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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.
 2010 – 2009: ALBANIA: CHEMONICS CED PROJECT, TIRANA: Prime sub-contractor to USAID funded Chemonics project. Consultant worked with RritjeAlbania Chemonics office and its support personnel to 1) analyze overall contract apparel manufacturing sector in Albania, 2) devise strategic marketing plan based on information and on site interviews, 3) develop and edit first web site for apparel sector. www.albanianapparel.com and individual web sites for manufacturers, 4) develop criteria for trade fair appearance and help office and factory owners comply, 5) analyze potential of office pre-selected factories, 6) take delegation to selected trade fair where Consultant contacted potential clients and organized and followed up B2B meetings.
2010 - 2009: OMAN: IESC and PRIVATE CLIENTS, MUSCAT AND ELSEWHERE: Prime sub-contractor to USAID funded IESC project. Create and deliver marketing strategy analysis and discussion and a power point presentation to 120 Omani company executives during three day Free Trade Conference; lead B2B meetings and discussions with exporters. For certain Omani companies, develop unique approach to marketing apparel and/or home furnishings products to US using new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) rules.
2008 - 2002 JORDAN: ELZAY READY WEAR COMPANY, INC, AMMAN: Funded privately. Develop aggressive US market strategy for free trade apparel manufacturer. Contact and secure orders from new customer base for existing high quality men’s clothing facility. Resulting success requires company to double its manufacturing facility to accommodate new clients who place orders for men’s trousers and pants. Initiate and implement retail franchising contracts throughout the Middle East with US for BDBG. A US women’s brand. Develop strategy for new private label men’s brand, Taylor and Lodge. Hire designer, merchandise collections and market to US buyers.
2006 – 2002 SERBIA: Prime sub-contractor to USAID funded KPMG and Booz-Allen 1) to develop strategic plan for state owned conglomerate, Kluz, by analyzing three sub corporations and restructuring the company for privatization and/or sale in public auction (the Government of Serbia began to transfer property ownership in the 1990s) and 2) to work with Serbian Enterprise Development Program (SEDP) to analyze major Serbian vertical retail and apparel manufacturing firms to develop and implement first-time marketing strategies for export 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 and renewed 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. Compose and present teaching seminars on all aspects of trade show participation for selected BKMEA knitwear companies. Conceive, arrange for and supervise 2 day sourcing trade show for BKMEA companies in NYC. Create and implement 8 week pre-show marketing plan including press releases, advertising, and direct mail pieces. Supervise B3B 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. The Consultant, working within the Macedonian Apparel Competitiveness (MAC) Project, realized the following objectives: 1) strengthened promotional materials for apparel cluster companies 2) merchandised brand clothing collections for 10 companies, 3) developed a day-by-day plan to help Task Force members take better advantage of EU trade fairs, 4) guided participating members to a selected apparel trade show (C.I.F.F. in Copenhagen), 5) prepared members to exhibit at Milan trade show, 7) worked with designated Macedonian pr/marketing firm assisting the Marketing and Promotion Task Force.
Results from the Copenhagen and Milan fairs included
- 22 companies participating
- 192 new customer contacts
- 72 new foreign interested partners
- 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 exclusive NY trade show. Develop show context, budget, venue, and marketing strategy. Manage and produce 2-day trade fair in New York City: 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 accelerated development and growth of private enterprises and (2 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: Prime sub-contractor to IESC and other consulting firms funded by USAID. Contract renewed annually through 2002. Strategize marketing approach into US and Western European markets. Team Leader. Instruct Bulgarian contract apparel makers how to cost and produce for Western and European marketplaces. Produce comprehensive system of factory rating and information. Create FLAG-APEX agency in Sofia to service US and European 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. Increase Bulgarian apparel exports to the US 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 and BIS APPAREL COMPANY, 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 WorldSource trade show.
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