Lifestyle

Director of Operations

Driven professional with over a decade of experience in Global Wholesale Operations, Vendor Management, Product Management and Sales & Tradeshows.  Instrumental in the growth of a multi-million dollar apparel company expanding the employee base from 4 to 400 while generating incremental sales growth from $100,000 to $6,000,000 in the first five years.  Proven ability to work and deliver results in a fast paced, changing and challenging environment.  Professionally motivated with demonstrated upward career progression while increasing scope, cross-disciplinary responsibilities and overall skillset.

Women's Apparel Manufacturing Company
A multi-disciplined leadership role
• Responsible for leading 55 full time team members including inhouse warehouse.
• Effective in control of finished goods and fulfillment requirements
• Rolled out, Manage and maintain ERP database and WMS database
• Responsible for establishing own warehouse (formerly used a 3PL)
• Oversees all daily operations including logistics of incoming and outgoing finished goods, sourcing, costing, technical design, import and domestic production.
• Key business partner and liaison with all major department stores including Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Dillards, Belk, Just Fab, Shop Bop, Walmart, TJMAX, Burlington Target, JC Penny, Urban, Anthropologie, Shop bop and Revolve (Completed private label training for Nordstrom Private Group)
• Main liaison and in consistent communication with overseas vendors/factories.  Responsible for issuing import PO's, production allocation, deadlines for counter samples, samples, pack/ship logistics, final production approval and shipping
• Responsible for auditing factories for labor compliance
• Ensures quality of product and consistency of product and image meet company standards
• Manages and maintains communication with sales and operations to provide direction for the line; ensures all line and line sheets are completed and delivered in a timely manner to support market week, road visits, and tradeshows
• Leads weekly cross-functional meetings with multiple departments including warehouse, production, sales/showroom and buyers
• Created, rolled out and manage the WIP process (Work In Progress)

Apparel manufacturing company with 20 years experience with well known brands launching new product lines Responsible for Brand Development from concept to launch
• Coordinated and maintained relationships with multi disciplinary partners including design, development, merchandising, sourcing, production and executive leadership
• Market Research ranging from price point, target customer and category
• Led cross functional meetings with design direction, sales/showroom opinions, buyers opinions
• Key business partner coordinating showrooms including research, negotiations and selection.  Maintained communication with sales and operations to give direction for the line; ensured all line and line sheets where at showroom for market week, road visits, and tradeshows
• Coordinated and managed all tradeshows including research and screening, application process, and  supervised entirety of show including sales representative
• Direct input in website design and e-commerce business
• Created tradeshow calendar, sample delivery calendar and full line calendar
• Ability to effectively manage people as direct reports and indirect reports
• Ensure quality and consistency of product and image

Barraza Consulting
Clients: G&A Apparel, Claeson & Crystal Fashion Inc. - March 2011 to January 2013
Wholesale companies offering a range of soft-lines apparel
Consultant
• Claeson: Consulted with the owner/founder to launch an apparel brand focusing on knits.  Utilized vendor relationships in factories and retail industry to build and manage the growth of the business.
• Crystal: Responsible for implementing and coordinating daily Operations including; Buying; Product Development; QC; Private Label;  IT & Social Media; Accounting; Shipping; EDI; and Customer Service.
Worked in tandem with east and west coast showrooms to launch & continue to grow sales and marketing of product.  Developed tradeshow launch and managed creation of collateral for the brand.  Mentored sales representatives
G&A Apparel: Worked directly with owner to implement operational plan for company, set up infrastructure and advised on logistics

Senior Brand Manager

Fashion company known for rapid growth in the trend industry.
Key leader responsible for overseeing multiple business functions including creative, sales, accounting, warehouse operations & exhibitions.
• Responsible for the daily operations of a multimillion dollar company
• Worked in tandem with V.P. of Sales to oversee sales team and Import Manager to assure goods were of quality and arrived in a timely manner
• Trained sales team in product knowledge and merchandise strategies in preparation for tradeshows and market week
• Set up operational procedures for warehouse manager to ensure goods shipped within required timeframe
• Established a line of communication between sales, customer service, production and shipping to streamline work flow
• Initiated and implemented travel policy for wholesale and retail teams
• Worked jointly with marketing and accounting to ensure proper payment for modeling agencies and guaranteed marketing projects
• Coordinated with in-house design department and brand licensees to ensure proper presentation of products

• Worked directly with Department Store Buyers
• Collaborated with in-house department store design and production teams to develop and adopt exclusive styles
• Coordinated with shipping and production to ensure goods were produced and shipped within desire window
• Recommended style/sku count by classification based on selling history and market trend
• Initiated and implemented system of receiving, entering and executing purchase orders

Department Store Specialist

Find out detailed information about Lupe Barraza, Director of Operations 

Lupe Barraza: Director of Operations

Lupe Barraza

Love Charles H., LLC

Crystal Garment Fashion, Inc

Nervous Tattoo

Von Dutch