Moto & Powersports

Outdoor

Director of Development and Marketing

Marketing & Sales

With over ten years of experience in Product Development, Product Line Management, Identifying Market Trends and with Product Marketing, I thrive on the challenges of developing new and profitable high end products for special applications. I have a profound knowledge of materials and construction in the fields of footwear, motorcycle protective apparel, outdoor apparel, as well as footwear, packs and bags.

I have expertise in all aspects of product development; management, sourcing, costing, and marketing. My strength is finding new technologies and innovation. I am accomplished in material and technology sourcing, including custom proprietary materials and laminates, impact absorbing materials (armor) and other technologies.

I am skilled at observing, understanding, and capturing market opportunities, as well as identifying needs and problems. My superpower is anticipating and avoiding design and production problems before they occur. I am masterful at communicating complex designs and fitting patterns as well as changes in prototypes to overseas factories. I save my company tremendous amounts of travel money because I rarely have to travel to the factories.

Due to my Economics and Finance degree at Columbia University, my thought processes are extremely analytical and logical. I work well independently as well as within a team. I have developed managerial processes, managed teams, and I know how to lead and encourage my co-workers to achieve optimal results. I bring products to market, on time and at reasonable prices.

Have increased profit margins on existing and new products on average %15.
Have reduced back orders and improved fill rates significantly.
Oversee and implement all product development policies, objectives, and initiatives. Lead research for market opportunities, new products, product enhancements, materials and technologies, and product redesign. Evaluate the potential and practicality of products in development. Manage Development team(s) and assures product quality, innovation, availability, cost competitiveness and profit maximization. 

Involved with all aspects of the design, marketing and sales process: Market research, material and technology sourcing, factory sourcing, product briefs, timeline development, design and tech packs, factory communication, prototype evaluation, FOB and retail costing, product testing, sizing, fit testing, wear testing, in-line inspection, catalog and marketing descriptions, press releases, features / benefits, retail packaging and delivering sales 

Used my experiences as a Dual Sport motorcycle rider to create the Adventure Riding apparel line that is so successful for Klim.
Product Line Management from concept to final prototype. Skilled in material and technology sourcing, including custom proprietary materials and laminates, impact absorbing materials (armor), and other technologies. Skilled in communicating complex designs and fitting patterns to overseas factories, as well as changes in prototypes, via E-mail, video Skype, as well as in person.

Products include: Adventure Rally Suit (V2.0), Badlands Pro suit, Latitude suit, Adventure Rally Air suit, Women's Altitude suit, Caldera Gloves, Element gloves, Induction gloves, Inversion Gloves, Inversion Pro gloves, Mojave Pro Gloves, Caribou and Allure Mittens, Aurora GTX boot, Adrenaline GTX Boot, Adrenaline GTX BOA Boot, Arctic GTX boot, and more. 

Gore-Tex products are a specialty. I know the standards, the methods, and the materials for apparel, footwear, and gloves.


Product Line Manager - Dual Sport Motorcycle - Apparel, Protective gear, Footwear and Gloves.

Product testing and design feedback.
I would be given products to test and in return, I would provide product feedback and suggestions as to how they could be improved.
- Anything can be made better...

Product Tester

Managed a domestic color and design team and coordinated the production and delivery of samples from an Asia-based manufacturing facility. Modified and/or updated with new materials and on trend seasonal colors. Approximately 100 new SKUs per season are created and reviewed. Communicated technical product specifications within team and to factory. Correct samples were delivered to meetings on time 100% of the time.

Additionally:
Material and Technology sourcing:
- Cost / benefit suggestions as well as laboratory testing information for future product improvements. Many were adopted and are still in-line.

Footwear Product Manager

Managed a domestic color and design team and coordinating the production and delivery of samples from an Asia-based manufacturing facility. Delivered line presentations to Sales and Marketing to explain features/benefits and competitive advantage. Communicated technical product specifications within team and to factory. Correct samples were delivered to meetings on time with accurate FOB pricing. Line presentations to Sales and Marketing to explain features/benefits and competitive advantage.

Product Line Manager - Packs and Bags

Managed the Merrell Tech Rep Program, including training new Tech Reps. Collected reports from all Tech Rep's and convert into reports for future products, marketing, and product development ideas. Quantified Quality Control issues and suggested improvements.

Head Technical Representative

Special Make Up products for Canadian Market:
Using existing in-line products, they would be modified to meet Canadian consumer demand by adding features such as insulation, or modifying colors. Special considerations were made for tariff and duty considerations.

Product Expediter - Footwear Canada

Educated retail staff of all Retail stores that sold Merrell products nationwide. Collected consumer feedback in order to improve existing product. Won Tech Rep of the Year award in 2001 and received promotion.

Technical Representative

Store Manager
Hardgoods buyer
Ice climbing
Winter backpacking
Telemark skiing fanatic!

Store Manager - Hardgoods Buyer

Find out detailed information about Edward Wilkinson, Director of Development and Marketing in Diamond Bar, CA

Edward Wilkinson: Director of Development and Marketing in Diamond Bar, CA

Edward Wilkinson

Columbia University