KARIN FRITZ
New York,NY
Summary
Dynamic, goal-driven tri-lingual professional bringing 15+year career history in diverse luxury, operations, and marketing experience across three countries with proven track record of strategic business growth. Possessor of in-depth knowledge of industry trends and shifts, adept at building strong client relationships and offering valuable insights on opportunities for new growth and expansion in highly competitive marketplaces. Known for credibility, integrity and maintaining calm and poise in high-pressure situations.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Global Head of Interiors
LIBERTY FABRICS
New York, NY
05.2019 - Current
- Launch Liberty interior fabrics globally, opening up distribution across four continents and connecting with key partners in US and Europe
- Identified potential new markets and developed strategic plans for expansion into those markets.
- Developed relationships with key stakeholders in target markets in order to increase brand awareness.
- Developed pricing strategy for different markets
- Coordinated with marketing team to develop promotional materials, campaigns,for different countries
- Determine collection assortment and new products working with design and production team
- Built sales forecasts and schedules to reflect desired productivity targets.
- Attended trade shows for in-person engagement and network building.
- Directed sales agents, providing guidance on successful sales tactics, to drive growth and development and to distinguish Liberty Fabric’s competitive advantages
Merchandising & Project Manager
DONGHIA
New York, NY
01.2018 - 04.2019
- Managed 8 showroom installations for North America, including the budgeting, ordering new product and showroom displays: utilizing multiple teams, database management
- Strategized ways to clear previous season’s showroom items to enable merchandising of new furniture; worked with online platforms to highlight inventory and conduct direct outreach to past customers
- Collaborated with visual merchandisers to optimize showroom displays
- Negotiated with trade to wholesale inventory, including highlighting pieces in warehouse and discontinued items as well as floor merchandise
- Partnered cross-functionally with colleagues in Sales, Purchasing, and Marketing to improve communication and process flow
- Focused on client relations, working with high-net worth clientele both in the US and abroad.
Sales and New Business Development Manager
DERING HALL
New York, NY
06.2017 - 12.2017
- Drove sales of product and design service listing packages
- Built and oversaw a network of Brand Ambassadors in key markets/ categories
- Developed, prioritized, and managed a large prospect list over a wide geography
- Identified business opportunities and buy-in for product marketing, email marketing and editorial support on the platform for this premier digital platform for the design market, offering access to top product makers and brands, leading designers and architects, and the best editorial contributors
- Leveraged partnerships, programs and promotions developed by the Marketing team to drive sales
- Developed new sales initiatives that targeted manufacturers within specific categories and within specific regions in North America and Europe
Brand Manager
MISSONIHOME
New York, NY
01.2010 - 02.2017
- Managed sales accounts throughout North America, product training, finances and reporting of sales figures to cross functional departments in Italy
- Analyzed market trends to address business opportunities and issues, and to set the brands’ annual objectives, strategies, positioning, tactics and measures
- Traveled extensively to US and Canadian accounts to present new collections and secure sales with high end retailer like Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys, Holt Renfrew and premium independent stores and showrooms
- Developed product/business strategy, including pricing, and performed ongoing business analysis to drive brand performance
- Spearheaded launch of Montreal, Toronto, and Miami markets, negotiated with developers and vendors, optimized customer service and realized 25% new membership in these markets
- Organized trunk shows, delivered training, formed action plans and strategies, analyzed inventory and sales performance, conducted competitor research and collaborated with other departments to drive business goals
Brand Operations Specialist
MISSONIHOME
New York, NY
12.2005 - 01.2010
- Launched American market
- Coordinated introduction and establishment of collections on the American market and product training
- Directed supplier account set-up, customer relations, press relations, event planning, managing sales agents and liaising with Missoni Italy
- Managed the opening of MissoniHome’s first North American showroom
- Planned and executed annual showroom product launch installations
- Coordinated participation in Milan’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair
- Organized client trips to Italy to showcase selected product assortment for stores.
Customer Relations Agent
IVECO S.P.A.
Turin, Italy
01.2003 - 06.2005
- Customer Relations Agent, United Kingdom and German Markets
PR & Marketing Director Assistant
SONY GMBH
Berlin, Germany
01.1999 - 01.2002
- PR & Marketing Director Assistant, National and International Communications
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Media Communications
BERLIN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Bachelor's Degree - Political and Social Sciences
KONSTANZ UNIVERSITY
Skills
- Business Development
- Sales
- Territory Planning
- Team Development
- Product Launches
- Strategic Planning
- Budget Oversight
- Account Management
- Client Relationship Management
- Project & Inventory Management
- Marketing Strategy
- Microsoft Office Suite incl Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Salesforce
Professional Experience
- Worked at an environmental agency for eight months in Vancouver, Canada
- Interned at a multimedia company in London, UK
Hobbies and Interests
Outdoor pursuits: hiking, skiing, soccer, travelling
Languages
English
Full Professional
German
Native/ Bilingual
Italian
Professional
Timeline
Global Head of Interiors
LIBERTY FABRICS
05.2019 - Current
Merchandising & Project Manager
DONGHIA
01.2018 - 04.2019
Sales and New Business Development Manager
DERING HALL
06.2017 - 12.2017
Brand Manager
MISSONIHOME
01.2010 - 02.2017
Brand Operations Specialist
MISSONIHOME
12.2005 - 01.2010
Customer Relations Agent
IVECO S.P.A.
01.2003 - 06.2005
PR & Marketing Director Assistant
SONY GMBH
01.1999 - 01.2002
Bachelor's Degree - Media Communications
BERLIN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
Bachelor's Degree - Political and Social Sciences
KONSTANZ UNIVERSITY
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