Expert Details
Consumer Goods, Retail
ID: 733323
California, USA
• Expert assessment of retail brands
• Guidance to management, owners, legal and the investment community
• Complete review of merchandising, in house design, product development, vendor contracts, agent requirements, sourcing, buying
• Retail real estate reviews of malls, strip centers, life style shopping areas, distribution centers
• Brand positioning, competitive review, assortment diagnostics
• Product expertise with teen, women and children's apparel, shoes, accessories, jewelry, plus size, beauty
• Online, social merchandising, customer connection and guidance
• Management staffing review, SGA assessment, operations review, cost/expense assessment
• Experienced with Fast Fashion, Department Stores, Specialty, Big Box and general product stores
• Opened and managed stores in all 50 states, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, Japan, Korea
Biographical Statement: As an experienced retail executive, I have served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer for several different retail companies. I have functioned as a store operator and as a head of retail operations responsible for setting and following company policies. I have been trained in store and field management conduct, and have written, approved, and trained others on store merchandising and control policies. I have been retained to review and advise on several legal cases, and asked to contribute my knowledge and experience pertaining to retail store operations, retail store policies, retail store management, and retail store safety.
A variety of consultation formats: Retained, web-cast, training, round-table discussions, market reviews, mall walks with management/investment teams, conference calls. Brand specific reviews and/or brand comparisons.
Highly accomplished and results-driven professional with proven leadership abilities, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and an extensive background in the retail industry.
• The ability to inspire a shared vision
• Foster collaboration and enable others to act
• A positive and reaching communication style
• Challenging processes, searching for opportunities and calculating risk
• A passion for leadership
• Encourages others to be their best
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1997 | Degree: Public Board Certification | Subject: Corp board member responsibility | Institution: Stanford University |
| Year: 1995 | Degree: Management Negotiation Strategy | Subject: Skill development, management ext. | Institution: Harvard University MBA |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2010 to 2016 | Employer: GW RETAIL CONSULTING | Title: CEO | Department: Executive |
Responsibilities:A retail consultant focused on Brands / Trends / Merchandising / Operations / Store Safety• Expert assessment of retail brands and their operations • Guidance to management, owners, legal and the investment community • Complete review of merchandising, marketing, in house design, product development, sourcing, buying • Retail real estate reviews of malls, strip centers, life style shopping areas, distribution centers • Brand positioning, competitive review, assortment diagnostics • Product expertise with teen, women, kids, shoes, accessories, jewelry, plus size, beauty • Online, social merchandising, customer connection and guidance • Management staffing review, SGA assessment, operations review, cost/expense assessment • Experienced with Fast Fashion, Department Stores, Specialty, Big Box and general product stores • Opened and managed stores in all 50 states, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, Japan, Korea • A variety of consultation formats: Retained, training, round-table discussions, market reviews, mall walks with management/investment teams, conference calls. Brand specific reviews and/or brand comparisons |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2010 | Employer: UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. – A PPR COMPANY | Title: CEO | Department: Executive |
Responsibilities:Leading 500+ retail store, online and catalog apparel business for women's apparel. Vertical product development.United Retail acquired by PPR in Fall 2007 • Successfully Executed Special Turnaround – Helped move a recently acquired company from public to private, reduce its losses, and grow the company • Women’s plus size brands of Avenue, Avenue Body, Cloudwalker Footwear, Avenue Direct, and Jessica London Catalogue • 500 mall and strip-center based specialty stores and online stores • In-house exclusive designs and contract manufactured • Full P&L and brand development responsibilities • Charged with improving United Retail Group profitability and growing its concept |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2004 to 2008 | Employer: The Wet Seal, Inc. | Title: COO | Department: Executive |
Responsibilities:600 store teen apparel retailer. 42 states. specialty fast fashion. Market buy and in house design.• Successfully Executed Special Turnaround – Returned this company to profitability from large financial losses • Sales, real estate, store planning & construction, operations, purchasing, acquisitions, and strategies • 470 mall-based fashion retail stores, Arden B. and Wet Seal brands • Full P&L responsibilities • Major turnaround project, saving company from financial failure and returning it to a profitable brand |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2004 | Employer: Savers, Inc. | Title: CEO / Investor | Department: Executive |
