Creative Agencies

Fashion

Lifestyle

Swim

Yoga

Design

Public relations

Books

Trend forecasting

Needle work

Trade publications

Founder/ CEO

Katherine is an entrepreneur and experienced retail sales and management professional with more than 15 years experience in the fashion industry. In her world, playing dress-up doesn’t stop just because you grow up, nothing beats the treasure hunt for a great antique, and days are spent engaged in creative play with her two young boys and husband in Ventura, CA.

A curator of handcrafted finds, Katherine expanded an already-full life to include her mobile truck/online store concept, The Habitat Factory, in 2013. Working directly with designers, makers and artists, The Habitat Factory began a quest to provide quality American and Handmade products via a refurbished 1977 step van named Hattie..

Creating exciting pop-up shops, makers events and workshops that spanned from San Diego to Santa Barbara, Katherine was able to connect with her customers and discover a love for product development and design.

Katherine’s work has been seen in 805 Living, The Santa Barbara News Press, The Ventura County Star, Ventana Monthly and has contributed to Flutter Magazine and Create and Cultivate, a conference for women in creative businesses hosted by No Subject and Darling Magazine.

I work directly with designers, makers and artists to develop locally produced limited-edition runs of home goods, giftables, accessories and art.
Support online and pop-up event sales with sound digital marketing, PR, social media strategy and blogging.
Quickly and effectively handle customer orders and ship within a timely manner.
Maintain quality control/customer satisfaction, constantly seeking new ways to improve customer service.
Create and maintain all sales and inventory reports.
Create look-books and line sheets for new product and merchandise website according to sales and seasonal trends.
Design and manufacture private label merchandise while upholding brand ethics and standards.
Seek and manage a variety of contractors such as web and graphic designers, sewers and retail staff in order to   meet business goals.
Create and maintain successful relationships with wholesalers, vendors and retailers.
Conceive and execute mini markets and workshops to reach larger demographic.

Tag runway, street, retail and trade show images in web based software
Add specific fashion keywords to images in Stylesight's extensive database
Have working knowledge of fashion terminology and an interest in fashion and trends

Freelance Keyworder

Managed $5 million/ year high volume flagship location with a minimum of ten employees staffed at all times.
Successfully increased sales and conversion metrics
Reduced shrink as a high shrink location to under 1%
Hired, trained, coached, supervised and evaluated staff members
Built lasting customer relationships by clienteling and utilizing CRM database.
Participated in job fairs and networking events to recruit managers and sales associates for our district.
Acted as training manager for new store managers and sales associates.
Attended training seminars in denim manufacturing and product knowledge.

Retail Manager

Find out detailed information about Katherine Bell, Founder/ CEO in Ventura, CA

Katherine Bell: Founder/ CEO in Ventura, CA

Katherine Bell

The Habitat Factory

Stylesight

Lucky Brand Jeans

FIDM/ The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising March 2009