SIMON YEE

Ensuring the successful implementation of both private label and branded programs; act as the primary resource for cross functional aspects of design, development, sourcing, production and logistics related to bringing relevant programs and opportunities from concept to commercialization.

• Develop and implement NA strategies for Kappa and Robe Di Kappa brands while aligning with global message and overall business objectives including price and product architecture maintaining brand consistency and regional relevance. Increasing sales to $3 M in the first 4 years and maintaining margins between 52% - 56%.
• Drive overall vision of product lifecycle by reacting to sales trends, market impacts and inventory.
• Analyze sales performance, inventory levels and customer feedback to make data driven decisions for assortment selection and adjustments.
• Stay current on trends, competitor activities and market dynamics to identify opportunities and threats.
• Lead product development for Kappa brand collaborations and exclusives for premium retailers such as Barney's NY, Ssense, Opening Ceremony, Kinfolk NYC among others; overseeing entire process from conception to commercialization.
• Continuous interaction with global vendor network (China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Colombia, Turkiye among others) to ensure that the Code of Conduct is adhered to, material and production quality standards are met, production calendar is followed and target pricing is achieved; maintaining positive vendor relations to build strong partnerships.
• Engaged team members in best practices for product management, fostering a collaborative culture and the strength of teamwork to maximize productivity.

Collaborated with design, production and sales teams to define and develop seasonal private label assortment that fulfills customer needs and maximizes growth opportunities.

• Determined FOB pricing for styles to meet or exceed company’s margin expectations of 54%.
• Researched current and forecasted trends to influence styles to be included in product offering.
• Created technical packages, updating information as needed until finalized and production ready.
• Managed product creation process, including fabric and trim sourcing, embellishments and construction details.
• Approved fit and construction of protos, offer solutions to any problems that may be encountered.
• Collaborated with design associates and production team to ensure proper execution of styles.

Planned and priced seasonal Canadian Apparel lines in the following categories: Basketball, House of Hoops Marketplace Transform doors, Jordan Brand, Young Athletes, Tennis and Action Sports and Nike Sportswear, aligning with consumer needs and industry norms.

• Financial planning and delivering target futures growth in responsible categories resulting in average of 25% category growth and maintaining minimum GPM of 55-60%.
• Created seasonal consumer right assortments while aligning with lead brand stories and key category initiatives as well as monitoring current trends and competition to influence seasonal merchandise strategy.
• Partner with North America category counterparts to align on assortment direction, communicated specific Canada market needs ensuring product mix meets needs of Canadian consumer.
• Provided and created seasonal sales tools and catalogs to support sales team to help influence accounts on their assortment direction.
• Aligned with sales and North America category merchandising to influence assortment choices; Identified key territory opportunities through analysis of sales information and market trends and secured product needs to enable Nike share growth.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams as well as Canada Brand to ensure that categories achieved revenue and profitability growth for account and Nike.
• Partnered with demand planning team to develop seasonal assortment matrix and forecasting, maximizing global alignment efficiencies.
• Direct supervision and mentoring of Associate Merchants and indirect reports, fostering culture of collaboration and teamwork to develop professional growth within organization.

Initiated, managed and directed commercialization process for all domestically produced production as well as any Canada specific off shore production.

• Developed and implemented domestic tee process for quick turn and react business.
• Monitored progress of commercialization process to ensure that style development and production is accomplished within established timeline.
• Anticipated problems, offered solutions and developed strategies to address issues that may arise within both development and production processes.
• Ensured that all domestic apparel products are developed and engineered in a manner that is consistent with Nike standards.
• Provided factory partners with tech packs and BOM’s, assuring that product specifications were complete for sampling and production.
• Sourced new fabrics as needed and maintained Nike standards with fabric development and colour lab dips.
• Participated in fit sessions with factory partners to ensure that fit was correct and to determine if changes were needed to improve product as well as making sure measurements were aligned to Nike measurement standards.
• Collaborated with factories to achieve profitable FOB’s.
• Actively communicated with relevant members of Canadian and Regional teams to ensure seamless product development process.
• Monitored factory production and lead-time performances to ensure they support established Nike manufacturing goals.
• Conducted regular meetings with Operations and Merchandising teams to establish seasonal capacity plans, determined target lead-times and delivery dates.
• Communicated Nike monthly/seasonal buy plan forecast to factories and monitor forecast needs against factory capacity.
• Responsible for ensuring all systems (PDM), weekly reports, tracking tools, factory source base updates and all pertinent product process information are accurate and updated within seasonal timelines.
• Supported factory quality system development to ensure that Nike high level quality standards were achieved and maintained.
• Worked with API team and factory to identify, resolve and prevent quality issues.
• Established and maintained strong factory relationship, collaborated with Nike Compliance Manager to implement factory monitoring strategy ensuring factory compliance to Nike Code of Conduct.
• Successfully executed all production needs (planned and at once) for 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver BC.