Product Development-Product Manager

DAVID FINE

*** ********* ***, ********, ** *****

Home: 609-***-**** *******@***.***

Product Development & Marketing Executive

Accomplished product development specialist with proven success creating products and marketing campaigns designed to expand brand awareness and increase year-to-year revenue. Hands-on global experience building relationships for product manufacturing and distribution to reduce costs and expand reach. Extensive background developing cutting-edge home décor, textiles, luggage and accessories, and pet products. Innovative entrepreneurial spirit enables ability to meet gaps within market, building creative solutions to meet consumer needs.

 Forecast upcoming trends to provide solutions ahead of the competition and expand product lines.

 Realize opportunities for reduced expenses by sourcing vendors within a global landscape.

Areas of Expertise

Branding / Rebranding  Product Development

Global Marketing Strategies  Vendor / Contract Negotiations  Entrepreneurial Spirit

Team Leadership  Forecasting & Trend Spotting

Professional Experience

DAVID FINE CONSUMER GOODS CONSULTING, Hamilton, NJ 2008 – Present

Consulting services specializing in product development.

Product Development Consultant

Consult with importers and distributors on product development. Clients include boutique stores, big-box retailers, and global manufacturers.

Key Projects

Sunrise Global Sayreville, NJ: Developed pet products for nationwide distribution to big-box retailers.

Alco CPI Cranbury, NJ: Managed product development for new product lines. Supervised two-member design team and various independent contractors.

 Moved Big Lots from $0 to $500,000 annual revenue through development of monthly rotating pet toy program featuring seasonal branding for pet products.

 Developed ceramic bowl programs for Wal-Mart, boosting pet line from $2.5 million annually to forecasted $9.5 million in 2009.

 Re-designed and improved products with lead-free fabric, which allowed the product to pass inspection and entry into marketplace.

Lazy Dog Cookie Company Saratoga, NY

 Sub-branded boutique manufacturer to be competitive with larger establishments through facilitation of pallet program with Sam’s Club.

Fab-Dog Lodi, NJ: Directed logistics and compliance for product placement into nationwide Toys R Us chain.

 Managed materials and testing of products, which enabled passing safety assurance programs and allowing smooth transition through customs

 Met compliance regulations for factories by coordinating inspections and conducting compliance reviews.

CRYPTON, West Bloomfield, Michigan 2007 – 2008

Revolutionary green fabric system for furnishings, people, and pet products.

Director, Retail Products

Supervised 24 independent sales representatives, directing sales strategies. Collaborated with external and internal partners to develop products, design manufacturing processes, source hardware and trim, and promote products. Launched two new William Wegman collections, developing three new luggage lines.

Key Accomplishments

 Accelerated movement from boutique firm to broader exposure by placing products for sale in nationwide catalogues.

 Developed line of “super products,” which tapped into a niche environmental movement, expanding product lines in pet beds, luggage, and totes.

DAVID FINE Page Two

SHERPA’S PET TRADING COMPANY, New York, NY 2002 – 2007

Boutique manufacturer of stylish, functional pet products.

Vice President, Product Development and Marketing

Co-developed marketing and PR, including rebranding and repositioning company. Created and implemented sales and marketing plans, including product lines and Web site. Directed product development from inception to launch. Managed purchasing, freight forwarding, and U.S. customs.

Key Accomplishments

 Reversed downward trend and grew revenue 20%, to $8 million, by rebranding company and expanding product categories from one item to full service.

 Negotiated two large-scale programs with major national pet stores through direct import program, representing half of company’s volume.

 Developed multilingual CD-ROM catalog for worldwide distribution, allowing for expanded reach of company and product lines.

LENOX, INC., Lawrenceville, NJ / New York, NY 1986 – 2002

Traditional maker of gifts, tabletop, and collectibles. Brown and Forman acquired Crouch and Fitzgerald division, oldest leather goods company in the U.S., in 1989.

General Merchandising Director, Crouch & Fitzgerald Division (1991 – 2002)

Developed and directed all marketing and public relations campaigns for division, including direct mail, print media advertising, collateral materials, editorial product placement, and event coordination. Opened four retail stores, managing 10 direct and 30 indirect reports. Tracked sales, cost of goods, and inventory. Created exclusive product lines and managed distribution for five high-end retail stores.

Key Accomplishments

 Generated 48% gross profit on $8 million in new revenue by working directly with factory to design new leather goods collection for domestic and international cliental.

 Automated accounting and inventory from manual process for all stores, resulting in increased efficiency and reduced payroll hours.

Buyer and Product Developer, Sourced Product – Lenox China (1986 – 1991)

Expanded traditional china patterns into complementary products, developing lines outside of Lenox factories to increase product scope. Items included textiles, metals, fragrance, and wood. Promoted quickly from Showroom Manager.

Key Accomplishments

 Grew sales from $0 to $32 million within three years by creating and sourcing expansion into private labeling of full range of non-Lenox factory products for retail sale and distribution through wholesale channels.

 Supervised vendor negotiations, resulting in 60% gross margin on all products.

 Reduced time to market 20% through targeted market forecasting.

Additional Experience

Operations Manager, B. Altman and Company, New York, NY

Education & Training

B.S., Business / Communications, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, WV

Goldpfeil Leather Goods Design School, Offenbach, Germany

Professional Association

Gerson Leheman Group Council; Member

Home Textiles Today; Member

American Pet Product Manufacture Association; Member

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