Whitney Smith Email & Phone Number

New York City Metropolitan Area

As the North American Agent for World Knits, I leverage over 20 years of experience in merchandising and sourcing to drive growth and foster collaboration within the apparel industry. World Knits is a fully vertical cotton and cotton blends factory, dedicated to delivering high-quality products and exceptional service.At World Knits, we pride ourselves.

Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

• Relocated to Brazil in 2021, launching and managing multiple businesses, and subsequently returning to the United States in 2023.
• Recently completed digital marketing bootcamp at Columbia University to amplify value proposition for future opportunities and increase value proposition.

New York, New York, United States

• While at The Jones Group, initiated and managed the Special Markets division dedicated to servicing the off-price channel, achieving over $100M in sales with 4-5 direct and 11 indirect reports; the division served as a.
• Demonstrated an acute understanding of retail microeconomics and proactively addressed industry dynamics.
• Oversaw design, merchandising, sales, and operations for the $80M+ division, driving revenue-focused sales plans by account, strategic growth through new category launches, and strong relationships with executives.
• Led exclusive product development, implemented merchandising strategies, and identified market trends while nurturing customer relationships.
• Supervised and mentored a team of 16 employees, achieving consistent year-over-year top-line growth of at least 15%, identifying global market opportunities, enhancing efficiency, and providing valuable insights during.
• At The Jones Group, prior to joining Kasper, led the successful launch and expansion of the Special Markets Division, growing it to $130M in annual sales, laying a strong foundation for continued success in subsequent.

New York, United States

New York, New York, United States

• Experienced acquisition by private equity firm Sycamore Group, leading the segmentation of the business into Kasper, jeans, and jewelry groups over the last 18 months.
• Within The Jones Group's Product and Sales Department, initiated the launch of the Special Markets division, achieving annual revenue growth exceeding $100M, and built, trained, and managed a 14-person team dedicated.
• Successfully introduced new product classifications, such as the non-iron shirt, with $14M in annual sales, and launched the jeans division, including Jones New York Jeans and Anne Klein Jeans, expanding annual jeans.
• Expanded business in warehouse clubs (Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's) to generate over $40M in annual revenue.
• Improved the division's gross margin from 25.0% to 38.0% through strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations.
• Spearheaded semi-annual overseas sourcing trips with key accounts, resulting in doubled order placements over three years, with gross margins increasing by 15% and a more than 30% improvement in turns.

Bootcamp, Digital Marketing,, A

Bachelor'S Degree, Business Administration And Management, Finance