Sales Manager

Elizabeth McGee Vaughn

*** ****** **** *******-***** North Carolina 27104

Phone 336-***-****

**********@*********.***

Career Summary

Business Development

Brand Marketing

Consumer Insight and Market Analysis

Product Development

Merchandising and Promotions

Affiliate Relations, Corporate and Licensed Partnerships

Public Relations

Sales

EXPERIENCE

CARSON-DELLOSA PUBLISHING, Greensboro, NC 2005-2011

Carson-Dellosa Brand Manager

Responsible for developing and executing strategic brand marketing and consumer engagement initiatives for the Carson-Dellosa organization, a leading creator and publisher of innovative and award-winning Pre-K through Grade 8 educational media for teachers and parents around the world. Retail partners include: Barnes & Noble, Costco, Sam’s Club, Office Depot, Staples, Michaels, Amazon, Independent Book Sellers, Toy, Specialty and Teacher supply stores. Accountable for meeting corporate strategic and revenue goals for budgets of up to $2.5 million.

• Directed all integration efforts that support product development, product and brand positioning, packaging, sales and merchandising, advertising, promotions and consumer engagement initiatives. Responsible for the dissemination of marketplace and competitive retail environment analysis resulting in consumer insight, sales and pricing strategy across the family of brands. Developed annual pricing strategy for Carson-Dellosa product portfolio each year over four year period that successfully maintained revenue and market share within a volatile economy and reduction in federal, state and local education funding.

• Developed and executed national marketing campaigns with corporate and licensed partners resulting in effective sales strategies, leveraging consumer exposure, and building equity in Carson-Dellosa brands. Partner relationships include: 3M Scotch Brands, Major League Soccer, Guinness World Records, The World of Eric Carle, Olivia, The Doodlebops, and NEA-National Education Association. Successfully optimized $150 million in sales over a three year period as a result of effective and successful national sales, brand merchandising and consumer retail promotion programs.

• Led all national and regional marketing communications and public relations outreach initiatives. Developed annual communication plan and managed all outside public relation firms actively pursuing media opportunities. Annual consumer reach exceeding 350 million through execution of brand related multi-media publicity campaigns and events.

New Business Development for Mass and Trade Retail Channels 2005-2008

Led the go-to-market strategy and developed the prioritization of publishing and merchandising efforts based on category trend and product research analysis. Achieved point-of-entry and increased revenue by growing market share over three year period resulting in increased sales from $2 million to $6 million. Accounts include: Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Costco, and Sam’s Club.

HANESBRANDS, Winston-Salem, NC 2001-2005

Merchandising; Infant/Toddler, Girls and Boys Hanes Brand Knit Apparel

Managed and merchandised product developed for Target, Walmart and K-Mart with annual sales in excess of $95 million; 21% of total annual sales for the Casualwear Division of Sara Lee Branded Apparel

• Independently developed and implemented innovative strategic marketing and merchandising plans for all product lines. Successfully placed all lines of branded apparel through 2006 buying season.

• Researched and monitored global market trends and led in-store analysis to optimize product design, and pricing decisions. Worked directly with apparel designers, garment engineers, internal/external laboratories and global manufacturers to facilitate the development process from product concept through fit and final execution.

• Developed buyer presentation materials including; fashion illustrations, fabric selection, concept boards and retail planogram configuration. Trained and mentored sales team on strategic marketing approach for all retail accounts.

Merchandising; Women’s Hanes Her Way Brand Knit Apparel 2002-2003

Managed and merchandised product developed for Walmart with annual sales in excess of $122 million

Independent Contract Assignment; Sara Lee Underwear 2001-2002

Developed brand-relevant product innovation strategy proposal for Boys Hanes Brand label and Licensed Brand portfolio including merchandising recommendations for brand expansion; new category concepts for current product portfolio, innovative technology application, new product packaging configuration and value added product promotions

NICKELODEON, New York, NY 2000-2001

Consumer Products Manager; Toys & Electronics

Managed $50 million licensed brand portfolio of properties that include: Blue’s Clues, Rugrats, Spongebob Squarepants, Wild Thornberrys, Rocket Power, Jimmy Neutron and Dora the Explorer.

• Negotiated contracts with prospective licensees and managed existing relationships with: Mattel Toys, Mattel Games & Puzzles, Oddz-On/Cap Candy, Huffy Bicycles, Disguise Halloween Costume Company, Fotoball, Toybiz, Thinkway, Hedstrom, Tiger, Cardinal, Wincraft and A&A Vending.

• Executed annual business plan for all licensed categories and managed the creative development approval process for all toy and electronic products presented from licensees from conception to execution.

• Developed promotional product tie-ins with other Viacom divisional lines of business including: Animation, Nick On-Line, Nick Magazine, Motion Pictures and Network Marketing.

ROSE ART INTERNATIONAL, New York, NY 1998-2000

Product Manager; Licensing

Managed licensing division for leading international toy and stationery manufacturer. Directly managed all outside vendors and phases of product development, from concept to final product delivery, for distribution throughout the US, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Licensed product portfolio includes: The Walt Disney Company, M&M Mars, Major League Baseball and Peter Maxx.

• Proposed and negotiated licensed contracts with prospective licensors and developed new partnerships and business opportunities within annual licensing budget of $20 million.

LILLY PULITZER, New York, NY 1997-1998

Corporate Consultant

Corporate consumer insights liaison for first Lilly Pulitzer “Signature Retail Boutique”. Delivered daily sales and brand analysis of New York City consumer demographic buying trends of apparel goods for newly developed retail environment.

FLEER/SKYBOX INTERNATIONAL(ACQUIRED BY MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT) New York, NY 1995-1997

Production Manager; Entertainment Licensing

Managed $4.5 million printing and manufacturing Trading Card budget for the Licensors: The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Viacom, Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox.

• Led all phases of activity from initial concept development to final execution including creative direction for product and packaging design, final specification of product and licensor approvals for portfolio of over 16 licensed properties.

• Executed national in-pack promotions with Burger King, K-Mart, AMC Theaters, Mattel, Hasbro, Disney Interactive, and Walt Disney Records.

EDUCATION

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY – SCHOOL OF DESIGN, Raleigh, NC 1991-1993

Bachelor of Environmental Design in Graphic Design, cum laude, 3.8 GPA - Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity

CORCORAN SCHOOL OF ART, Washington DC 1989-1991

Studied Corcoran’s core Foundations Program in Fine Arts through sophomore year.

Achieved Dean’s List in all four semesters, 3.5 GPA.

1989 WARENBOROUGH COLLEGE, Oxford, UK 1989

Studied Fine Arts and Architecture Program, tutored by Oxford University faculty

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