Michael Abata Email & Phone Number

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Plantation, Florida, Us

Marketing Chewy's brand-new Vet Care Clinics across the US. Leading partnerships, community events, outreach and localized marketing. Currently in Ft Lauderdale/Miami, Denver CO, Atlanta GA. Coming soon to Austin, Dallas and Houston TX!

Anahata Consulting is a boutique marketing consultancy focused in retail. I guide brands towards their purpose in retail connecting consumer behavior and cultural insights. From strategy to execution of marketing campaigns, partnerships and media I help teams create unstoppable retail brand experiences.

Curated slack channel and network of kick-ass marketing & creative leaders focused on sharing industry knowledge, creating unexpected partnerships and collaborating on new opportunities.

New York, New York, Us

Led product strategy, partnerships and commercialization marketing team launching three brands at Target, Best Buy, Amazon, Costco, Kroger and Walmart. Managed vendor teams, working with retailer marketing team, engaged influencer & creative agencies.· Launched So Yummy by bella licensed partnership exclusively at Target bringing 100s of viral social recipes to Target guests with stylish, affordable small kitchen appliances· Developed Tabitha Brown Private Label for Target in small kitchen appliances· Re-launched CRUXGG, a licensed partnership with Ghetto Gastro, at Target with paid search, paid media and influencers to quickly become one of Target's best online Air Fryer brands · Brought to life Oprah's Favorite Things and Oprah's Back to School CRUXGG placements on Amazon and Target driving significant increase in awareness and purchase behavior· Introduced content creators/influencers to CRUXGG brand, in partnership with Collectively, rapidly outperforming benchmarks in engagement and intent to purchase· Re-launched CRUX x DJ Marshmello licensed partnership on Amazon.com re-energizing the partnership and creating new demand· Developed private label products and partnerships with mass retailers in US and Canada, sourced licensed partnerships and develop strategy for the re-launching core brand bella across key partners.

New York, New York , Us

Strategized and executed long-term new revenue growth and brand awareness opportunities in vending, entertainment, travel, services and web3. · Launched private label product wholesale program with Uncommon Goods· Collaborated with Disney to create new customer acquisition strategies for CAMP shows with Disney Consumer Products, D23 and Disney Movie Insiders· Concepted Disney's Little Mermaid x Walmart Live! x CAMP first-of-kind shoppable experience· Executed Holiday non-profit partnership with Boys & Girls Club of America and Ally Bank leading to $25k worth of toys being donated to Harlem Boys & Girls Club· Orchestrated experience based partnership with Google Kids Space with potential to create CAMP's first-to-market content series

St Louis Park, Minnesota, Us

Advising REM5VR startup leadership team on empathy training and building opportunities in the Web3, VR & Metaverse marketplace. Brand advocate. Check out https://www.simulacra.io to see the latest!

Active member contributing to the vision, planning, and execution of the Twin Cities Startup Week programing and events. Created a program called "How Cultural Awareness Can Propel New Ideas". Designed for early-stage to established brands giving Startup Week attendees a fresh perspective on what cultural conversations are impacting brands and resources/tools that grow the diversity of thought and cultural awareness within organizations.

San Jose, Ca, Us

Curated, developed and executed high-impact strategic brand, retail and marketing licensing partnerships including: Ted Lasso x Shutterfly, Shutterfly x KonMari / Marie Kondo, Camp x Shutterfly, and The Onion for Shutterfly while building out a new organizational capability and team that drove increased brand awareness, new customer acquisitions and and short-term growth revenue.

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Evolved Target's YouTube channel strategy, growth, and original content series creation. · Propelled Target's channel into an entertainment and shopping growth engine · Transformed editorial, creator and series partnerships by evolving and developing first-of-their kind content including Let's Target Season 3, Sustainability Hacks and Black Entrepreneurship. Winner of "Brand of the Year" and "Best Branded Series" by YouTube Streamy Awards 2021.· Evolved advertising, media and measurement capabilities · Deployed enterprise-wide strategy best practices and use cases

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

A "cultural catalyst" that guided Target marketing in the authentic participation of relevant consumer conversations that generate engagement and excitement for the Target brand.• Translated fast/slow culture to c-suite including: mega trends, macro trends & micro trends • Inspired leaders with real-time insights, consumer conversations, cultural movements briefs• Enabled teams with tools, strategies, frameworks and an exchange of ideas• Consulted on brand, campaign and company-wide cultural conversation engagements

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Accelerated Target’s engagement in corporate responsibility marketing by connecting Target’s purpose of “helping all families discover the joy of everyday life” to brand marketing campaigns, brand/design partnership launches and enterprise-wide initiatives.• Led year-long, editorial-style strategy and purpose-driven marketing campaign• Facilitated marketing campaign integrations w/ Target's corporate responsibility priorities• Acted as a strategic catalyst and change agent across the enterprise • Transformed Target's inclusive product merchandising and marketing experiences

