Bachelor of Fine Arts, Consumer & Family Studies (emphasis in Clothing & Textile Design)

Fashion

Lifestyle

Outdoor

Camping

Foodie

Volunteer

Direct Sourcing: Product Development & Global Sourcing

Experience: Soft lines: Knits, Wovens, Sweaters and Accessories. Consumables: Pet Consumables; Hard-lines: Frames; Soft lines: Knits, Wovens, Sweaters and Accessories. Product Manager / Sourcing Professional with extensive retail and wholesale product development experience; proven ability to execute product from initial concept through to final delivery. 20year’s retail industry experience with a solid background in merchandise buying, sourcing, production management and Product Development & Innovation; Consistent leadership of cross-functional teams delivering enhanced efficiencies, increased productivity and profitability.

Brand Spokes Person Video Lead for Petco Private Brand Good Lovn’ Brand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU7A0YiEPJU

Lead Global Sourcing Manager for Corporate NSC PETCO organization, responsible for driving best in class sourcing expertise through strategic thinking and change management.  Upbeat, results driven, articulate, and creative professional, with expertise in Global Sourcing, Direct Factory Relationships, and Product Development in the pet treat, fashion apparel, accessories and hard goods industries.  Proven effective retail leader with reputation for growing mature businesses, and identifying, strategizing and maximizing new opportunities to impact bottom line profit.  Develops innovative business practices, influencing the team with business cases; in partnership with Private Equity Investor TPG, and partnering with Accenture.
* Leading strategic initiatives that drive revenue growth increase profit margin, by 15-53%.
* Sourced and developed product to allow Petco to exit all China sourced product while maintaining in-stock levels
*Developed, sourced and launched all product for Petco Good Lovin’ brand
*Command quality standards to elevate the assortment, increasing reasons for customers to buy.
* Motivate, coach, inspire and lead high performing cross functional teams to drive for results. 
* Traveling, evaluating, identifying, executing new business opportunities – through strategic Global Sourcing
* Developing, initiating and leading execution of product development, product sourcing and inventory investment.
* Recommending and leading opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Global Sourcing Organization and processes. 
*Travels to production locations as needed to ensure development of product, ensuring vendor meets requirements, understanding of spec packages, reviewing/developing production plans and monitoring execution of PETCO’s policies.

Responsible for Direct Import growth through effective product life cycle management. "Owned" cost negotiations, quality production, on-time shipments and overall execution for $483M frame business. Drove and executed category sourcing plans. Established and managed relationships between all internal and external stakeholders including Merchandising, Product Lifecycle Management, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Agents, Off-Shore Vendors, Domestic Suppliers, Legal and Inventory Management. Traveled to identify, evaluate and manage a global vendor and agent network.

* Drove business results through sourcing expertise with progressive hands on factory experience, lead teams, off-shore agents, direct factory relationships to execute and increase $43.5M COGS in pipeline with conversion and new development.
* 15% reduction in COGs through conversion Programs and Rebid Programs for 2009 Pipeline.
* Extensive production planning, raw material management, implementing best in class processes that consistently reduced costs, improved speed to market and increased profitability.
* Analytical with strong problem solving abilities, proactive creative solutions and excellent follow through.  
* Drives results and influences negotiations and collaboration to produce quality, on-time delivery and improve profit.
* Partnered with merchandising and inventory management to adhere to Vendor/Product forecasts/projections and secure supplier production capacities to deliver margin with calendar/pipeline.
* Implemented and regulated production policies and standard operating processes across Vendor Base, supporting corporate and social compliance, duties, and embargo issues.

Production Manager / Global Sourcing Manager

Managed global sourcing process and recommended sourcing strategies for Women’s Woven Jackets, Knit Collections, Outer Wear, Accessories and Jewelry; for $360M account.  Constructed and developed the product line with Product Developers while surpassing target cost of goods and beating weighted IMU.   Traveled internationally to evaluate and negotiate competitive costing with vendors.
* Aligned with operational team to meet seasonal calendar deliverable including: proto-typing, pre-costing, product lead times, costing, pre-production samples, and product status reports.
* Traveled and ensured production plans for each vendor, meeting seasonal needs in support of product execution and growth of business.

Production / Global Sourcing Manager

Demonstrated merchant and product expertise to research, identify trends, and develop/manage products in accordance to Brand Aesthetic for up $550M for four business segments; Gap Outlet, Men’s Sweaters, Men’s Knits Graphic Tee’s, Maternity Sweaters and Maternity Knits. Traveled domestically and internationally to evaluate and negotiate pricing for worldwide market opportunities, while building strong vendor partnerships.

* Implemented speed to market strategies to offset domestic placement by developing contingency plans with vendors and fabric mills. 
* Established trigger dates for dyeing, cutting and warehousing to increase flexibility for merchants.
* Thrived on costing and negotiating to meet financials set by merchants for the department; inclusive of chase programs. 
* Decreased first cost by $3.43 resulting in +3.5% IMU for F07 Gap Men’s Sweaters.
* Partnered with merchant team in an advisory role; while mentoring and coaching merchants through costing and time and action calendar.
* Managed agent and supplier relationships in assigned categories to ensure product quality, meet on time delivery, minimize risk and maximize profitability.

Associate Production Global Sourcing Manager

Managed the merchandising role for over $215M business segments; planed and executed brand strategies, sales objectives and cost structure of three businesses: Shorts, Club Channel, Outlet and Premium.  Evaluated the competition for product positioning and pricing to ensure maximum profit margins and return on investment were achieved.  Developed new product categories that targeted consumers to increase growth and brand loyalty.
* Shopped markets, while analyzing competition, trends and product placement
* Partnered with production team and overseas partners to deliver competitive product without increasing the Cost of Good sold (COGs).  
* Consistently exceeded bottom line contribution and gross margin goals, including annual IMU improvements exceeding 1.5%.

Merchandiser Assistant- Dockers® Men’s Premium, Shorts, Club Channel and Outlet

Managed product development process and recommended global sourcing strategies for Men’s Private Label Woven, Outer Wear and Knits Tops, a $278M account.  Constructed and developed product line within design criteria while hitting target Cost of Goods.   Traveled internationally to evaluate and negotiate competitive costing with vendors.

* Managed daily schedule with offshore vendors responsible for sourcing pre-production of knits, woven fabrics and trim.
*  Executed production strategy with overseas partnerships, including sourcing channels, merchandising and distribution.

Associate Product Manager / Global Sourcing Manager

Managed technical design team and pattern makers.  Developed samples and production-ready packages for Esprit Sportswear Line, Esprit Kids and DKNY.

* Oversaw initial technical packages, specifications and trim information, based on designers’ sketches.  
* Managed boards to represent each seasonal line, including color, flat sketches, fabric identification print and pattern.
* Partnered with the Design Director to build and execute product strategies during the product design life cycle, from fashion concept to print and graphic development.

Technical Design Manager

Find out detailed information about Sainabou Sarr, Direct Sourcing: Product Development & Global Sourcing in Escondido, CA

Sainabou Sarr: Direct Sourcing: Product Development & Global Sourcing in Escondido, CA

Sainabou Sarr

Petco Animal Supplies

Michaels Stores Inc;

Coldwater Creek Inc

GAP Inc,

Levi Strauss & Company

Mervyns, Hayward

Esprit de Corp,

San Francisco State University