Independent Contractor | Market Strategy, Product Design & Retail Planning

* Provide market research, analytics, and category strategy for private and pivot-stage companies developing programs for major big-box retailers

* Lead creative and category strategy for Inline Party programs designed to scale into front-of-store retail environments

* Translate vendor vision into guest-centric product and design direction across bags, wrap, tissue, stationery, party favors, and curated party collections

* Identify white-space opportunities and viral-potential concepts through trend analysis, competitive audits, and consumer behavior insights

* Collaborate cross-functionally with founders, merchants, product teams, and global factories to deliver fully packaged, retail-ready assortments

* Align creative ambition with pricing architecture, SKU planning, margin targets, and retail execution constraints

* Owned end-to-end product development for pet harnesses, collars, leashes, and apparel across Walmart, Target, TJX and Ross

* Reduced factory revisions 25% and improved approval timelines 30%.

* Supported multi-million-dollar wholesale programs through forecast-driven SKU planning.

* Created detailed line pass notes to build technical packs for factory handoff ensuring design details pass in quality testing for animal safety.

Brand Portfolio: SportPet® | Kitty City® | Jupiter® | Chew King® | Harry Barker® | Mission Pets® | Mammoth Pet Products®

* Lead comprehensive product research identifying trademarks, patents, and market dynamics to ensure optimal value, quality and quantity within a 3-month pitch-to-launch timeframe.

* Successfully launched an average of 100 products annually on E-Commerce platforms (Amazon, Shopify, Wayfair) and Retail (Wal-Mart), contributing to a $2M year-over-year growth in divisional brand profit.

* Produced CAD designs for mold development and provided master art files for product graphic assets to factories, facilitating efficient creative communication across internal brands and for mass production.

* Managed product testing process, including requesting and testing factory samples, communicating purchase order decisions and ensuring compliance with various tests (food safety, Prop 65, TRA).

* Oversaw new product setups, collaborating with various teams and determining product branding. Also collaborated during Target HUB pitches to ensure a clear understanding of the product scope.

* Improved communication within internal teams as a creative editor by refining listing copies, content, and product packaging to enhance user experience and appeal, aligning with customer expectations and aesthetic preferences.

* Uploaded all necessary assets for new product listings on Amazon, including keywords, PDPs, and copy. * * Obtained SDS documents as needed.

* Approved final production photos, quality check reports, and advised on shipping and photography plans. Ensured Target HUB accurately reflected launch data and final ROI, co-leading and documenting Post Launch Performance Reviews for continuous improvement.

* Worked closely with designers and Licensing Collaborations to produce desired product.

* Spearheaded market research, Pre resourcing with vendors, trend reports and analyzed previous production for all development.

* Created and managed Tech Packs sent to overseas vendors for all Home good products.

* Oversaw all comments for protos from design to website launch, aiding in organizing the warehouse and * Copy information for the website.

* Negotiated costing and units, defining packaging and shipping to track landed costs for each product.

· Collaborate with Design and Sales Director exchanging ideas and develop on-brand and trend-right product assortment.

· Executing monthly markets with technical packages in PLM and EBS, creating flat sketches and communicating with technical design basic blocks, specs, fabrication and trims.

· Closely working with domestic and overseas vendors to develop trims, fabrications, prints, and accessories based on season and color pallet.

· Organizing and overseeing teams for production, managing schedules, preparing costing, fittings and component preparation.