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Led the strategy and execution of a localized marketing program to drive store traffic and awareness of 500+ remodeled Target store locations across the US. Delivered a 2%+ sales comp increase in stores post-remodel. • Drove significant increases in store traffic for newly remodeled stores• Brought a deeper understanding of the remodel consumer journey to marketing activations • Guided marketing work through strategy, creative, media and production development stages• Ran Target’s first-ever scalable, local, store-specific marketing playbook

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Piloted strategy, growth and execution of Target’s LGBTQ marketing campaigns, deepening love and engagement with LGBTQ Consumers. Growing Target to top brand for LGBTQ consumers, achieving significant increases in marketshare and accelerating triple-digital merchandise comps. Target ranked #1 LGBTQ Brand by LGBTQ consumers during campaign from 2016-2018.• Guided growth of the empathetic and differentiated #TakePride LGBTQ marketing campaign• Inspired creative/media partners with meaningful LGBTQ consumer insights and strategies• Managed diverse network of partners to build LGBTQ integration across marketing campaigns• Consulted with internal teams (50+) on multicultural opportunities in the broader retail marketplace• Led national partnerships with HRC, GLAAD, GLSEN & UCLA's Williams Institute• Creator of Google Primer Lesson: "Reach the LGBTQ Audience by being inclusive"

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Change agent & multi-disciplinary marketer leading accelerated growth opportunity work-streams that enable Target to be more culturally relevant with today's modern consumers. 2015• Researched, educated and lead what it means for a retailer & brand to be "culturally relevant"• Evolved Target's point-of-view on how we interact and participate with relevant, social issues• Partnered in developing Target's long-term strategy around social and digital influencers2013-2014• Advocated and tested consumer-to-consumer opportunities in the digital/physical retail world• Led partnership with Betterific connecting consumer ideas with Target product designers• Consulted on partnership with Bump Club & Beyond connecting and educating local parents

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Developed innovative, long-term business growth strategies, founded in data, primary consumer research and secondary business intelligence for the entertainment, electronics, toys, sporting goods, kids and licensing businesses. • Lead, interpreted and strategized robust qualitative and quantitative primary consumer research• Facilitated cross-functional teams (30+) in immersion of primary/secondary consumer research• Imagined and advanced cross-category, forward-thinking multichannel tests • Identified, sized and built strategies around white space growth opportunities• Managed external research agency work and ongoing relationships

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Researched & consulted on emerging competitive, consumer, multichannel and digital trends, guiding teams in building authentic, long-term growth brand strategies. Work focused on building a comprehensive understanding of the next generation consumer (Millennials, Generation Z) and next generation retail experience for the larger organization.• Conducted primary consumer, technology, macrotrend and competitive landscape research• Led cross-company forward-thinking growth innovation strategy pilots • Identified major marketplace risks and opportunities for executive clients• Facilitated executive team strategy offsites, guiding the development of long-term brand growth• Prioritized high-level secondary research intelligence partnerships• Built internal collaboration tools to connect intelligence across major business teams

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Developed relevant, long-term business growth strategies, founded in data, consumer research and business intelligence for CityTarget/Target Express urban strategies. • Led and interpreted robust qualitative and quantitative urban research projects• Leveraged consumer, competitive and macroeconomic trend intelligence for strategy building• Prioritized competitive threats and white space opportunities for sr. executive clients• Oversaw teams (20+) in the immersion of consumer research and strategy development • Managed multiple external insight/creative agency's work and ongoing relationships

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Designed and delivered impactful brand experiences, connecting internal audiences with Target’s brand, culture and corporate strategy.• Produced meeting presentations, videos and set design for senior executive clients• Led cross-company, creative concepting sessions • Directed in-store and headquarters photo and video shoots• Established best practices for creative media production team

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Designed and managed engaging meeting experiences, connecting internal audiences with Target’s brand, culture and corporate strategy. • Oversaw multi-day, 12,000+ attendee internal meeting logistics & budgets• Led cross-company, functional teams (10+) in the development and execution of meetings • Managed multiple external vendor relationships and on-site work• Designed and produced innovative after-meeting, 2,000+ attendee events

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

• Responsible for designing sales-driving merchandise displays in beer, wine, spirits• Analyzed product presentation, inventory and sales data to build impactful presentations• Managed team (6+) using proprietary consumer-data driven algorithm for store-specific displays• Oversaw cross-company internal and external partnerships

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

• Responsible for designing sales-driving merchandise displays• Analyzed product presentation, inventory and sales data to build impactful presentations• Developed planogram transition best practices to increase accuracy and reduce workload

Condo association board member for 374 Unit Condo Building in downtown Minneapolis - one of the largest condo developments in the Twin Cities with a multi-million dollar operating budget. Led administration and the board liaison to the building & house capital improvement committee.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Us

Researched & taught the importance of connecting modern consumer behavior to business, marketing and brand strategies. Guided leaders in the understanding of the future of business in a world of shifting consumer demands, a digital economy, and an innovation mindset.

Richfield, Minnesota, Us

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

• Performed duties in managing guest/team relations, store logistics, and asset protection• Explored the role of the downtown store with the corporate headquarters• Gained knowledge of store operations and management strategies

Marketing, Management

Personal Leadership & Success