Bree Knapp: Private Label Manager in Oceanside, CA

Organize and stabilize operations of Private Label lines that had previously never had a dedicated product manager by addressing issues, proposing strategies, and taking actions that ultimately improve the overall sales experience, product quality and availability, graphic design creativity, and result in department expansions, customer retention, and increased production and sales volume My strategies have increased revenue by 121%, moved brand to company’s top sales vendor, increased product sell through by 90%, reduced cost to move profit margin from 50% to 73% Lead meetings with the design team and CEO and assist in conceptualizing brand identity, building and evolving brand culture, and developing unique graphic styles and themes. Synthesize concepts and streamline execution by finalizing designs, deciding color schemes, ordering merchandise while anticipating each store’s quantity needs and consulting budget, deciding type of graphic production based on design details and product medium, determine production be execution, create in-shop department layouts including merchandising, advertising displays, and product packaging, as well as, provide postable material for social media platforms Manage product levels in stores and between stores, manage back stock levels, manage pricing strategies and gross margin targets, anticipate store and production needs, maintain and catalog new styles, create monthly financial and data reports, manage vendor relations including vendor vetting, contact, relationship, and payment processes Propose and execute ways to expand brand awareness like sponsoring community events, supporting community programs, donating portions of profits, establishing sale promotions Introduce new employees to brand culture and product and assist in training new employees in various jobs including buying, shipping and receiving, product returns, and customer service Be adaptable with changing deadlines, impromptu projects, input from multiple departments, and shifting terms set by third party companies, shipping companies, natural disasters, and a pandemic

Accurately input product styles into system, write orders for multiple locations, generate PO numbers for suppliers to meet deadlines, assist in the production of data reports Attend viewings of vendor lines and tradeshows

Merchandise product, have intimate understanding of vendors and their products Practice refined verbal and listening skills, paying close attention to verbal cues and tones to understand the needs and wants of coworkers and customers Provide excellent service that maintains customer satisfaction and loyalty Maintain a positive attitude when handling and resolving customer concerns

Assist with planning, preparation, creative brainstorming, scouting location and talent for on-location and studio photoshoots. An intrical part of shoot design and styling Modeled in-studio for online store and on-location for seasonal campaigns Assist in creating images used for print ads, in-store lightboxes, company website, lookbooks, calendars, promotional videos, social media platforms of the company and collaborating vendors

Processed return authorizations and defective return items from all storefronts Organized, packaged, and shipped returns, adjusted inventory and follow up with vendor Created employee handbook for position upon promotion

Conceptualized and hosted art and music fundraising events with proceeds donated to foundations such as the Humane Society and Rady's Children's Hospital Practiced refined verbal and listening skills Excelled at producing high quality products at a face pace Trained new employees Maintained store's cleanliness

Oversaw camp activities and was actively engaged as a counselor and supervisor. Supervised on average 12 counselors, several junior counselors, 50-100 children at camp, as well as, numerous adults with private lessons and tours Discerned campers' abilities and taught accordingly, from novice to advance Taught surfing, stand-up paddling, kayaking, surf culture, oceanography, and ocean safety Maintained equipment Worked with privileged and underprivileged youths. Practiced being a mandated reporter. At times, worked as a first responder and assisted with rescues, preventing rescues, and administering first aid Kept all individuals under my care safe by being hyper aware of ocean and weather conditions, threatening animals, equipment quality, public conditions and individuals posing a threat