Bike

Fashion

Lifestyle

Moto & Powersports

Outdoor

Skate

Snow

Streetwear

Surf

Swim

Yoga

Health & Fitness

Business strategy

Footwear

Accessories

Product development

Jewelry

Italy

Home decor

Trend forecasting

Belts

Asia

Handbags

Small leather goods

Scarves

Hosiery

Material sourcing

Leather sourcing

Hardware development

Designer

Developing accessory divisions

Sourcing factories

Vendor negotiations

Private label sales

Leather handbags

Home accessories

Leather development

Ipad cases

Iphone cases

Cell phone cases

Men's bags

Backpacks

Messenger bags

Fashion Executive-Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Business Development and Strategy

Contact Information:  rachelleEcopeland@gmail.com

“Growing Business through Design, Innovation, Strategy, and Trend”

Accomplished, creative, and strategic Fashion Executive with a proven record of building and leading successful design, product development and sales teams. Expertise in forecasting, identifying emerging trends and setting seasonal product, material and color direction to meet merchandising strategies through market analysis, trend research, domestic and international travel. Expansive knowledge and experience in design, product development and sourcing finished product and materials in Asia, Europe and the US. Comprehensive cross-industry experience in wholesale markets, retail markets, private label development and brand development. Skilled in relationship building, presentations and negotiations with key decision makers in domestic and international markets.  

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
•	Designs and profile featured in numerous national and international publications such as Vogue, Elle, In Style, Lucky, Marie Claire, Self, WWD, Life and Style, People, Cosmopolitan and Figaro.  
•	Named “Best New Designer” by Lucky Magazine.  
•	Founder, owner and creative director of a successful high-end contemporary handbag company, Alexis Hudson, Inc., sold globally at upscale department stores and boutiques.
•	Presented numerous TV segments on fashion trends and brand presentation. 

Specialties:
Handbags, Accessories, Small Leather Goods, Belts, Jewelry, Scarves, Hosiery, Material, Leather, Sourcing, Hardware Development, Product Development, Trend Forecasting, Designer, Business Strategy, Sales, Brand Development, Creative Designer, Executive Leadership, Developing Accessory Divisions, Strategic Planning, Sourcing Factories, Asia, Italy, Vendor Negotiations, Private Label, Tech Cases, Men's Bags, Backpacks, Messenger Bags, Home Textiles, Overseas Factories, Trend Boards, Tanneries, Hardware, Business Development, Global, Merchandising, P&L, Budgets

Founded and operate a design, product development, sourcing, trend forecasting, business development and business strategy consulting company specializing in the fashion accessory and apparel industry.
•	Partial client list includes: Minnetonka Moccasin, Artisan House, Sophia Grayson, Mark &     Graham.  
•	Product Focus:  Handbags, belts, SLG’s, scarves, jewelry, hosiery, loungewear, sleepwear.

Led Accessory and Home Fashion divisions including design, product development, sourcing, and account management teams. Worked directly with executives, merchant teams and brand owners to create successful product lines. Product Focus:  Women’s, Men’s and Children’s Bags, SLG’s, infant footwear, tech cases, luggage, bedding, pillows, cushions, soft furniture, window treatments.
•	Developed, analyzed and managed strategic plans, forecasts and budgets.
•	Built a fashion accessory division including men’s, women’s and children’s bags, SLG’s, footwear, tech cases and luggage.  Positioned division to be over 15 % of total business within 18 months of start-up. 
•	Increased sales of the home textile division by 10%. 
•	Awarded “Top Vendor” at William Sonoma, Inc. for innovation.
•	Increased profits by utilizing knowledge in trend forecasting, material development, design, product development and negotiations.  
•	Created highly innovative designs and direction. Led design and product develop

VP Business Development and Design

Co-founder of a successful handbag and accessory company (handbags, active bags, SLG, belts, jewelry).
Responsible for ideation, design, and product development for all product lines. Managed strategy, merchandising, sourcing, costing, vendor negotiations, presentation, production, sales and inventory. 
•	Led design and product development for all Alexis Hudson collections sold at high-end department and specialty stores (Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Ave, Henri Bendel, Fred Segal, Kitson, Isetan and Harvey Nichols).
•	Designed and developed the diffusion line for HSN; product spokesperson for all HSN television segments. 
•	Managed, developed and provided creative direction for design and product development teams.  
•	Developed, analyzed and managed forecasts, budgets and P&L.
•	Managed intellectual property portfolio.
•	Extensive trend analysis and forecasting. Developed seasonal inspiration boards to use internally and externally.
•	Handbags carried by celebrities such as Ju

Owner, Creative Director, VP Design | Contemporary Designer Handbags & Small Leather Goods

Increased Target and Mervyn’s business 40% in two years by creating and selling successful product lines, negotiating pricing and building key relationships. Product Focus:  Small Leather Goods and Belts	 
•	Managed all aspects of design, product development, merchandising, sourcing, costing, vendor 
       negotiations, presentation, production, sales and inventory for account base.
•	Managed account managers and inventory analysts.
•	Analyzed and developed strategic plans to increase business.
•	Sourced factories in China and India.
•	Extensive trend analysis and forecasting.

