Mari Fox Email & Phone Number

Irvine, California, United States

Greater Los Angeles Area

Established and administer a US based Product Development department. Established communication routines working remotely with the Hong Kong office. While the function did require occasional travel and direct work with the Hong Kong team - the daily disciplined communication protocols were highly successful. This effort included the organic Product Development process from concept board to retail shelves.Major Accomplishments:• Instrumental in key processes from concept stage to final approval to distribution on all licensed product• Highly involved in the Private Label branding design for many key accounts including Walmart, Walgreens, Target and Dollar Tree• Successfully launched and implemented a cost saving program including managing timelines and product cost analysis including extensive experience in overseas manufacturing• Vendor management and relations including negotiating beneficial pricing on product and testing• Responsible for the development of twelve key product lines: Blitz Bubbles®, Super Miracle Bubbles®, Miracle Bubbles®, Lick A Bubble™, Googly® Balls, Googly® Bands, Life-Like™, Legends of the Wild West®, Sticky Patches™, Runway Pink®, Fun in the Sun® and Lumination™ Glow Markers• Led cross-functioning team in the design and development of the top two award winning and top-selling Blitz® Bubble Fantasia & Blowout Bubble Machines - from brainstorming, concept boards, CAD review and preproduction samples all the way to final production stageINDUSTRY AWARDS• NDP Group - #1 Selling Toy 2018 - Massive Googly® Ball & Blitz® Blowout Bubble Machine• TOTY - Outdoor Toy of the Year - Finalist 2016 - R2-D2 Bubble Machine• TOTY - Outdoor Toy of the Year - Finalist 2015 - Blitz® Fantasia Bubble Machine • NDP Group - #1 Toy 2014 & 2015 - Disney Licensed Life-Likes™• Walgreens - Best Innovation 2012 & 2013• Wal-Mart - Speed to Market Award 2010 - Googly® Bands

Greater Los Angeles Area

Art Director/Product Development - October 2003– August 2007Promoted to lead a team of junior designers and free-lance contributors. This leadership role included collaboration with sales team, printers and overseas staff to launch multiple product lines marketing campaigns. Responsible for the design and production of product branding, catalogs, print ads, show samples and sales sheets. Worked with design team to refresh the online presence, including incorporating key branding elements and updated product images into the overall company website redesign.Major Accomplishments:• Successfully designed, launched and supported marketing materials under tight deadlines for the major product launch of our Wave Hoop© product line which generated $12M in it’s first year of sales• Key contributor to design and development of several key products lines including hula hoops, jump ropes, hoppers and light-up spinners, to name a few• Organized and managed photo shoots and commercial filming for the Wave Hoop® and Spokey Dokes® brands along with several other product linesGraphic Designer - April 2000 – Sept 2003Recruited to work on the over-arching branding of multiple types of toys ranging from doll accessories to a classic line of novelty toys; including yo-yos, jacks, jump ropes, hoppers and hula-hoops. Major Accomplishments:• Product branding, development and design to complete the overall look of the product line• Coordinated bi-yearly catalog photo-shoots, layout, copyrighting and production ready files• Showroom sample mock-ups, set-up and presentation in both the local office and at off-site locals• Responsible for distribution and tracking of all sales samples and marketing materialsINDUSTRY AWARDS• TOTY - Outdoor Toy of the Year - Finalist 2003 - Wave Hoop®• TOTY - Spring/Summer Toy of the Year - Finalist 2000 - Wave Hoop®• TOTY - Spring/Summer Toy of the Year - Winner for years 1998 and 1999 - Wave Hoop®