Marissa Gaster Email & Phone Number

Contracted to work in the capacities of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Merchandising Officer. Responsibilities include: • Cultivate operational systems, both internally and externally, to improve design, production and execution processes. Oversee daily corporate operations and make adjustments as required and necessary to meet financial goals.• Work closely with the CEO to finalize the company’s strategic plan and to define the quarterly and annual prioritized benchmarks to… Show more Contracted to work in the capacities of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Merchandising Officer. Responsibilities include: • Cultivate operational systems, both internally and externally, to improve design, production and execution processes. Oversee daily corporate operations and make adjustments as required and necessary to meet financial goals.• Work closely with the CEO to finalize the company’s strategic plan and to define the quarterly and annual prioritized benchmarks to achieve the plan.• Develop and implement growth strategies.• Create an overarching merchandising strategy across all product lines to drive rapid, global, sustainable growth across all DTC and wholesale channels.• Direct seasonal product strategy and line plan for each product category.• Collaborate with Design & Product Development/Production on the development and execution of collection to ensure final costing is aligned with financial objectives and timely delivery execution. • Create common cross-functional calendars and drive implementation. • Define, propose and implement sku targets.• Set suggested retail prices, working in close relationship with CEO and monitoring the market to maintain cost competitiveness. Monitor inventory to insure supply is maximized. • Establish IMU targets, working closely with design, product development, and the factory to achieve them.• Propose assortment and buys for direct retail - boutiques and e-commerce. Review total buys after market and place orders to production. • Roll up direct retail OTB, define assortment and place buys, working closely with the CEO as well as wholesale, ensuring alignment.• Work closely for on-line presentation and marketing campaigns. Coordinate all departments to ensure successful fashion shows and presentations at trade shows.• Own Merchandising budget - provide weekly and monthly merchandising reporting. Lead analysis and propose actions. Show less

Greater New York City Area

Managerial Skills Overview: • Managed and ran the design studio for Cipriani (a division of GBG). Led, trained, and motivated, team of full-time and freelance designers. Strategized staffing needs across categories and brands.. Monitored and evaluated performance of individuals and team.• Directed all designers to bring 26 lines of men’s bags, belts, and small leather goods, as well as women’s belts, to market every season.• Managed and coordinated 15 licensed brands, including… Show more Managerial Skills Overview: • Managed and ran the design studio for Cipriani (a division of GBG). Led, trained, and motivated, team of full-time and freelance designers. Strategized staffing needs across categories and brands.. Monitored and evaluated performance of individuals and team.• Directed all designers to bring 26 lines of men’s bags, belts, and small leather goods, as well as women’s belts, to market every season.• Managed and coordinated 15 licensed brands, including Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade.Operational Skills Overview:• Managed and reviewed development of initial seasonal design concepts in context of larger assortment of cost structure. Reviewed and provided perspective on style plans. Coordinated among design teams to ensure brand cohesiveness where appropriate, across categories.• Supervised creation of hand and Illustrator sketches. Reviewed product development logs, catalogs, and boards for consistency. Approved all raw materials and trims.• Secured and sourced samples and inspiration. Performed research to isolate key, relevant trends for each category or brand, and new fabrications to be adapted for each product category. Reviewed and provided perspective on competitive analysis, material, and concept boards, mock-ups, and inspirational photos for presentations.• Communicated with and developed productive and effective factory relationships through travels overseas to maintain and nurture factory relations, create product, and provide quality checks on production runs.• Projected and maintained a sample budgets. Negotiated all terms, minimums, and pricing with vendors. Planned and communicated factory projections and capacities as well as make and adhere to all sample and production calendars.• Maintained all internal and external margins through price negotiations as well as designing and developing cost effective products. Show less

• Create entire brand image as well as oversee and edit all designs for the existing lines at ROMA Industries: WCM, Via Spiga, Nanette Lepore, diMENsions, and Isaac Mizrahi.• Direct the sales team, on which products to select and put into production.• Analyze sales to know which trends, looks, and silhouettes to build on for the next season.• Responsible for costing products to stay competitive within the market and to make our margins.• Follow-up with… Show more • Create entire brand image as well as oversee and edit all designs for the existing lines at ROMA Industries: WCM, Via Spiga, Nanette Lepore, diMENsions, and Isaac Mizrahi.• Direct the sales team, on which products to select and put into production.• Analyze sales to know which trends, looks, and silhouettes to build on for the next season.• Responsible for costing products to stay competitive within the market and to make our margins.• Follow-up with sales and inventory to keep products in stock and know when to replenish or drop current styles.• Evaluate trends, pricing, as well as our current customers’ needs, as to stay current with whom our competition is and our position in the market.• Travel to Italy for trend and color research, shopping, and inspiration used to direct the design team.• Purchasing of all raw materials in Italy and Asia used by the company.• Create, in tandem with the merchants and buyers, well-rounded private label collections for their stores; which include (but are not limited to), Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, DKNY, and J Press.• Place all production orders of styles through the Production Manager and follow up to meet all deadlines.• Merchandise the showrooms 6 times a year for each new collection being presented. • Introduce the new lines to our sales representatives and all buyers that came into the showroom, making sure to focus on the trends being represented and how to sell them correctly. • Source new manufacturers as well as visit with existing factories in Italy and Asia multiple times. Show less