Liz Heard Email & Phone Number

United States

Greater Los Angeles Area

Greater Los Angeles Area

Lead and manage team of associates to create and execute initiatives for lines of business across merchandising, Print-On-Demand, Creator, and Fan Art programs.• Cultivate working relationships with key studio and licensor partners to ensure new programs focus on high KPI achievement.• Project and manage negotiations/contracts, program launches, and campaign pulse points.• Identify white space opportunities within Print-On-Demand business to build licensing library.• Construct, execute, and convey strategic plans for outlined goals to ensure cross functional success.• Serve as liaison between internal teams such as legal, art, product development, marketing, and operation departments to ensure all programs are holistically executed.• Coordinate E-comm and POD efforts with merchandising team within Hot Topic and BoxLunch for evaluation purposes, new opportunities, and brand cohesiveness with an omni-channel focus.Notable Achievements:• Tripled sales for Print-On-Demand business through team management, new client development, brand influencing, and strategic negotiations.• Led team achieving of sales goals year over year Developed and lead Fan Art program resulting in a major increase in sales results.• Pitched, negotiated, and managed 200+ licensor/agent partners.

Beverly Hills

Led team members for a start-up within an established company structure and served as merchandise buyer and planner. Utilized thought perspective on how merchandising can influence and propel the company vision forward for purpose of developing a fan-focused eco-system. • Magento E-commerce based platform user and admin• Strategized, developed and purchased compelling assortments of various categories focused on theatrical IP release schedules for E-commerce business.• Created reporting tools for retail budgets and margins, assortment plans, and inventory management processes.• Drove initiatives to instill best practices and developed operating procedures to support FanShop within the Fandango environment.• Fostered close working relationships with key studio and licensee partners to ensure strong product assortments, cohesive marketing, and productive financial results.Notable Achievements:• Built profitable retail programs for E-commerce through strategic planning, cultivating/fostering close partner ties, and executing retail merchandising practices across all levels of movie titles and pop culture.• Developed initiatives, maximized collaboration, and drove new business opportunities.• Built unique assortments outside of traditional licensing and partnered with artists to produce an exclusive e-commerce shop with marketing and retail pop-up events.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Created and employed licensing strategies for retail placement focusing on elevating brand integrity and driving revenue in white space. Cultivated sound working relationships with retailers, licensees, and 3rd parties for FOX. Provided continuous analysis to consumer product team related to opportunities and challenges within the retail landscape.• Developed and executed retail programs including product assortments and marketing campaigns for digital, in-store, and social pulses. • Managed licensing processes across accessory categories under film, television, franchise, and catalog titles.• Handled existing partner portfolios, including expansion into new development categories with optimal licensees.Notable Achievements:• Established exclusive retail brand ownership including product and marketing initiatives (AHS-Hot Topic and Bob’s Burgers-BoxLunch).• Several conceived programs nominated for LIMA awards.• Developed flourishing halo partnerships with in-demand partners (Sprayground/King Ice).

Cypress, Ca

• Manage relationship between Hybrid and licensors including Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Fox and Mattel• Build and maintain the relationship between Hybrid Licensing, Sales and Creative and our licensors.• Coordinate and prepare presentations for licensors based on brand integrity focused on trend and creative direction.• Communicate all marketing and brand updates within the Hybrid teams to ensure alignment within the business.• Daily communication with licensors including placement and selling reports, creative needs and updates, and brand partnership.• Forecast and manage royalty sales reports within in Hybrid to manage business expectations.• Manage the CMF/MAE by brand to ensure partnerships are being supported by the business.

Greater Los Angeles Area

CMT provides product development, sourcing, pricing, logistics and purchasing solutions to small and medium sized importers, distributors and retailers. Our innovative and direct work practice serves our clients and their customers with excellent service and extends the ability to celebrate the uniqueness and opportunity of the merchandise assortments. We enjoy working in partnership with our clients to maximize their business opportunities and exceeding the service quality expectations.

