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 on:Vertical Operations: Managing all aspects of production in-house, ensuring efficiency, quality control, and swift turnaround times.Duty-Free Advantages: Offering significant cost benefits through AGOA trade agreements on both vertical and imported fabrics, allowing our partners to achieve competitive pricing and compelling margins.Innovative Design Capabilities: Our talented team includes in-house 3D designers for rapid digital sampling, graphic designers for custom artwork, and fashion designers dedicated to creating unique designs that meet market demands.Sustainability Commitment: We are committed to sustainable practices, aligning with industry standards and goals to support a greener future.I am passionate about building strong relationships and helping brands achieve their product goals while maintaining the highest standards of quality and sustainability. Let's connect and explore potential collaboration opportunities!

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 successful model for other companies. At Kasper, replicated this success by leading a similar transition, generating $50M in first-year sales and growing the division to an annual revenue of $80M+.• 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 fittings.• 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 roles.• Appointed to Senior Vice President of Sales for the newly acquired Jones New York sportswear license, collaborating with the Sr VP of Design and CEO to enhance product quality and spearheading its launch in over 300 department stores. Continued to lead the Special Markets division as Sr VP of Sales and Merchandising.

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 to the division's business.• 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 classification sales to $23M.• 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.• Successfully launched QVC businesses, Jones Elements, and Anne Klein Studio, achieving substantial growth during tenure.• Resigned as VP of Special Markets at The Jones Group in 2014 for a competitor's VP role, was later recruited back by The Kasper Group's President/CEO to join a different division with retained seniority and benefits.

Bootcamp, Digital Marketing,, A

Bachelor'S Degree, Business Administration And Management, Finance