JEANNE ATKINSON

PROFILE:

 A hands-on strategist who works with foreign governments, USAID and its prime contractors, global funding organizations, foreign apparel associations, and individual companies in developing countries to expand export businesses. Ms. Atkinson conducts seminars and does intensive hands-on work teaching and training factory owners and managers how to manage their businesses, to understand US and EU apparel requirements and free trade laws, to raise manufacturing standards and capacities, to develop informative web-sites, and to be proactive in marketing.

 A global marketer who creates material and develops strategies for companies to prepare for and enter European trade shows.

 An industry professional who combines managerial expertise in apparel with strategic brand management, merchandising and product development.

 An experienced executive and consultant who has led small to medium sized businesses and has expanded these companies’ horizons enabling them to move into new businesses and to higher goals with high profit margins.

 A successful trade show manager who can develop single and multi-country sourcing trade shows in the New York Metro Area.

EXPERIENCE:

MARKETING AND MERCHANDISING CONSULTANT

A Consultant who works with leading various emerging foreign countries and manufacturers within their apparel sectors who develops effective marketing and merchandising strategies and tools to capitalize on current and newly available markets, especially those resulting from Free Trade Agreements. A specialist in brand development.

 2007 - 2002 JORDAN: ELZAY READY WEAR COMPANY, INC, AMMAN. Develop aggressive US market strategy. Contact and secure apparel orders from new customer base for existing high quality men’s clothing facility. Develop customer base for new facility built specifically for men’s trousers and pants. Initiate and implement retail franchising contracts throughout the Middle East with US brand manufacturers. Develop strategy for new brand; merchandise and market men’s collection to US buyers. Contract renewed annually.

 2006 – 2002 SERBIA: Sub-contractor with USAID prime contractors KPMG and Booz-Allen 1) to develop strategic plan for large state owned conglomerate, Kluz, by analyzing three sub corporations and restructuring the company for privatization and sale in public auction (the Government of Serbia began to transfer property ownership in the 1990s). (USAID aided in the design of the project), 2) to work with Serbian Enterprise Development Program (SEDP) to analyze major Serbian vertical retail and apparel manufacturing firms and to develop and implement marketing strategies for export development to US. Hire US sales agents. Manage trade show appearances. Contact and send specialists in quality control and production efficiency to work with SEDP selected companies. Contract renewed and/or revised annually.

 2006 Bangladesh - BANGLADESH Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). Funded by World Bank. Develop strategic US marketing plan for a single country US trade show for selected BKMEA member companies. Vet and select 44 out of 65 companies presented. Compose and present teaching seminars on all aspects of trade show participation for selected members of BKMEA. Conceive, arrange for and supervise 2 day sourcing trade show for BKMEA knitwear companies in NYC. Create and implement 8 week pre-show marketing plan including press releases, advertising, and direct mail pieces. Supervise B to B meetings post-event in New York City. Present final seminars in Dhaka summarizing trade show. Realized sales from 2 day show $11M. Estimated additional 2006 sales to be generated from show: USD$19.5 M.

 2006 MACEDONIA: Prime Sub-Contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton in Apparel Cluster. The Consultant, working within the Macedonian Apparel Competitiveness (MAC) Project, realized the following objectives: 1) lead efforts to strengthen promotional materials for apparel cluster companies 2) review existing promotional materials and make recommendations for improvements, 3) meet individually with at least 10 companies to revise promotional materials, 4) develop a day-by-day plan to help Task Force members take better advantage of EU trade fairs, 5) guide participating members to a selected apparel trade show (C.I.F.F. in Copenhagen) and prepare them to exhibit at Milan trade show, 6) work with designated Macedonian pr/marketing firm assisting the Marketing and Promotion Task Force. Results from the Copenhagen and Milan fairs include

1. 22 companies participating
2. 192 new customer contacts
3. 72 new foreign interested partners
4. 26 samples sent to foreign customers

 2005 SRI LANKA: Funded by Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB). Analyze and select 35 apparel manufacturers to participate in NY trade show. Develop show context, budget, venue, and marketing strategy. Manage and produce 2-day trade fair in New York City for Sri Lankan apparel exporters: 225 attendees, including press, apparel companies, catalog executives and sourcing managers, freight forwarders, and US private label and sourcing companies; generated estimated $22 million USD in orders for participating companies.

 2005 TURKEY: AEGEAN EXPORTERS’ UNION, IZMIR: Define, organize, promote and supervise 2 day New York trade show for 28 apparel manufacturers. Placed ads, prepared 3000 name data base specifically for sectors represented, supervised 3 tiered direct mail campaign and telemarketing, planned hotel layout, equipment, appointments, budget etc.

 2004 MACEDONIA: Training Provider for World Learning under Training Implementation Plan that served to support USAID/Macedonia Strategic Objective of (1.3) Accelerated Development and Growth of Private Enterprises and (3.4) mitigating the Adverse Social Impacts of the Transition to a Market-Based Democracy. Consultant led training program that addressed 1) lack of skills using ICT for marketing, 2) lack of understanding of and ability to identify and communicate effectively with potential customers in the global market, 3) lack of skills using ICT to ensure adequate factory profile information, costing, data graphed by classifications, 4) lack of solicitation skills, and 5) lack of EU trade show knowledge.

 2002 – 1997: BULGARIA - APPAREL INDUSTRY. Prime sub-contractor to IESC and other consulting firms funded by USAID. Contract renewed annually through 2002. Strategize approach for US and Western European markets. Teach Bulgarian contract apparel makers how to cost and produce for Western marketplace. Research all apparel facilities. Produce comprehensive system of factory rating and information. Create FLAG-APEX agency in Sofia to service US customers. Develop web site for BCAM (www.bulgarianapparelmakers.com). Give seminars in export marketing techniques. Develop trade show connections and supervise appearances. Increase production for value added products. Solicit worldwide business. Maintain New York office as liaison office for BCAM. Bulgarian apparel exports to the US grew from $393 M in 1998 to $1.5 B in 2002.

 2001: JORDAN-US BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP (JUSBP), AMMAN. IESC non-volunteer project funded by USAID. Assessment and evaluation of QIZ and non-QIZ apparel companies for export development. Preparation of evaluation rating system for both sectors. Seminar for JEDCO and JUSBP members on trade qualifications for exporting effectively to the US.

 2001: TURKEY - BAHAR KORCAN, ISTANBUL. (Funded by USAID.) Strategic marketing and merchandising preparation for entry into U.S. market. Product Development.

 2001 – 2000: UGANDA Government of Uganda. Commission from President Musevini to train and empower Ugandan apparel producers to compete effectively and enter the U.S. market using AGOA trade benefits. Evaluate and select companies for U.S. marketing campaign. Implement and arrange participation in World Source trade show.

 1999 – 1995: NEW YORK – Marketing and development consultant to various us women’s wear firms including TAHARI LTD., POLO RALPH LAUREN WOMEN’S WEAR, KASADA women’s sportswear, ZELDA