Hyla Baratz

Promoted at this globally recognized Italian luxury goods brand based on prior success in leading their leather accessories to record levels. Tasked with growing eight figure men’s category comprised of leather accessories, furnishings and ready-to-wear along with men’s shoes, the company’s largest category. Lead team in driving wholesale sales strategy and execution for all 250+ points of sale in US and Canada. Collaborate with Italian designers on product designs to meet North American market trends. Develop and present creative seasonal merchandising strategies to customers. Manage stock to ensure productive use of inventory. Deliver retailer training around brand awareness and product knowledge. Analyze customer sales to identify new business opportunities. Manage co-op advertising budget. Visit accounts in key markets and identify new doors/accounts. Present new seasonal collections at Italian headquarters. Impact highlights include… ☛ Grew men’s division by tens of millions of dollars in increasing challenging and competitive environment. ☛ Elevated Ferragamo to top three menswear brand based on volume at key luxury retail channels. ☛ Created six exclusive merchandising packages every year, contributing seven figures in new retail revenue. ☛ Revised distribution, increasing individual account profitability. ☛ Reformulated product mix based on individual account potential, increasing inventory turn by double digit percent. ☛ Opened ten Ferragamo-branded shops for Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s, generating more volume vs. non-branded shops. ☛ Increased sales double digit percent in first year after five years of no growth. ☛ Implemented drop-ship program for all men’s categories generating increase in stock sales. ☛ Launched new sales program – Ferragamo World – generating seven figures in additional revenue despite 2008 economic crisis.

Promoted based on growing volume of company’s most valuable and profitable account in prior role. Tasked with expanding leather category as company was looking beyond shoe category for growth. Led team in pursuit of double-digit growth target. Developed new products and expanded stock programs. Impact highlights include… ☛ Increased leather category sales by seven figures in first year, a double-digit percent increase in challenging recession year. ☛ Grew belt category significantly in first year with all major department stores from generating seven figures in new revenue and after shoes creating #2 category for the company. ☛ Expanded small leather goods into stock program delivering triple digit percent revenue increase

Brought in based on industry insight and relationships to manage and grow Nordstrom, the largest volume wholesale account generating well into seven figures as well as more than 50 independents. Implemented new high yield account development strategies adopted division wide. Impact highlights include… ☛ Increased sales by millions of dollars, a double-digit percent increase.

Hired out of FIT into one of America’s most recognized fashion brands to handle Midwest and Mid Atlantic specialty store business. Promoted to manage department stores for men’s sportswear at Kenneth Cole Retail, Dillard’s, Marshall Fields, Saks, Nordstrom and Nordstrom.com representing $40M in business. Presented sportswear line to buyers. Analyzed sales trends at each account at door level. Created sales, receipt and SKU plans for each account’s upcoming season. Provided management overviews.