Kalie Simpkins

- Manage sample approval process, sample storage, workroom flow and store modular set up and display
- Develop and design footwear styles across categories, size ranges and genders
- Market research for inspiration, presentations, leadership signoff, consumer testing
- Manage PLM, quotes & costing for development categories
- Work with First Insight rep to create tests and surveys for customer insights
- Provide trend, sourcing, costing input to store and ecomm merchants to aid thoughtful and educated buying decisions
- Utilize strong understanding of private brands’ DNA, aesthetic and design direction
- Maintain supplier relationships and build trusted partnerships with supply base and global sourcing team
- Work with legal review team to ensure all product is original design and not infringing on existing IP
- Collaborate cross-functionally with apparel, packaging, compliance, site merchandising, merchant and marketing teams

- Follow life-cycle of seasonal shoe lines through conception, design, detail, development, production, market sales
- Manage samples for market shoe shows, sales presentations, aesthetic approvals, sample organizing
- Market trend research for seasonal deisgn concepts and brand direction
- Accurately and timely execute deadlines for design and development milestones
- Sketch (digital and hand), design and detail shoes
- Manage PLM entries including Bill of Materials, sample ordering, speed to market processes, and material managment
- Maintain a strong understanding of brand positioning and identifying white space in assortments

- Travel to sites for installs of large format vinyl for clients across the country.
- Used problem-solving skills for wrapping walls, windows, pillars, floors, etc.
- Learned and applied all vinyl types using wet and dry techniques.
- Built, proofed and released print-ready digital files for production.
- Ran printers, laminaters, cutting equipment and vinyl plotters.
- Attended 3M certification for vinyl installers training class.

- Went from a temporary assistant position to Sign Shop Manager within 4 months
- Manage a high volume, fast-paced print shop producing marketing signage for Anheuser-Busch distributing company
- Receive and execute orders for marketing displays, wall wraps and store promotions for more than 1100 sales accounts.
- Delegate tasks and projects to assistants and interns.
- Manage annual marketing production budget

- Manage and design T-shirts for large scale and small custom orders via ecom site and in-store sales
- Design and execute marketing for store sales, events and customized price tags for merchandise
- Managed print production schedule and execution for all apparel
- Operate ecom store and social media accounts
- Developed strong written and verbal communication by working directly with customers in-store and through email
- Managerial duties including cash deposits and maintaining financial records and budget