Roxanne Meza
Secaucus,NJ
Summary
Product development professional with proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to develop innovative products across Apparel & Accessories brands. Adept at identifying market opportunities and translating them into actionable development plans, ensuring timely and successful launches. Recognized for collaborative approach, adaptability, and commitment to achieving outstanding results, leveraging skills in strategic planning and project management. Expertise in market analysis, vendor negotiations, and material sourcing.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Product Development Manager
Fantas-Eyes, Accessories Inc.
05.2021 - Current
- Collaborate with overseas teams to develop exclusive private label and licensed products tailored to customer needs.
- Negotiated pricing with 10+ global vendors, achieving a 12% reduction in material costs while maintaining product quality standards, directly contributing to improved margins and profitability.
- Analyze market and seasonal trends to create balanced assortments, designing products that meet functional and quality standards. Expertise in materials, finishes, and print techniques.
- Manage development calendars and production workflows (WIP) to ensure timely delivery and adherence to deadlines.
- Tracked and managed over 200 samples per season, collaborating with Technical Design and Design teams to ensure 100% product alignment with specifications, reducing rework and revisions by 10%.
- Proactively report and resolve pending production issues, driving cross-functional teams toward timely resolutions.
- Optimized product designs through strategic material substitutions and revisions, achieving 20% margin improvement on key product lines, exceeding initial profitability targets by 8%.
- Lead the creation and presentation of seasonal design concepts, catalogs, and marketing materials. Manage brand launch timelines for multiple high-profile clients to ensure on-time delivery.
Sourcing Associate
Childrens Place Inc.
08.2017 - 04.2021
- Led global sourcing operations as the primary liaison for 10+ vendors, resolving production and quality issues, which minimized financial liabilities and reduced brand risk by 15%.
- Developed and managed seasonal calendars, overseeing the WIP and commitment schedules for bulk fabric reservations.
- Strengthened supplier relationships with key vendors, leading to 15% improvement in on-time delivery rates and 20% higher product quality through improved communication and process alignment.
- Resolved production bottlenecks and pending issues, driving 5+ cross-functional teams toward on-time product launches and mitigating risks that could delay $5M+ worth of product lines.
- Developed cost comparison reports and vendor allocation analyses, providing actionable insights that led to a 10% reduction in overall sourcing costs for the season.
- Tracked samples and maintained the seasonal production calendar to ensure deadlines were met consistently.
- Implemented compliance and testing protocols across all development projects, ensuring 100% regulatory compliance with industry standards, minimizing delays and compliance-related costs.
- Led product engineering efforts to ensure products were developed within target costs while maintaining design integrity.
- Achieved a 10% reduction in average unit costs (AUC) through successful negotiations and cost-saving initiatives, ensuring products met both budget and quality standards
Product Development Associate
Ralph Lauren
09.2015 - 08.2017
- Managed product execution from start to finish, ensuring timely delivery of S/S, prototypes, and market samples. Recommended design enhancements to maintain aesthetic appeal and exceptional quality, while meeting cost-effective options and financial targets.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams (Production, Design, and Merchandising) to resolve 25+ fabric and material issues, optimizing pricing and securing 10% cost savings by sourcing alternative fabrics.
- Led the research and development of seasonal fabric assortments, partnering with mills and vendors to introduce 5+ innovative fabrics for Women's Active Apparel, driving a 15% increase in customer interest and product demand.
- Innovated new functional materials for technical sportswear, contributing to the creation of 3+ high-performance fabrics used in active wear collections, which improved garment durability by 20%.
- Developed and maintained comprehensive development records, including fabric specifications, sample yardage, and lab dip statuses within PLM, ensuring a 25% reduction in errors and streamlining the communication flow between departments.
Associate Product Manager
Interaxis Sourcing, Inc.
10.2013 - 08.2015
- Led the apparel line development process, collaborating with Design, Technical, Merchandising, and Production teams to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products, driving sales growth, and achieving margin goals for seasonal brand collections.
- Tracked and managed fabric details (e.g., width, weight, price) in PLM and seasonal development books for 12+ seasonal collections, ensuring alignment with brand standards and delivery timelines.
- Partnered with Production to identify and onboard new suppliers and vendors while maintaining strong relationships with existing partners. Managed all costing and sourcing activities, tracking tasks across designated factories.
- Analyzed merchandise performance by program and key items, developing and executing profitable assortments based on sales inventory, sell-through rates, gross margin percentages (GM%), turnover, and open-to-buy (OTB) strategies.
- Developed and communicated clear strategic direction to support business growth, including assortment planning, new business launches, and vendor negotiations.
Associate Product Manager
Macys Merchandising Group
09.2007 - 10.2009
- Partnered with planning, store line, and marketing teams related to product positioning and the execution of in-store, online, and external marketing efforts which maintained brand cohesiveness.
- Collaborated with Merchandising, Design, Tech, and Fashion teams to edit and deliver focused, brand right seasonal product lines, provided direction on color, print/pattern, silhouette, and fabrication.
Assistant Buyer
Urban Brands, Inc.
10.2006 - 09.2007
- Enhanced purchasing efficiency by streamlining order processes and maintaining strong vendor relationships.
- Managed open-to-buy budgets efficiently by tracking expenditures and making informed adjustments based on financial goals.
- Analyzed sales trends and adjusted purchasing strategies accordingly, maximizing profitability and minimizing overstock issues.
Assistant Buyer
Macys Corporate Office
09.2004 - 10.2006
- Assisted in preparing purchase orders and monitoring order statuses to ensure on-time delivery.
- Improved sell-through rates by utilizing historical sales data to make informed decisions about markdowns and clearance promotions.
- Conducted market research to identify emerging trends, informing strategic buying decisions for a competitive edge.
- Assisted in developing seasonal buying plans, ensuring optimal merchandise assortment to meet customer demands.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising Management
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY05-2004
Skills
- Product lifecycle management
- Strategic planning and alignment
- Vendor relations
- Supply chain coordination
- Vendor negotiation
- Brand positioning
- Product issue resolution
- Detail-oriented
- Training and development
- Proficient: Adobe creative, MS office, Excel, PLM and ERP systems
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Product Development Manager
Fantas-Eyes, Accessories Inc.
05.2021 - Current
Sourcing Associate
Childrens Place Inc.
08.2017 - 04.2021
Product Development Associate
Ralph Lauren
09.2015 - 08.2017
Associate Product Manager
Interaxis Sourcing, Inc.
10.2013 - 08.2015
Associate Product Manager
Macys Merchandising Group
09.2007 - 10.2009
Assistant Buyer
Urban Brands, Inc.
10.2006 - 09.2007
Assistant Buyer
Macys Corporate Office
09.2004 - 10.2006
Bachelor of Science - Fashion Merchandising Management
Fashion Institute of Technology
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