Responsibilities:250 store chain of for profit thrift retail stores. Largest for profit chain in this channel in the world.• Successfully Executed Special Turnaround – Transitioned the company from a family owned and operated business to a growth strategy. 60% is now owned by private investors • Leading the operations of 197 thrift stores • Retail operations in Canada, Australia, and the United States • Responsible for brand, strategy and concept development • The largest for-profit thrift store chain worldwide |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 2000 | Employer: The Gymboree Corporation | Title: CEO | Department: Executive |
Responsibilities:500+ retail specialty children's apparel store, designer, mall based and parent, child play classes operating in 12 countries.• Responsible for the profitable operation of over 600 retail stores, 400 parent/child play & music program locations • Designed, sourced and manufactured high quality play clothing • Operating in 14 countries. Growing from 200 to over 600 stores • Direct reports were international director of operations, heads of merchandising, marketing, stores, human resources, real estate and finance |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1986 to 1996 | Employer: Mervyn's Stores | Title: EVP | Department: Executive |
Responsibilities:Major retailer of big box consumer products, apparel and general merchandise.• Management and operations of 295 stores with annual sales in excess of $4.5 billion with 30,000 + employees • Responsible for setting direction in support of company vision • Financial responsibility included a $500 million annual budget • Executive member of the Target Corporation management council. A parent company decision making body |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1976 to 1992 | Employer: Target Stores | Title: Vice President Regional Manager - West / Regional Merchandising Manager - West | Department: Management |
Responsibilities:Vice President Regional Manager - West | 1987 - 1992• Management of 60 stores in Northern California and Nevada • Six districts, sales of $1.2 billion • Operating profit/loss responsibility Regional Merchandising Manager - West | 1984 - 1987 • Management of stores inventories, assortments and product timing • Sales responsibility for all West Coast stores. Store count grew from 27 to 118 in four years • Direct reports of eight field merchandisers District Manager – California, Missouri, Illinois | 1980 - 1984 • Managed district groupings of stores in St. Louis and Southern California. Store count ranged from 9 to 13 • 1,800 employees, $210 million in volume responsibility • Full P&L accountability • Planned the initial Target Stores entry into Southern California. Opened 10 new stores in the market Store Manager – Missouri | 1976 - 1980 • General store manager duties in three stores over a five-year period • Volume responsibility ranged from $12 million to $22 million • Full P&L accountability • Appointed to open one new store • Named Manager of the Year - 1979 |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1972 to 1976 | Employer: Cook United | Title: Store Management | Department: Management |
Responsibilities:• Various management assignments from trainee to store manager• Three store manager appointments during my tenure • Cook United operated large format discount stores with general merchandise. The store merchandising focus was directed toward hardware and home improvement |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 1996 to 2000 | Country / Region: UK, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Australia, | Summary: Retail and franchised brand operations. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| BOARD OF DIRECTOR ASSIGNMENTS National Retail Federation March of Dimes – National Trustee Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) Gymboree Inc. Gymboree International Savers Inc. Inaugural class selection of the Henry Crown Fellows of Aspen Inst. A values based leadership group, improving business relationships with societal needs. |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Education: Extensive retail management training, professional development courses, and leadership training have played a major part in my professional career and advancement. Some of my educational development includes, but is not limited to, High Potential Executive College at Target Corp., advanced management courses at both Harvard University and Stanford University School of Management, and a Fellowship at Henry Crown - The Aspen Institute. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| Selected as Top 100 best Places to Work by Working Women's Magazine, in the United States. Gymboree Corp. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| I have served as an a legal expert witness fo 8 years. As an expert, I have completed reseach and offered opinions on more than 20 retail expert cases. Offering my insight on cases involving, executive management, operations, merchandising, store safety, retail real estate contracts, product production and sourcing. My cases have have involved department stores, big box retail and specialty stores, both for defendants and plaintiff. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| I advise investment and legal parties on trends in retail. These include: - Web Cast - Round Table discussions - Walking and teaching interested groups through malls and retail stores - One on one discussions EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING • Cuyahoga Community College (1970) • Henry Crown Fellow – a four-year values-based leader internship at the Aspen Institute (1997) • Stanford University Corporate Directors Consortium • Harvard Negotiation Institute • Various management development courses, as student and instructor |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| English | Native |