Laura Engle
Westfield
Summary
Experienced brand manager with a demonstrated history of working in the fashion industry. Strong operations professional, skilled in budgeting and forecasting, merchandising, pre-production and production, trend analysis and quality assurance. Results-oriented and collaborative professional, with an expertise in brand management and a proven track record of success in meeting key organizational objectives through well-defined metrics. Detail-oriented, attentive, hard working and decisive.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
SENIOR BRAND MANAGER
MGF Sourcing
03.2017 - Current
- Responsible for managing customer relationships to service and grow new and existing lines of business
- Responsible for managing key customers for MGF
- Managed between $270M~$350M in topline sales per annum, generating between $28M~$32M in OI for MGF depending on the year
- Developed supply chain strategies to meet both customer and internal business objectives, ensuring timely accomplishment of key milestones and business objectives
- Responsible for ensuring customer strategic goals are met by partnering with key functional teams throughout the MGF organization (merchandising, design, raw materials, IT, finance, and logistics teams)
- Acts as a liaison between the customer and regional teams within MGF through constant engagement with the customer
- Collaborates with internal global teams to ensure everyone is aligned and understands short-term and long-term expectations of the brand(s) from product design, execution, quality, pricing, logistics, and compliance
- Proven ability to drive incremental opportunities and maintain existing lines of business through outstanding customer service and by establishing strong relationships with the customer
- Supports cost negotiations and delivery requirements with internal regional partners, finding common ground that protects both the customer and the factory
- Helps facilitate problem resolution when issues arise, such as production slides, execution or quality issues, claims, etc.
- Establishes and maintains a full brand budget and P&L for brands managed (sales, margin and expenses) and able to forecast accurately against said fixed budget
- Elected by senior leadership and served as MGF Touch Foundation Global Chair, 2021
FABRIC SPECIALIST
The Limited
08.2016 - 12.2016
- Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- Responsible for the research and development of fabric, yarn, and color from point of concept and development to bulk production for all categories (woven and knit tops, sweaters, dresses, skirts, jackets, and bottoms) reporting directly into the Fabric R&D and QA Director
- Participated in initial design concept meetings and presented new fabrics for consideration
- Initiated new fabric developments with suppliers
- Ordered and managed prototype and presentation fabric sample orders
- Analyzed and tracked test reports for seasonal fabrics
- Ensured on time quality assurance approvals
- Provided comments and solutions to testing issues in pre-production and bulk
- Assigned care instructions for fabric/garment in conjunction with the approved testing
- Reviewed and approved or rejected lab dips
- Set bulk color and fabric quality standards
- Reviewed bulk lots and set up shade band
ASSOCIATE MANAGER, FABRIC R&D
White House | Black Market
04.2014 - 08.2016
- Responsible for the research and development of seasonal fabrics for sportswear, dresses, and athleisure categories
- Attended domestic and international fabric shows for seasonal sourcing needs.
- Worked directly with the R&D Senior Director on front end fabric development that fit into the concepts and trends each season (all categories).
- Partnered with pre-production and sourcing teams to ensure fabrics worked within departmental IMU/AUC goals,
- Counter sourced fabrics as needed for cost, mill balance or COO.
- Ensured all fabrications adhered to brand quality standards
- Was responsible for keeping track of the mill balance for all categories (dresses, denim, jackets, outerwear, skirts, bottoms, woven tops, and knit tops)
- Responsible for monitoring development ratios for both fabric, prints, and color (all categories).
- Attended Cotton Inc., Boston, June 201
- Attended Texworld & Kingpins, New York City, July 2015
- Attended Premiere Vision, Paris, September 2015 & February 2016
- Attended Premiere Vision, New York City, January 2015
ASSOCIATE MANAGER, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Chico's FAS
02.2014 - 04.2014
- Supported Senior Manager in finalizing development details and establishing high garment standards prior to production
- Managed woven bottoms from point of concept to production stage, adhering to strict deadlines
- Worked cross-functionally with Design, Sourcing, Fabric R&D, CAD, and Tech Design
- Calculated and evaluated garment costing
- Negotiated costing with vendors to help meet or exceed margin goals
ASSOCIATE MANAGER, GLOBAL PRODUCTION
Vera Bradley
06.2013 - 02.2014
- Responsible for allocating and ordering fabric on a weekly basis
- Participated in costing reviews and negotiations with team
- Maintained awareness of delivery challenges due to fabric or manufacturing issues
- Obtained and provided feedback on vendor and mill performance.
PRODUCTION ARTIST
adidas
06.2007 - 08.2012
- Left to further education and attend Parsons in New York City
- Worked closely with design to execute designer intent through various styles and graphics
- Responsible for graphic breakout for men's and women's apparel annually (sideline, fan gear, lifestyles)
- Created tech packs and sent art to vendors
- Responsible for Follett and Barnes and Noble collateral pieces annually
- Assisted with collateral development for adidas sideline, lifestyles, and fan gear
- Responsible for building collateral for 12 NCAA sideline schools and 60+ direct schools annually
- Took lead role in graphic breakouts for Production Art Team on new business trim item creation and development out of Indianapolis in final year (rhinestones, heat transfers, flocking, appliques, embroideries, etc.)
- Elected Employee of the Quarter 2011
Education
Associate of Arts - Fashion Design
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Bachelor of Arts - Graphic Design
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Skills
- Negotiation
- Operations Management
- Budgeting and Forecasting
- Global Sourcing and Supply Chain
- Customer Service
- Pre-Production and Production
- Retail Sales
- Merchandising
- Trend Analysis
- Quality Assurance
- Textiles
- Graphic Design
Personal Information
Title: FASHION | BRAND MANAGEMENT
References
Available Upon Request
Timeline
SENIOR BRAND MANAGER
MGF Sourcing
03.2017 - Current
FABRIC SPECIALIST
The Limited
08.2016 - 12.2016
ASSOCIATE MANAGER, FABRIC R&D
White House | Black Market
04.2014 - 08.2016
ASSOCIATE MANAGER, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Chico's FAS
02.2014 - 04.2014
ASSOCIATE MANAGER, GLOBAL PRODUCTION
Vera Bradley
06.2013 - 02.2014
PRODUCTION ARTIST
adidas
06.2007 - 08.2012
Associate of Arts - Fashion Design
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Bachelor of Arts - Graphic Design
INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
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