Visual Ideation, Aesthetic Creative, Storyteller, Professional Seller

I am…

non-stop creativity intersecting extensive experience in producing stimulating visual aesthetics, refined product collections and successful brand identities. A professional seller of goods and services— facilitating client acquisition, retention, reward and revenue. Adept at strategic thinking as it applies to being a merchant of lifestyle products. An artistic talent who serves to communicate with creative professionals and target clients alike, using unique narrative and visual presentation to bring forth a commitment to elevated style. For more about me, my CV is attached and is an in depth representation of all you may need to know until we meet and, I am hopeful we will meet soon. With warm regards, RL

P R O F I L E + C O V E R

Richard “RL” Langford

Richard ” RL”

Langford

In the presence of perfection,

no need exists for good, better or best.

But, if it’s my aspirations you question,

I’ll choose to be best.

I’m sure to fail at perfection. RL 2022

I am Richard Langford. I seek an opportunity that will benefit from my creative perspective influencing how a project will look, how it will work and what it’s function will produce to measure success in achieving a goal. I want to enjoy being in that environment. I bring proven skills in home décor, real estate Interior staging, brick and mortar visual merchandising, product development and executive level retail/wholesale management. I am entrepreneurial, having been an owner and product director of showrooms that represented many global brands, some of which were introduced for the first time to America’s retail community. I recognize and appreciate great product, excel in creating unique presentations as a story teller and content writer th can articulate in narrative aesthetic elements that are “above the eyes”. Throughout my career I have been involved in better to high touch lifestyle décor, apparel and accessories. My personal style, creative vision and fundamental social acuity has produced targeted results.

My regard and respect for people has been a key asset in sustaining relationships throughout my career— building confidence within clients and associates. I seek a position that will allow me to contribute, utilizing creative ideation, experienced merchant skills along with a passion for great product.

Please consider me for any applicable search as I eagerly await an opportunity to discuss my potential in person.

Linked IN Website Faux Folio

Introduction

Langford

Richard ” RL”

41 Seaview Ave. 3rd Floor Norwalk, Connecticut 06855, USA 41 Seaview Ave. 3rd Floor Norwalk, Connecticut 06855, USA 203-***-**** ********.**@*****.***

Because “ Ideation”

Broadly speaking, “ ideators are individuals who are constantly thinking about new ways to solve problems or challenge the status quo.” (Merriam-Webster).

The definition above describes me, I seek a company that strives to elevate product and attention to details, creating a culture where my intent will flourish—where my contribution will adjoin with others in realizing the gratification of achieving goals that honor success. Aww, to be successful… Although the term is often defined by diverse ideologies, let’s assume we share a fundamental understanding of

“success” and it’s importance.

I could point to being well adjusted in my youth—although, a little small. I was popular, active in sports, music, public speaking and theatre arts. All support the aptitude needed for success. Early in my college career, a “life decision” placed me in what would become a very important job. I found myself counting stock downstairs in a very old building, home to Union-Fashion Clothing Co. The result of a must do situation, my instinct had led me to acquire opportunity by being unique, finding creativity in communication techniques and coordinating the story with visual presentation and environmental aesthetics I revealed an independent style and intrinsic acumen for fashion. Coming up from the basement, I had my first success. Beginning in apparel during a period of reinvention and disruption allowed ideas to easily find acceptance. Colorization, patterns and texture created new fashion, music and even language. It was 1970. No longer was tried and true, yesterday’s black white and blue going to do. I tried seeing things as they could be and not what they should be, rearranged the visual sterility, mixed the fruit with the produce. Put life into the window frames, cars on the sales floor and merchandised products into art imitating life. And there it began, the counterculture a style describing life. Free to be the beginning of so much to come.

After 10 good years of retail, buying the newest Collections, best denim and managing really good people, I acquired tenure and notoriety across the industry. When the opportunity came I leveraged it for a wholesale management position with Bidermann Industries and in 6 months found NYC to be home and EVP my name. “Houston, we have lift off!”

Opportunity flowed bringing new brands and positions, I began merchandising showrooms for markets, creating trade show stands and working directly with design and merchandising. In regard to the number crunching, I taught myself retail budgeting and sell through analysis becoming expert at managing dilution rates. I saw myself starting my own agency. So, I did that. Did I see success? Maybe? Yes, it was early, but there it was with more to come,

Langford

Achieved notable success in the

representation of global brand clients from

NYC based showroom/s. For 20 years, provided

marketing, merchandising and the logistics

knowledge needed to execute roll-out strategies

targeting the top 200 retail accounts throughout

North America.

Recognized for creating unique

showrooms and international trade show

booths. by industry peers and client retailers

Conceived brand architecture, collection

content and merchandised assortments for

Sperry Top-sider, Life Guard, Duck Head, Big

Timber- Montana Brand, Dockers Swimwear,

Energie Jeans, Miss Sixty Denim, Makanay Marta

Couture.

Increased volume to 60mm while

decreasing dilution rate for an iconic lifestyle

brand, supervising regional sales teams

managing all major department stores.

Awarded Op Executive of the Year--

2001, dependent store sales honoring executive. store personal specialist reinvention to department from in Consistently demonstrate expert skill in

client acquisition and retention. Believes in

elevating client experiences.

Leverages strong interpersonal skills to

build a team culture, while encouraging

individual accomplishment.