· Responsible for developing cohesive programs for major specialty retailers. Work with retailer,licensors, and design team to execute exclusive and market specific collections.· Work with overseas teams, production and buyers tosecure best product for the optimal business strategy based on the account.· Develop and maintain professional relationships with retailers and factories/makers to effectively negotiate fair/competitive cost, returns, markdowns, product development (quality, assortment, and cohesiveness) and timely delivery.· Seek out potential licenses for Loungefly brand as well as retailers to build the existing business as well as generate new partners in both licensing and retail.· Assist Director of Licensing in forecasting sales, potential opportunity and business across all levels of distribution internal for retailers and externally for licensors.· Project Manager-- 4-6 person art department. All art requests are filtered through the project manager. Structure each project with deadline; direction based on buyer and consumer habits and priority levels as well as following throughuntil the art, design and direction portions of each project is complete.· Develop items, collections and assortments from concept to delivery. Communicate daily with the factory and makers with focus on increased productivity in but not limited to the following: specifications, tech packs and construction details to ensure the sample and costing stages are handled effectively and efficiently. Ensure sampling and approvals are expedited for best results within the time line allotted by the PO and delivery schedule.· Manage, record, and maintain licensed product approval process. Communicate with licensors on new concepts, pre-production samples, effectively and professionally communicate approval objections and discrepancies or inconsistencies with both licensor and customer.

· Create, assort, plan and buy compelling assortments for each of the following categories (Lingerie, Hosiery,Beauty, and Gift/Novelty areas) while keeping the customer, trend and retail climate in mind for the most effective businessresults.· Continue successful programs by keeping reorders and updates in the program as well as working to keep eachdepartment's assortment evolving with the trends and seasons.· Create Assortment Sheets and weekly Hot Sellers sheet to communicate trends in categories, products andlicenses· Develop and maintain profession relationships with vendors to effectively negotiate fair/competitive cost, returns,markdowns, product development (including quality, assortment, and cohesiveness) and timely delivery· Partner with Planning Directors and Allocation Analysts to plan sales, inventory, markdowns, and mark-up planfor each department by sub-category.

· Indentify new licensed properties and potential trends to bring to the merchandising team.· Communicate with studios and merchandisers to negotiate royalties/payments; partner with legal to createcontracts to secure rights in the best interest of both parties· Analyze categories, products and trends to negotiate vendor, cost and delivery on licensed products andinternally sourced items outside of licensing· Partner with marketing team and work closely with studios/licensors to ensure marketing initiatives benefit bothparties and are executed in a timely manner.· Create and provide internal analysis around licenses and DTR program. Assist in validating the IMU andcontribution the sourcing, product development and DTR groups bring to the bottom line.· Develop and maintain close relationships with stores, merchants/planning and allocation teams, vendors, anddistribution centers to ensure the teams work effectively and efficient.· Trend research out in the market weekly to find new styles, fabric/materials, treatments, etc while shopping thecompetition to stay up to date with market trends. Also exploring and researching to find places or events for inspirationlike art shows, music events, and new shopping areas.

· Purchase Order creations, preparation, tracking and follow-up with vendors· Create Assortment Sheets and weekly Hot Sellers sheet to communicate trends in categories, products andlicenses· Develop and maintain professional relationships with vendors to effectively negotiate fair/competitive cost,returns, markdowns, product development (including quality, assortment, and cohesiveness) and timely delivery· Partner with Sr. Planner, Associate Planner and Allocation Analysts to plan sales, inventory, markdowns, andmark-up plan for each department by sub-category.

· Develop, maintain and manage a store operations team that runs effectively and efficiently· Introduce the Hot Topic Experience to externally hired management candidates· Train and develop basic management modules over a two week training period· Evaluate candidate and facilitate feedback conversations; ensuring to give honest and direct feedback midwayand at the close of the two week training· Communicate and develop relationships with RM/DM teams to give recommendations and suggestion oncandidates' performance· Work closely with training and development team at HQ to improving training tools and develop new trainingprogramsAchievements-Sales-· Increased profitability (over 100% growth) and margin dollars in two major account in less than one fiscal yearwith LoungeflyDirect To Retail-· Developed program and operational procedures to maintain· Increased profitability and margin dollars in both PD and DTR areasStore Operations-· Implemented and maintain shrink controls in store to achieve loss prevention awards· Maintained highest standard for internal and external customer service· Contributed to district plan and comp sales to achieve top district in company 2004· Analyzed and effected inventory mix to maintain a positive sale trend 2002-2004