Lara Gusa Email & Phone Number

Bothell, Wa, Us

• Managed and staffed a team of 30+ employees with an entrepreneurial spirit to help the Franchise achieve $1M in Y1 revenue • Partnered with Franchise Owner to manage client and employee relationships • Created marketing plan and content for clients across several mediums

• Manage new product development process, including COGs and P&Ls, with a strong emphasis on profitable and innovative products that delight Blue Dog Bakery consumers and achieve long-term growth of the brand.• Analyze new product successes and failures to support continual product innovation, improvement and consumer trial and purchase. • Monitor market trends, research consumer markets and competitors’ activities to identify opportunities.• Manage brand standards, as well as all print-ready packaging art files, die lines and brand assets. • Partner with Operations Team Lead to manage supply chain ensure high quality, cost-effective materials are sourced in a timely manner.• Accountable for driving significant eCommerce sales growth through expanded online availability and distribution, consumer engagement and promotion. • Develop consumer marketing strategies that increase brand exposure, drive purchase and trial and improve overall market share. • Implement trade marketing initiatives, including industry tradeshow attendance, POS displays, in-store promotions, etc., that will elevate the Blue Dog Bakery brand within the pet industry.• Product knowledge guru for all ingredient, supplier and product information.

• Develop and lead marketing initiatives, including consumer outreach, event and guerrilla marketing, couponing, trade shows, social media and web marketing programs. • Mange marketing agency partnerships to ensure successful execution of public relations, web and event marketing and consumer program initiatives. • Enhanced branded online store resulting in more than 4x growth in annual sales through creative use of promotions, consumer communications and social media. • Manage all brand assets, maintain brand guidelines and extend packaging design to new product forms. • Manage online sales partnerships. • Outline and manage marketing budget.• Lead new product development from product conception to launch, including costing, packaging development and design, supplier management, component sourcing and production.

• Manage all marketing initiatives, including consumer outreach, event and guerrilla marketing, couponing, trade shows, social media and web marketing programs. • Manage several marketing vendors to ensure successful execution of public relations, web & event marketing and consumer program initiatives.• Outline and manage annual marketing budget, product specs and pricing.• Manage new product development process from product conception to launch, including cost of goods, packaging development and design, ingredient and component sourcing and production.• Developed and executed an integrated marketing program to drive consumer purchase that included in-store POP displays, IRCs and a consumer-driven donation program.

• Established presence at the largest U.S. pet trade show by acting as main point of contact for booth design • Responsible for annual exhibitor participation, execution and management.• Partnered with a top Seattle design firm on company rebrand that resulted in a 35% growth in revenue YoY. • Create and mange company brand standards.• Support and manage retailer trade programs, including Kroger dunnhumby (now 84.52°) initiatives. • Oversaw Territory Manager Intern Program to ensure proper planogram execution and expanded consumer awareness of products at regional retailers.• Manage all customer inquiries and developed a standard protocol for response.• Handle ongoing, in-kind donations for 200+ organizations annually.

• Client services• Member of the marketing team• Oversaw promotional product estimation and process• Followed client jobs through the production process• Ensured client satisfaction

• Measured roads and determined service types to update the King County road logs, which ultimately effect the County gas tax.