Kels Byus: Sales Strategist in Truckee, CA

Responsible for brand presence, strategy and sales on the West Coast. With a wholesale operations focus, Robert Talbott is re-launching this iconic brand through an omni-channel strategy that includes developing strong relationships with our retail partners, increasing brand visibility, and a strong digital presence.

As Vice President Sales, created and led the brand and sales strategies over the course of nearly 3 years, leading to a doubling of the top-line sales revenue from 2019 to 2022. Brought creative data analysis and sales tracking visibility, allowing for increased and improved forecasting across all channels of distribution. Managed inventory to create faster turns through product assortment development, while driving total inventory levels more inline with sales and financial targets. Led wholesale, e-commerce and operations teams through peaks and valleys of pandemic and global supply chain issues. Introduced, onboarded and managed new licensing partners, resulting in additional sales growth and brand awareness.

Collaborative-based, partnership-driven apparel company. Start-up apparel company created to partner with local, regional and state park systems, schools, artists and youth programs, all to 'localize' awareness through apparel and to give something back'. • Created business model, strategic plan and partnerships to launch brand in spring, 2017. • Manage and execute all aspects of the business, while being sole owner, without shareholders. • Create meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships and licensing agreements where apparel can deliver a prideful and wearble customer experience. • Doubled, annualized sales growth, and cashflow positive in first year of operation.

Mid-sized apparel brand ready for growth. • Managed and directed sales, production and operations teams for wholesale, retail and eccomerce distribution channels. Responsible for planning, forecasts, & projections, with direct reports to CEO. • Developed the Retail Store Strategy, including assortments, sales projections, and management. • Positioned areas of management for future investment, ultimately resulting in the brand being purchased by American Eagle Outfitters in November of 2015.

Sales of branded & NCAA licensed apparel. • Responsible for wholesale sales, with emphasis on rapid growth and expansion. Personally managed bulk of corporate accounts, while managing a team of independent/commission-based sales reps.. • Successfully built and executed re-launch plan for Tailgate Ecommerce. Website delivered in excess of $1M in 2016. Prior to re-launch, web revenue reached just $32K, 2011.

Start-up brand focused on the locally grown food movement. • Co-wrote business plan, raised seed capital, built brand strategy, established sourcing and fulfillment partners, created product assortment, and managed production, sales and website.

Managed wholesale sales in Canada & US Midwest. • Hand-picked in 2005 to manage and direct the re-launch of the Ralph Lauren brand portfolio into Canada. Managed strategy, sales & assortment development, reporting to both 'President of Ralph Lauren Brands' and the Sr. VP on Menswear, US. And directed retail sales & merchandising teams.

Responsible for wholesale sales, Specialty Store division, US Midwest. • Collaborated with planning, design & merchandising to develop product assortments to grow sales.

In-store training on product knowledge and standards. • Partnered with Account Executives to build product assortments. Directed RL shop installations.

Sales, Management and buying responsibilities.