisions and approvals
• Meet with collectors and textile houses to purchase vintage and original artwork

Greater New York City Area

• Managed development of the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday & Decorating categories at Kmart stores, including ornaments, wreaths, lighting, gift wrap, ribbons, tabletop, candles, frames, organization, clocks and.
• Managed 1,250 SKUs generating over $100M in sales.
• Satisfied long-term growth plans and brand presence by developing merchandising… Show more Managed development of the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday & Decorating categories at Kmart stores, including ornaments.
• Satisfied long-term growth plans and brand presence by developing merchandising strategies, analyzing sales and conducting competitive market research.
• Traveled overseas regularly with retail merchants to review product samples and identify product innovations.
• Oversaw two direct reports and cross-functional teams of product design and creative services departments (20+ employees). Show less

Greater New York City Area

• Managed the creation of packaging, signage and collateral for the Martha Stewart Everyday Garden & Holiday categories at Kmart stores, including outdoor furniture, garden tools, grills, outdoor décor, live plants.
• Managed the creation of packaging for the launch of the live outdoor plant collection, consisting of more than 350 types of perennials and annuals.
• Partnered with the EVP Editorial Director and… Show more Managed the creation of packaging, signage and collateral for the Martha Stewart Everyday Garden & Holiday categories at Kmart stores, including outdoor.
• Partnered with the EVP Editorial Director and plant growers across the country to coordinate personalized gardening tips, care instructions and photography.
• Hand-picked to spearhead the creation of packaging for the launch of the Martha Stewart Everyday Holiday category, including more than 1,000 SKUs in seven distinct holiday themes. Show less

Greater New York City Area

Approved and processed all interlibrary loans for the museum. Paged and sorted books, periodicals, and artist file materials for visiting researchers and curatorial staff. Increased the overall volume of museum's lending program by more than 60% through the establishment of new interlibrary loan partnerships

Certified Professional Co-Active Coach

I am currently studying at the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI), which has been a pioneering influence of credentialed coaches and coach.

Summer Residency Program: Painting And Mixed Media

Certificate In Introduction To Perfumery, Givaudan Creative Fragrance Program

Ba, Fine Arts Major, Marketing Minor, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Phi Beta Kappa