Sandy Heller Email & Phone Number

Scottsdale, Az

-Lead and oversee day-to-day business operations dealing with JA owned inventory businesses; including Costco Roadshows, other Retail Inline initiatives -Lead and manage all Product Development; oversee the planning and execution of new product introductions and testing for all retail channels-Keep CEO current on any and all business issues and recommended solutions on company strategy development and ensuring employee alignment with strategy goals-Work with Advisory board reporting monthly on how execution and goals are meeting company plans-Planning, scheduling and execution of Costco roadshows in US and Canada-Planning, scheduling and execution of new business initiatives Inline at various Retailers-Overseeing Licensees-Manage the company’s Forecast/Planning function and its inventory investment dollars and managing to the annual OTB plan-Manage relationships with partners/vendors/Sales Reps that support all functions noted above-Work with Controller on budget development-Lead and manage weekly, monthly and quarterly meetings with JA team; using KPIs for accountability-Ensure business and process issues are being handled proactively and immediately.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Manage all aspects of new product development from concept to execution-Research and evaluate trends, competition and retail environment to create overall new product matrix-Establish and negotiate pricing and order quantities with factories to meet or exceed margin and inventory requirements-Identifying needs of retailers, developing concepts and getting sell-in to buyers-Continually identify new product opportunities and new channels of distribution-Establish new sources of supply as needed-Create spec packets for all production-Manage and review all packaging and labels for new and existing product-Secure samples of each new product for production sign off as well as photography-Manage licensee's product development process to ensure there are meaningful and cohesive collections across categories

New York, New York

Lead and execute all aspects of new product development for Dinnerware-Promoted to Senior Category Manager in 2011 and VP Product Development in 2015-Lead and manage all aspects of new product development for Mikasa dinnerware, and as of August 2016 the Pfaltzgraff and Gourmet Basics brands-Created a successful new segment of the Casual Dinnerware business by launching bone china sets resulting in a significant increase in wholesale sales across 20 new patterns-Spearheaded a complete update of the Mikasa dinnerware business by developing new resources and sourcing new techniques, leading to large scale in store placement at several major accounts such as Macy’s-Adapted to changing consumer needs by discontinuing larger, higher priced services for 8 and transitioning to services for 4, reviving our largest franchise patterns-Train and manage a team of 4 category managers -Lead overall design direction for each season through research and evaluation of trends as well as through competitive and internal analysis-Partner with and visit overseas factories to ensure timely development of patterns-Negotiate all pricing with factories to successfully meet or exceed margin requirements-Lead weekly new product development meetings-Review and negotiate all PO’s placed in order to keep inventory levels down -Lead presentations to retail customers on all new product launches-Analyze margins and sales performance to recommend price increases and sku reductions-Direct designers in the creation of new patterns

Norwalk, Connecticut

Managed over 80 book programs for Easton Press, the high end publishing division of MBI, Inc., a $500 million collectibles company.Created marketing and spending plans for direct mail campaignsDeveloped proposals for new book programs for review by senior management