Possesses a sustained business acumen with a

proficiency in retail math and Microsoft Office

and various POS platforms.

IDEATOR

VISUAL SPECIALIST

SELLING PROFESSIONAL

Richard ” RL”

SKILLS

ARTISTIC VISION

IDEATION

STRATEGIC THOUGHT

COLORIST

VISUAL DISPLAY

MERCHANDISING

RETAIL FLOOR-SET

REAL ESTATE STAGING

HOME DÉCOR DESIGN

ARTIST—PAINTING AND

ASSEMBLAGE CONCEPTS

FURNITURE UPCYCLING

CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR

MICROSOFT OFFICE

POWER POINT

EMAIL SOFTWARE

History & Highlights

from 2017 – 2023

Brand Ambassador: Boll & Branch, Sept ’22—Feb ‘ 23 As an Ambassador for this high end organic bed and bath linens company, my Charge was to own the Boll and Branch story explaining all the "Better" reason's to buy the products. Once the story was delivered, the need for bedroom decor styling, took front and center. Then followed by a great deal of clienteling.

Styling Consultant: Brooks Brothers, Oct ’19—Dec ’21 Optical Stylist: Warby Parker, Oct ’18—Sept ‘19

Visual Merchandiser: Caravan Curated Home, Oct ’17—Sept ‘18 Anthropology & Co: Home Décor Consultant, Mar ’17—Oct ‘17 from 1993 – 2016

Owner, RLbranding ~ NYC, NY.

Multi-Faceted Brand /Sales Management, Co. : Offered a “suite of services” to facilitate new brand rollout strategies, marketing, consultation for product development/merchandising, operational services and a physical presence in N. America. Below are collaborative name plates:

RLbranding.com ~ NYC, NY Jan ’14—Dec ’16

Prêt-a-Style Brand Lab/White Box Showroom~NYC, Oct’11May ’13 Think Sales-Branding, ILS, Inc. NYC, NY. Dec ’04—April ’09. Enclose, Inc.~ Westport, CT. Jan ’93—Aug’98.

from 1972 — 2009

Sales/Brand Manager, Corporate, In-House ~US

C-Suite, sales and brand managing positions, held

Intermittently through out time period. Position functions were typical typical of qualifying management level; volume metrics noted. Brand Manager/ Sales Director, Agave Denim--Surf Cowboy, Jake Agave Jean Co.~ New York, NY May ’08 March ’09—Volume 10mm. Executive Vice President Sales, Op, Ocean Pacific, Op Classic, Seven2--The Rays Group ~ New York, NY, Aug ’98—Nov ’04— Volume of 60+mm.

Regional Vice President, Genera Sportswear ~ New York City, NY Dec’90—Jan ’92— Volume 15mm.

Regional Vice President, Newport Blue/Ocean Pacific ~Tustin, CA an’85—Dec’90— Volume 5mm+.

V.P. of Sales, Jean-Paul Germain, Bidermann Industries ~ New York, NY Jan’82—Nov ’84-- Volume 10

Retail—General Manager,

Buyer/Merchandiser/Store Manager, Union- Fashion Clothing Co. ~ El Paso, TX Jan ’72—Jan ‘82 (On par with the Forum Group Stores). Richard ” RL”

Langford

P R O F E S S I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E

LIFESTYLE

INTEREST IN YOGA, MEDITATION, BOOK,

ART/PAINTING/ MUSIC AND DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE A

PROGRESSIVE EVOLVING CURIOSITY IN CREATIVE

BEAUTY, POSITIVE EXPRESSION AND SUSTAINED

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS

EDUCATION

THEATRE ARTS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, UNIVERSITY OF

TEXAS-EL PASO 1969- 1971-INCOMPLETE B A

DEGREE

E ntrepreneurial Initiatives

Corporate Engagement

Client Affiliations

Although having underlying potential, my goal with the above companies was to regain my creative and occupational cadency, post health disruption. My activities required either creative decor skills or apparel styling talents with dedicated high touch client service to affect top line sales volume and increased client retention. CLIENT ROSTER

Boom Bap-Portugal, Sperry Top Sider-Us

Makany Marta-Hungary, Dockers-US

Rifle, Italy Blue Marlin-us

Mia Zia-Belgium, Z Brand-US

Hazah-Japan, 24Standard-US

Novemb3r-Italy, Atman by

Lee Cooper-UK Russell Simmons-US

Ed Hardy Denim-US Agave Denim Co.-US

Energie SpA Duck Head

Miss Sixty-Italy Tower Records Wear

Naked-Canada Levi Fashion Portfolio

Etienne Ozeki-UK

EXPERTISE

APPAREL STYLIST

ASSESSING GRAPHIC AND

PRINT DESIGN

BEACH AND SURF

EYEWEAR SUNGLASSES

BRAND ARCHITECTURE

COLLECTION ASSORTMENT

MANAGEMENT

MERCHANDISING

COMMUNICATION

DENIM COLLECTIONS

LEADERSHIP

MOTIVATION

PRESENTATIONS

PRINT ART DEVELOPMENT

PRIVATE LABEL

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

PUBLIC SPEAKING

SALES AND DILUTION

ANALYSIS

SELLING ABOVE THE EYES

SHOWROOM /TRADE SHOW

DESIGN--MERCHANDISING

STILL LIFE PRESENTATION

MENTORING

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