Gretchen Mc Mann

Responsible for all stages of overseas product development for home furnishing, home decor and gift products from initial concept and product design to completion of mass production through full product life-cycle. Categories include home decor and furnishings, decorative accents, clocks, photo frames, impulse accessories, gifts, games and stationery. Responsible for 100% of book and domestic assortments and buying. Reaches and exceeds company sales, margin and inventory turn plans. Responsible for all vendor sourcing, cost negotiations, sample execution and final sample approvals. Determines ship windows, arrival dates and product allocation into stores. Maintains a close working relationship with overseas factories and trading companies as well as domestic vendor partners. Collaborates with other merchandise managers, buyers and cross-functional teams to create cohesive product assortments based on company trend direction, seasonality and industry aesthetics. Extensive US tradeshow expertise and 10 years of overseas travel experience in China, Hong Kong, India and Europe. Passionate about entrepreneurial retail environments.

Leader and decision maker for all product development and product assortments in an e-commerce environment across multiple fan gear categories. Categories included promotional branded fan gear apparel, accessories and lifestyle products. Responsible for leading and developing custom products with TV show relevance, working with on-demand printers, promotional product companies and sourcing market products through domestic agents and traveling all major US market trade shows. Responsibilities included comprehensive management of 25 television brands ranging from popular TV sitcoms and Reality TV shows to Discovery Channel educational programs. Key focus included identifying trends in both the pop culture and entertainment worlds while maintaining fan gear based trend-forward apparel, promotional tech accessories, accessories, home and novelty assortments.

Held the vision for the Licensed Accessories & Gift departments while being the key decision maker regarding product assortments, product development and vendor sourcing. Lead and developed a team of eight. Worked with major motion-picture industry leaders (Warner Brothers, FOX, NBC, Nickelodeon, Disney) while developing licensed novelty gifts, apparel, home décor, accessories and impulse assortments for successful entertainment property franchises. Worked in collaboration with marketing and e-com departments to maximize brand awareness, customer service initiatives, special in-store promotions and online marketing events. Focused trend-spotting efforts towards a teenage demographic submersed in music and pop culture lifestyles. Shopped competitively on a weekly basis--responding strategically and quickly to keeping ahead of the competition.

Conceptualized, built and founded a unique American pop culture retail brand in SF, totaling $1.2 million in annual sales the second year with first location. Grew business into a chain of three bay area locations. Launched website with global e-commerce capabilities. Sourced vendors and negotiated all costs and terms. Managed employee team of 25 people. Extensive trade show history including NY International Gift Show, Atlanta, SF and L.A. Gift Shows, Chicago Housewares, M.A.G.I.C., the Candy Expo and several regional markets. Happy Trails was repeatedly recognized by local media with Best of the Bay awards for “Most Fun Place to Shop”.