Melissa (Papel) Moscot

Consultant / Licensor

About

I’ve always been interested in the space where product, timing, and human emotion meet, especially in giftware, where intention matters as much as the object itself. As a third generation giftware professional, I bring a long view shaped by watching how people buy, give, and connect across different economic climates, cultural moments, and stages of life. More than twenty years in social expression have reinforced something simple but critical: tone matters. Often, the difference between a product being admired or purchased comes down to judgment, knowing what feels right now, what aligns with brand values, and what people are comfortable spending. Working in social expression sharpens your instincts quickly. Humor can land or miss. Sentiment can comfort or feel forced. Sometimes the strongest move is restraint. Those decisions are informed by experience as well as data, including sales results, reorder patterns, and how assortments perform over time. I tend to look at product through multiple lenses at once: the retailer, the consumer, the end user, and the partners who bring it to life. The work I enjoy most involves shaping cohesive product stories by spotting gaps, refining core ideas, and building assortments that balance hero items, accessible add ons, and thoughtful extensions that feel good to stand behind. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with licensed brands, artists, manufacturers, and senior leadership on both the brand and retail side. Acting as a connector between creative vision, commercial goals, and operational realities comes naturally, and it’s often where the best partnerships take shape. I care about making products that feel considered, useful, and emotionally right, and about doing that work alongside people who care as much about how things are made as what gets made.

Country

United States

City

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Industry

Consumer Goods

Skill

Product Development, Brand Development, Branding & Identity, Product Line Development, Licensing, Consumer Products, Data-driven Decision Making, Concept Development, Project Management, Product Management, Sourcing, Problem Solving, Analytics, Communication, Easily Adaptable, Publicity, Customer Engagement, Program Implementation, Analytical Skills, Competitive Analysis

Experience

Consultant / Licensor

M Papel Design

2017-7 - Present · 9 yrs 3 mos

Agoura Hills

Product development and brand consultant creating social expression and lifestyle gift products for global distribution. Several programs are held under exclusive license with Personal Creations, supported by an extensive proprietary librrary of designs developed to meet evolving market demand across categories and occassions. Partner with growing brands to develop product, packaging, and offer-level branding, including collaborations with That's All Greetings and BabyJar. Lead projects from concept through production, aligning creative vision with commercial goals while adapting quickly across formats, categories, and customer needs.

Head of Product Development

Papel Designs & CB Gift

2013-4 - 2017-6 · 4 yrs 3 mos

Los Angeles, CA

Played a key role in launching CB Gift, the secular division of Christian Brands, helping establish the brand foundation, product strategy, and initial assortments. Led the transition and redevelopment of multiple licenses while planning and developing the launch of a full Papel-branded collection. Collaborated cross functionally with leadership, sales, marketing, and operations to plan assortments, manage timelines, and bring hundreds of SKUs to market across Seasonal, Everyday, Novelty, and Inspirational catalogs.

Sr. Product Development & Brand Manager

Santa Barbara Design Studio

2008-7 - 2013-3 · 4 yrs 9 mos

Oxnard, California

Led creative direction, long range line planning, supplier communication, and cross functional collaboration. Served as primary contact for licensing and product development across up to nine brands simultaneously. Responsibilities included trend forecasting, competitive research, sales analysis, and development rationale, as well as copywriting and proofreading for product, packaging, and marketing materials.

Promotional Product Sales Account Executive

PromoShop Inc.

2006-9 - 2008-7 · 1 yr 11 mos

Playa Vista, CA

Developed custom promotional product campaigns to strengthen client relationships and brand identity. Managed project timelines, budgets, and execution, partnering closely with clients to deliver tailored solutions that met both creative and business objectives.

Product & Business Development

Papel Designs

2001-6 - 2005-8 · 4 yrs 3 mos

Los Angeles, California

Led business development and licensing for key global accounts including The Encore Group, Figi, Russ Berrie, and others. Oversaw bookings analysis, model line planning, and day to day workload management for a creative and product team of 15 plus. Managed sourcing and development, including domestic and international travel to factories and major gift shows. Established operational and artwork budgets, milestone planning, and approval workflows that improved efficiency for trade shows and vendor order placement.

Advertising Sales Account Executive

The Hollywood Reporter

1998-2 - 2001-6 · 3 yrs 5 mos

Los Angeles, CA

Developed and structured advertising campaigns for major agencies, guilds, law firms, and individuals within the entertainment industry. Partnered with senior leadership to launch Special Editions that generated incremental revenue while expanding editorial storytelling opportunities.