Bryan Smeltzer
President · LiquidMind Inc.
Coto de Caza, CA
In My Own Words
Strategic, visionary executive skilled in defining, and executing on objectives to secure industry market share, while driving corporate growth initiatives. Respected leader, able to build and motivate, innovation, performance driven product/marketing teams.
Work Experience
President | Chief Visionary
LiquidMind Inc.2017 – Present
Brand strategy firm (LiquidMindsite.com) for apparel, footwear, sporting goods and consumer products companies. • Provide advisory services to consumer driven brands for; Go to Market strategy, business development, product creation, marketing execution, PR/media, acquisitions, retail merchandising and sales execution.
General Manager/VP
Zamst2012 – 2017
$135M Tokyo-based, premium sports bracing/supports brand with global distribution across 52 countries. - Challenged with zero revenue base and no distribution, to realizing multi-channel national distribution. - Recruited to lead the positioning of brand across multi-channel retailers across North America. Executive-level management and oversight of corporate. - P &L, product, marketing and sales teams. - Led the marketplace development of Zamst brand from start up to achieving national, multi-channel distribution with an 844% organic revenue growth rate ($5.1M), and 1,825 doors over a 3 ½ year period. - Accelerated the brand to achieve 5.28% category market share within 12 months of full distribution release across sporting goods, run, outdoor, and golf channels. (Dicks, SportChek, Scheels, PGA SS, JackRabbit) - Executed multi-tier “go to market” strategy through rebranding, social media execution, in-store activation, digital campaigns and merchandising.
Vice President/Division Manager
Gathering Storm (Schutt Sports licensee-www.schutt sports.com)2008 – 2010
$82M football and baseball protective equipment manufacturer. - Led division start-up and launch of new product lines (football gloves/apparel/accessories) achieving $1.4M revenue and distribution with 440 teams, 210 sporting good doors and 5 int’l distributors in initial year of launch. - Repositioned Schutt brand marketing strategy, collateral, imagery and merchandising programs; realized a vertical omni-channel message and authentication across new product categories. - Directed football product strategy, sourcing and commercialization of 810 SKUs in seven categories in eight months. - Oversaw NFL on-field football glove qualification and secured impact absorption utility patent
Vice President-Product & Marketing
Gathering Storm (SKINS Compression Apparel & ARENA Performance Swim global licensee)2008 – 2010
SKINS Compression Apparel ARENA: Performance Swimwear - Established strategy and led the division start-up to $4.2M in revenue and multi-channel retail distribution of SKINS gradient compression apparel and ARENA performance swimwear brands. - Executed brand positioning, marketing strategy and region product line plan; interfaced with int’l HQ teams.
Vice President-Product & Marketing
Gathering Storm *(TaylorMade & adidas Golf global licensee)2005 – 2008
$1.1B golf equipment manufacturer. - Set vision, product line multi-category execution (golf bags/gloves/accessories) and market positioning strategy to achieve revenue growth from $11M to $48M over three years. - Built product creation team, developed multi-category foundation and realized stand/cart golf bag market share gain of 9.8% to 23.7% over 10 month period. - Directed national brand marketing strategy, developed integrated social media multi-channel development, PGA Tour events, on-line activation and in-store merchandising. - 3 Utility Patents as “Inventor of Record”.
Senior Director- Global Apparel & Accessories
K-Swiss2004 – 2005
Global $450M premium footwear and apparel brand with a 45-year heritage. - Recruited to lead global apparel/accessories division repositioning and marketplace development. - Executive-level management and oversight of P&L, product, design, sales and marketing teams. - Created updated lifestyle collection; realized a 32% annualized gain on $3.45M in revenue in initial season. - Managed international distributors/licensees accounting for $35M in revenue.
Global Division Manager (Athletic Division)
Oakley, Inc.2002 – 2003
Global $1B vertical sunglass, apparel, watch, accessory and footwear brand. - Led start-up, product creation execution, cross functional team management and retail release of NCAA licensed product line consisting of; laser etched eyewear, apparel, watches and accessories. - Realized revenues of $1.8M across 326 department store and sporting good doors within 9 months. - Executive management of Oakley Athletic Division strategic business segment development, operations, marketing, merchandising and retail execution.
President/Founder
UTOPIA Sport1992 – 2001
Better Mens lifestyle clothing manufacturer. - Founded and built company from start up to profitable $5.4M revenue level, and sold to PE firm. - Initiated operations as a custom sandal company, designed and later expanded into active wear in the “better men’s” collection segment. - Developed a national sales presence with representation in major markets across the US, introduced new products seasonally, as well as licensing NCAA universities to produce branded apparel and accessories.
Program Manager
Hughes Aircraft1998 – 2000
Multi-billion-dollar defense and commercial avionics company - Maintained project management oversight of several “key” government and commercial avionics programs.
