Jim Metscher
Kingston,MA
Summary
Results-focused C-level professional with expertise in P&L and asset management, product development, merchandising, planning and allocation, marketing, and global procurement for multi-channel retail organizations. Able to define strategic vision that drives business to maximize profits, enhance EBITDA, and reduce expenses. Adept at launching startups in need of infrastructure or accelerating growth of established companies. Collaborative communicator able to forge solid relationships with business partners, board of directors, and direct teams across multiple organizational levels and locations.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Group SVP and General Manager
Full Beauty Brands Inc.
New York, NY
01.2020 - 01.2024
- Responsible for volume and profit commitment, all product development, vendor relationships, pricing, creative development, and marketing budget
- Lead an80+ person merchandising and marketing organization comprised of product development, creative services, marketing, planning, web traffic and conversion and buying/inventory control
- Responsible for over $600M in Volume–over60% of FBB sales
- EBITDA20% -record sales and profits2021/2022
- Played key role in $40M acquisition of Catherine’s
- Doubled sales in2 years-EBITDA +20%
- Key member of the Executive Leadership Team
President/CEO
Bluestem Brands Inc.
Middleton, MA
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Provide full P&L oversight including budget planning and control, and financial reporting for Appleseed’s Retail Group and Blair Retail Group, two direct to consumer retailers with combined $600M in sales
- Develop and implement strategic plans for ten distinct brands in women’s, men’s and home, repositioning according to consumer demand to drive results and profits
- Spearhead supply chain process improvements in product design, merchandise content, and manufacturing and sourcing with an additional emphasis on effective print and digital marketing campaigns to increase consumer demand
- Communicate frequently with other company leaders regarding strategy and results ensuring progression towards organizational objectives
- Played key role in $410M acquisition and sale of Orchard Brands to Bluestem Brands
- Restructured senior leadership team based on consumer-centric business model, establishing a strong foundation for the enterprise
- Reduced working capital by $15M while increasing sales at Blair Group in excess of $40M -improving cash flow and inventory turnover
- Improved EBITDA330 bps to14.3% from2014 to2016
- Consolidated five distinct businesses into one business unit forming Appleseed Retail Group in2016, increasing sales by $80M and slashing $3M in general and administrative expenses
- Developed “Quick Response” initiative reducing manufacturing cycle time by over30 days
Managing Director
Reliant of New England
Plymouth, MA
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Supervised programs, personnel, and resources for company supplying eco-friendly and cost-effective technology solutions for food waste disposal
- Developed, implemented, and managed sales and marketing plans for New England, allowing organization to meet and exceed targets
- Secured key relationships with local and regional partners resulting in forward growth
President Footwear- Stores/E-Commerce/Catalog-SVP E-Commerce/Catalog
Casual Male Retail Group, Inc.
Canton, MA
01.2006 - 01.2011
- Executed growth strategy for footwear division with sales volume in excess of $80M, focusing on product development to maximize business opportunities
- Partnered with merchandising and marketing departments to strengthen e-commerce and catalog campaigns for Casual Male, Rochester Big and Tall, BT Direct, Shoes XL, Living XL, and CMRG-Europe, identifying new markets to contribute to EBITDA and revenue goals
- Delivered profitability as outlined in budget, creating and implementing action plans which sustained and grew business unit
- Implemented process improvements that boosted sales10% and EBITDA by230 basis points while reducing catalog circulation by25%, saving the company over $4M yearly
- Directed footwear Omni-channel positioning for e-commerce, catalog and expansion into400 stores
- Increased total footwear sales by more than38%, improving gross margins by over600 basis points
- Played integral role in start-up of Shoes XL, Living XL, and Casual Male–Europe divisions, initiating profitable business models for each
- Collaboratively launched Destination XL, a new Big and Tall store concept incorporating all of CMRG, Inc
- Improved traffic and conversion for ecommerce via merchandising and marketing initiatives
Executive Vice-President/Chief Merchandising Officer/Board Member
Talbots
Hingham, MA
01.1998 - 01.2003
- Steered collaborations to foster strategic plans for improved enterprise-wide systems and processes, successfully repositioning the brand and achieving over $1.6B in sales
- Restructured and managed supply chain, providing leadership for product development and design, merchandising and buying, marketing, planning and allocation, global sourcing and manufacturing
- Accessed consumer market trends and developed a customer centric product and marketing approach, resulting in Talbot’s most profitable years in its history
- Functioned as member of company’s board of directors
- Coordinated over300 store openings, increasing total sales by40%
- Achieved16 straight quarters of EPS growth, with performance records jumping250% from $.57 in1998 to $2 per share in2002
- Drove net income from4.4% in1999 to8% in2002
- Credited with boosting inventory turnover and cash flow to record levels and achieving record gross margin performance for three consecutive years
- Enhanced product and on-time deliveries, and reduced cycle time by utilizing leading-edge merchandising processes
- Orchestrated successful launches of e-commerce channel, Talbots Kids and Talbots Woman large sizes
- Additional experience as President/Chief Executive Officer/Board Member for Custom Foot, President Retail Group for Liz Claiborne, and Vice-President Product Development/GMM Merchandising for Talbot’s
Education
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green, OHSkills
- Strategic Planning
- P&L Administration
- Product Development/Merchandising
- Financial Forecasting
- Global Sourcing
- Team Leadership
- Change Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Store, Digital & Print Marketing
- Store and Digital expansion
- Inventory Planning
Affiliations
Gerson Lehrman Group - Council of Advisors (2003 - Present)
Timeline
Group SVP and General Manager
Full Beauty Brands Inc.
01.2020 - 01.2024
President/CEO
Bluestem Brands Inc.
01.2014 - 01.2018
Managing Director
Reliant of New England
01.2012 - 01.2014
President Footwear- Stores/E-Commerce/Catalog-SVP E-Commerce/Catalog
Casual Male Retail Group, Inc.
01.2006 - 01.2011
Executive Vice-President/Chief Merchandising Officer/Board Member
Talbots
01.1998 - 01.2003
Bowling Green State University
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