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Creative, innovative, solutions-oriented marketing communications professional with 15 years of global
retail brand leadership experience. Expert in simplifying complex messaging via customer-focused
storytelling on multiple platforms in-store, online, and through a wide variety of earned and paid media.
Empathetic leader with passion for conceptualizing and developing integrated marketing and PR
campaigns and media plans that engage audiences and differentiate the brand.

Directed marketing strategy and communications, branding, team management, agency management, digital & social media and media relations for 42 stores,
8,000 team members and 20+ media markets
• Created comprehensive vendor product marketing programs, increasing category
and single item sales by over 150%
• Directed all aspects of new store openings and re-brands, exceeding sales projections
by more than 30%
• Led ten direct reports and 28 indirect reports
• Presented quarterly and annual marketing and communications plans to senior leadership
• Holiday, seasonal and food-focused event strategy decks
• Created marketing and event toolkits to increase store sales
• Developed new catering menu and comprehensive marketing plan for program launch
• Increased regional catering sales by 200%
• Derived seasonal and market plans from customer insights and data, collaborating with product
teams from concept creation to program execution and assessment
• Increased e-commerce holiday orders and overall basket size by 23% YoY
• Grew in-store holiday orders by 20%
• Guided creative team on all customer-facing marketing programs and internal communications
• Implemented creative brief process and project management tools
• Developed project calendar for all regional and national materials

REGIONAL MARKETING DIRECTOR

Hired, trained and supervised all store marketing teams in 25 markets
• Mentored teams on store marketing plans, experiential marketing events, seasonal
campaigns, local partnerships
• Managed three direct reports, 35 indirect reports
•   Identified community partnerships and negotiated high-level sponsorships
• Handled all logistics, branding, vendors, event teams and budgets
•   Led the opening of 15 stores across the South region
•   Created road map and processes for opening multiple stores in a calendar year
•   Shaved budget by 50% while maintaining stellar market execution and record-breaking opening
sales

SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER

Managed media relations and directed communications for three brands in 18 media markets and a growing roster of 30+ stores
• Implemented seasonal product pitching plan increasing product mentions and impressions
by 120%
• Recognized as Global Whole Foods Market All Star: Best Execution of a Companywide PR
Strategy or Program for Value
•   Conducted media trainings for over 200 employees from store level to Executive leadership
• Developed Executive level Crisis Communication training, basic interview
preparedness training and protest checklists for store operations teams
•   Launched the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Animal Welfare Rating program
• Developed national key messaging and talking points, prepped interviewees
for national and local media interviews
•   Wrote and distributed bi-weekly social media plan and distributed email marketing
•   Directed PR agency on key projects

SENIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

•   Managed two graphic artists and product demo sales team, increasing store sales and excitement
•   Implemented all themed and seasonal promotions
• Developed monthly calendar of events to draw customers to the store
• Chalkboard messaging, merchandising and price/item signage
•   Cultivated local partnerships and sponsorships, increasing brand awareness

MARKETING TEAM LEADER

Full-service marketing and advertising agency focusing on consumer and agricultural products

•   Secured editorial placements for consumer product clients, including tents, backpacks, compasses, canoes, kayaks, wool carpet and lighting
•   Wrote and distributed press materials, catalog and website copy, conducted new product
launches, handled trade shows and pitched products to national publications

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Find out detailed information about Darrah Gist,  in Atlanta, GA

Darrah Gist: in Atlanta, GA

Darrah Gist

Whole Foods Market, South Region

Whole Foods Market, South Region

Whole Foods Market, South Region

Whole Foods Market, Ponce de Leon

Freebairn & Company

Appalachian State University