Sr. Vice President, Merchandising and Sales | Accessories, Belts, SLG's, Private Label Sales

Developed and established new private label product lines and customers:  Target, JCPenney, 
       Limited, Inc., Lands End, JCrew, Dillard’s, Talbots, Steinmart and Abercrombie & Fitch increasing business by 14%. Product Focus:  Handbags, Belts and Small Leather Goods
•	Lead and developed a team of designers, product development managers and account managers.
•	Managed all aspects of trend forecasting, design, merchandising, sourcing, costing, vendor 
negotiations, presentation, production, sales and inventory for account base..  
•	Sourced factories in Asia, South America, and Central America.
•	Traveled to Mumbai, India and Guatemala to work with product development and production.
•	Sourced Italian, Asian and domestic materials for all accounts.
•	Extensive trend analysis and forecasting.

Sr. Vice President, Merchandising and Sales

Developed and established new product lines and customers:  Wal-Mart, Express, Limited, 
Express Men’s, Limited Too, Target, Inc., Costco, Bebe, Pacific Sunwear, Wet Seal, and Arden B.	
Lead and developed a team of accessory product managers, designers and customer service managers. Increased business 67%. Product Focus:  Belts and Small Leather Goods
•	Managed all aspects of trend forecasting, design, merchandising, sourcing, costing, presentation, production, sales and inventory for account base.
•	Sourced and managed all factories in Asia.  
•	Opened Wal-Mart account with a $1.1M order after one meeting by designing and developing the right product line for their stores.
•	Frequently traveled to China, Japan, and Europe for trend forecasting, material development, and factory sourcing. 
•	Extensive trend analysis and forecasting for all company accounts.

Vice President Merchandising and Sales, Director of Merchandising

Led the development of a $2M new bag and small leather goods division. Set overall design direction for all retail accounts. Managed design and sales team. Sourced all factories in Asia. Product Focus:  Handbags and active bags
•	Frequently traveled to China, Korea and Italy to work with tanneries, hardware and finished
•	product factories. Traveled to Europe and Japan six times yearly for trend research and analysis.
•	Developed and managed a San Francisco based sample room.
•	Managed all aspects of merchandising including:  product development, design, sourcing, 
forecasting, samples and presentation.

Director of Merchandising

Managed all design and product development for action sports retailers and brands such as Gotcha, Vans, 26 Sugar and Pacific Sunwear.

*	Responsible for buying and planning for all Footwear, Clothing and Accessory divisions for 84 stores.
*	Created the accessory and apparel division for Vans retail.
*	Designed, developed and sourced all product for the Clothing and Accessory division.
*	Increased business 93% from 1995 to 1996 and 14% over plan in the Clothing and Accessory divisions.
*	Increased business 28% from 1996 to 1997 and 10% over plan in all divisions.
*	Duties included: Buying, product development, design, apparel construction, fashion forecasting, sourcing, production timeline, specs, planning, open-to-buy, gross margin, sales projections, store planning, seasonal and annual planning, assortment plan, sales plan, receipt plan, inventory plan and analysis, promotional planning and events, merchandising, vendor relations and negotiations, markdowns, distributing, store branching, business analysis.
*	Product Focus:  Footwear, Apparel and Accessories


Buyer/Product Developer Accessories and Apparel

*	Developed and coordinated items for 21 nationally distributed I. Magnin catalogs per year.
*	Exceeded $4 million annual sales plan by 25%.
*	Duties included: Buying, product development, fashion forecasting, vendor relations and negotiations, fashion shows, editing and approving final copy and photographs, inventory and order analysis, re-orders, seasonal and annual planning, distributing, open-to-buy, receipt plan, gross margin, sales projections.
*	Product Focus:  Designer dresses


Associate Buyer

*	Divisional Merchandiser for Street Wear in 55 stores located in Northern California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada.
*	Duties included: Merchandising, sales, in-store shop concepts, public relations, buyer relations, store relations and negotiations, special events, liaison between Account Executive and buying line, training, sales clinics, hiring and developing selling consultants, sales programs, business analysis, planning, merchandise and trend analysis, distribution analysis, management, orders, newsletter.


Divisional Merchandise Specialist

Buying Office, Assistant Corporate Bridal Services Director, Executive Management Training Program


Buying Office, Assistant Corporate Bridal Services Director, Executive Management-Training Program

Find out detailed information about Rachelle Copeland, Fashion Executive-Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Business Development and Strategy in Laguna Hills, CA

Rachelle Copeland: Fashion Executive-Design, Product Development, Sourcing, Business Development and Strategy in Laguna Hills, CA

Rachelle Copeland

Consultant

Airtex Design Group

Alexis Hudson

Max Leather/Cipriani

Linea Pelle

Circa Corp.

Circa Corp.

French Craft, Inc.

Vans

I. Magnin

Carole Little

Macy's

MCAD

University of Arizona