Bachelor of General Studies in Humanities

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Product Development, Sourcing and Merchandising- Licensed product

Engineering & Production

Accomplished Design and Merchandising Director with 15+ years of experience devising strategies that expand brand and market equity, including successful tenures in the apparel and consumer product industries. Managed complex design projects requiring company-wide and external input; collaborated with marketing, merchandising, sourcing, sales, and design personnel. Team leader adept at rallying troops amid challenging circumstances; veteran of productive interactions with senior management. Strong understanding of target consumers, with the ability to provide actionable direction in color, trend, silhouette, and fabrication development.

Responsible for all non-printable product for $75M licensed apparel and accessory business from initial concept through final delivery to customer.  
•	Assess competitive landscape to identify opportunities for growth and voids within product offering; create seasonal line plan with appropriate product assortment for both wholesale and DTC business.
•	Created and implemented “Innovation Pipeline” to allow for consistent ideation and top line growth through thoughtful and well-planned initiatives.
•	Manage company wide design and development calendar with consideration of wholesale, ecommerce, licensing and vendor key dates.  Coordinate internal and external partners to ensure dates are being met and projects are completed in a timely manner.
•	Provide design team with color, material, and styling trend direction as well as clear and actionable feedback to ensure designs are brand and market appropriate; partner with sales teams to provide trend and brand direction to retailers.  Attend sales calls to key retailers as needed.
•	Manage overseas agents and factories, source new materials, products, techniques, and processes; oversee development and production process, and ensure timely delivery.


Directed strategic planning process and its projected outcome in partnership with CPG companies, such as Procter & Gamble, M&M Mars, and Mead Westvaco. Partnered with Design and Brand teams to identify areas of opportunity, shape / influence the strategic direction of client brands, and recommend appropriate plan of action. Defined and tracked innovative thinking across industry lines, applying relevant solutions to client plans.

CPG Account Manager

Drove brand repositioning by refreshing look of car-seat and stroller soft goods to attract young, hip moms; improvements led to superior retail placements, boosted brand awareness, and increased price points. 
•	Challenged marketing team to attain “molecular” understanding of consumer; identified three distinct market segments and conceived new designs; product visuals effectively transmitted features to all demographic niches at store shelf.
•	Led soft-goods engineers and graphic designers in exploration of home interior and automotive trends, athletic equipment, and apparel for inspiration; mined European trend research for new directions; buyers responded favorably with orders.
•	Managed creative direction of industrial-design team to enhance visual impact of baby bottles, toddler cups, and breast pumps; tight tooling budgets necessitated highly cost-effective strategy; joined in assessing technical ramifications of design plans to facilitate informed costing decisions.
•	Spearheaded redesign of Snugli soft CARRIERS BRAND to appeal to young, hip moms; introduced technical fabrics and athletic apparel construction to allow for more streamlined, ergonomic design. Combined new models with fashion forward patterns and colors to land specialty market placements.


Design Director

Consulted with senior management in Germany and license holders in Canada to launch golf and tennis apparel in U.S. at 2008 PGA Merchandise Show. 
•	Analyzed market to pinpoint target demographic and developed product from scratch, while honoring heritage design signature. 
•	Managed overseas agents and factories, sourcing new materials, products, techniques, and processes; oversaw development and production process, achieving consistent 50%+ cost margins and ensuring 90% timely delivery.
•	Trained factory in Malaysia in technical athletic wear fit and construction; delivered two well-received seasons.


Design Director- Golf and Tennis Apparel

Hired as Director of Production, tasked with moving the manufacturing of men’s T-shirts and women’s loungewear to Asia for improved margins; traveled overseas to implement production refinements. Expanded product offering to include men’s street wear and women’s contemporary fashions.
•	Assumed role of Design and Merchandising Director; engaged owner in intensive brainstorming to focus brand identity and guided designers along new path; new men’s line scored all-store-buy recommendation from president of Macy’s.
•	Led design team in exploration of color, material, and styling trends as well as establishment of signature fit and art direction of new brands; partnered with marketing and sales teams to provide trend and brand direction to retailers. Ensured collections contained proper assortment of items.
•	Managed overseas agents and factories, sourcing new materials, products, techniques, and processes; oversaw development and production process, achieving consistent 50%+ cost margins and ensuring 90% timely delivery.

Director or Merchandising

Design and Production Manager

Melanie Weaver is a Product Development, Sourcing and Merchandising- Licensed product at Ripple Junction in CINCINNATI, OH.

Melanie Weaver

Melanie Weaver

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