Cynthia Benson
6800 4th Avenue E., Williston ND | (214) 551-2345 | cindylogicLLC@gmail.co*
Product Development/Design – Home Décor & Apparel
Innovative, versatile and results-driven Apparel and Home Décor Designer with a demonstrated ability to perform at a level of excellence and accomplished at leading teams, revitalizing and launching products. Highly skilled in collaborating and leading in end-to-end product design without compromising the goal of increasing retail revenue. Aligning with multiple stakeholders domestically and globally and ensuring superior quality and timely completion. Ability to develop strategies to drive design processes ensuring competitiveness based on current trends and demands. In addition to design, diverse skills include merchandising, sourcing and product management. A self-driven, detailed and trusted team player with superior communication skills and a strong work ethic including an excellent analytic ability and the ability to successfully resolve issues. Seeking a challenging position with a dynamic organization to utilize my diverse skill set and continue to learn and grow as a design professional. Willing to relocate.
CORE COMPETENCIES
* Home Décor Design
§ Textile & Apparel Design
§ Domestic & Overseas Supplier & Vendor Relations
§ Staff Mentoring
§ Critical Thinking and Complex problem solving
§ Trend Research
§ Relationship Management
§ Management of Material and Financial Resources
§ Innovative Thinking
§ Lectra’s U4ia Graphic/Print/Woven Software and Kaledo
§ Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
§ Web PDM
§ Flex
§ Microsoft Office Suite
§ linkedin.com/in/bensoncynthia
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CKK HOME DÉCOR 2013 – Mar 2017
Product Development & Designer - Stonebriar Collection
Instrumental influencing the advancement of the design focus and assortment in multiple product categories, creating new business opportunities for boutique and mass accounts. Designed new brand appropriate designs which effectively conveyed Stonebriar Collection concept and messaging
- Conducted through market trend research and competitive shopping effectively communicating the product value, including attending seasonal markets and trade shows
- Coordinated and directed the brand and additional account projects from strategy to in-house delivery, while adhering to assigned design directives, accomplish goals and price structures making detailed plans to accomplish goals and directing the integration of technical activities. Reviewed, and approved product design and changes.
- Collaborated with foreign partners (Hong Kong and Delhi, India) in all areas of new product development including negotiation of initial costing and worked with stakeholders on pricing and gross margin. Traveled to China and India to coordinate and ensure timely sample and concept development with factories.
- Conceptualized, directed and implemented all aspects of the seasonal catalog with cross-functional partners, including photoshoot
- Responsible for updating Stonebriar website on a regular basis and presented innovative digital media marketing strategies. Worked with sales to implement promotions through Constant Contact.
- Las Vegas Showroom – updated and remerchandised showroom for 2017 Market while coming in under budget
Notable Accomplishments:
- SS2017 development came in under budget for development without compromising the aesthetics and brand vision
- Sales utilized product and design from the SS2017 collection for submission to mass retailers including Target & Home Depot
- Collaborated with Sales to achieve a 10% growth and add four additional collections to the brand for 2016-2017
JCPENNEY, INC. 2003 – 2012
Managing Textile Designer – Junior’s Arizona and Decree, 2007 - 2012
Supervised and provided leadership and guidance for three direct reports and originated and developed initial print/pattern direction for assigned areas, encouraging creativity through research, development and competitive shopping. Updated and presented seasonal development boards during the design process.
§ Created and delivered brand appropriate presentations during design direction meetings, weekly meetings and milestone meetings to update stakeholders on all levels.
§ Coordinated, designed and managed label development for Arizona and Decree brands.
§ Managed the seasonal calendar to ensure established goals were met for successful development.
§ Supervised freelance projects with overseas office and domestic partners for seasonal initiatives.
§ Trained and mentored Intern and Coop students on their creative process and enhanced their textile design and merchandising skills. Resulted in hiring of students at JCPenney.
§ Collaborated with IT department and beta tested new Kaledo software. Proposed options for improvement.
§ Maintained global influence through mentoring India based design team. Traveled to overseas location to resolve design issues.
Notable Accomplishments:
§ 2009, Awarded one of the first two Chairman’s Awards for Textile Design.
§ 2008, Recognized as Team of the Quarter for Decree brand.
Swimwear Designer – jcpenney Junior’s (Arizona & Decree), 2007 - 2010
Accountable for end-to-end development and textile design of junior swim category for Arizona and Decree. Swim designer duties were in addition to regular Managing Textile Design duties.
§ Created and merchandised swim silhouettes, patterns, and colors for direct swimwear along with cover-ups through trend research, trade shows and competitive shopping.
§ Presented updates on seasonal and developments at milestone meetings.
§ Collaborated with trend, sourcing, and product development teams, ensuring brand consistency, delivering trend right product according to customer and market needs.
§ Interfaced with sourcing and color department to ensure brand consistency across color and fabric and trims
§ Managed important global relationships in Asia.
§ Collected and followed through on all seasonal product packs with sourcing and overseas offices.
Notable Accomplishments:
§ Established new for resort set, capturing $568K with 53% gross profit; efforts resulted in the development of Arizona Spring promotional program.
§ Expanded product line from 3 to 20+ styles, improving profitability and business contribution.
Designer – jcpenney Junior’s (Arizona Active & Swim), 2007
Skillfully collaborated with and managed one direct report for design and development of Arizona active wear while managing textile design duties for Active wear and swim categories.
§ Guided the design, merchandising, fit sessions, pattern development, silhouette design, and strike-off approval for Arizona swim category.
§ Managed inside label design for all categories related to the Arizona junior’s brand. Included all follow-up with Product Manager and outside vendors
Managing Textile Designer – Junior’s, Young Men’s, & Children [2003-2006]
Steered print/pattern direction for Arizona junior, young men, and children products as well as Okie Dokie infant/toddler products. Supervised and trained eight textile designers. Conducted seasonal sales analysis and devised development strategies. Collaborated with design director, trend manager, and product development team to establish trend-right textile designs.
§ Partnered with sourcing directors to drive effectiveness of textile development by enhancing communication of product design to overseas offices.
§ Created profitable textile designs and ensured quality execution while overseeing five separate areas of textile design and their career paths, and interfaced with other Managing Textile Designer to prepare proposals and gain buy-in for improvements in the textile design department to initiate department expansion.
Other Professional Experience:
JCPenney, Inc.
Textile Design – St. John’s Bay Women’s Woven, 2003
Karen Scott Knits - The May Merchandising Company, Inc. Textile Designer, 1999-2003
EDUCATION / TRAINING
Masters of Art, Design & Media Management, Dallas Institute of Art, Dallas, TX
Publications: Cindylogic and the Popup Bazaar Experiential Marketing Business Plan, A Capstone Project
September 2014
Bachelor of Science, Interior Design & Merchandising, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO