Gary Gifford

Vice President of Manufacturing, Sourcing and Product Integrity at UA Brands (Uniform Advantage Brands)
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Location
US

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Kelly Blakely

Gary is extremely passionate, and constantly strives to deliver innovative, and game changing, garments to market. Gary works carefully, with very strong time management skills to build excitement within his team, and to bring innovation to market quickly. Gary's market intelligence and fabric knowledge are unsurpassed, and he is years ahead of the competition in his thought process, and his drive for innovation. Furthermore, Gary is an incredibly driven individual, and he does whatever it takes to ensure his product lines are of the highest quality, well-positioned for his brand and marketplace, and going above and beyond the consumers’ expectations for innovation and quality in a defined market. Gary is a pleasure to work with, and I look forward to many more collaborations in the near future!

Lara Widdig

I was always so impressed with Gary's knowledge, leadership, and business acumen. He is a collaborative part of any product development team, always detail oriented, and dedicated to delivering quality product. An absolute pleasure to work with.

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Credentials

  • Professional Networking
    LinkedIn
    Jan, 2019
    - Sep, 2024

Experience

    • United States
    • Retail Apparel and Fashion
    • 300 - 400 Employee
    • Vice President of Manufacturing, Sourcing and Product Integrity
      • Sep 2019 - Present
    • Principal Owner
      • Mar 2018 - Present

      34 Paws Consulting is an Apparel, Accessories and Home Textiles Sourcing and Product Development specialist service provider. We strive to help smaller retailers enjoy the same benefits of directly developed and sourced products with factory partners throughout the world. 34 Paws Consulting is an Apparel, Accessories and Home Textiles Sourcing and Product Development specialist service provider. We strive to help smaller retailers enjoy the same benefits of directly developed and sourced products with factory partners throughout the world.

    • United States
    • Retail
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Director of Global Sourcing
      • May 2012 - Aug 2018

      Head enterprise-wide management of leadership role integrating direct sourcing & product development operations for 13 brands across 5 international markets. Orchestrates global direct sourcing model for proprietary brands. Co-Chair of QVC Employee Partners in Giving program, exceeding targets for dollar contributions & participation. Twice the winner of President’s Cornerstone Award for first $1M campaign & for packaging improvement program & process for apparel. Spearheaded coordination of cross-functional global team of QA teams, merchandizers & vendors to develop database delivering 1 label to 6 international markets; increased production efficiencies, reduced costs & improved customer experience. Position ends August 2018. ♦ Key Achievements ♦ • Doubled total retail sales from $300M to $600M based on vision & process improvements • Grew direct sourced production sales from 35%-50% of total revenue via strong sourcing strategy • Restructured, coached & empowered Shanghai team to hit $75M in revenue with highest margins across organization; increased their share of direct sourced production from 55%-70%+ of total business; decreased cost of evaluation of Top of Production samples by $300-500K p.a. • Built USA division from 5 employees to 10. Boosted Shanghai team from 28 to 45. Established leadership roles & promotion paths to establish track record that drives engagement, autonomy & learning • Devised raw material management protocols to create 10% p.a. cost reduction, fosters flexibility for genuine innovation & increasing speed to market • Reduced costs of labeling by 50%; Grew value of direct sourced materials 45% • Renegotiated terms of business & payment term negotiations to increase margins by 8% • Optimized website UI, projected to yield $100M p.a. • Steered novel product development strategy to deliver 3 UK-exclusive brands that account for $50M • Launched new brand - Ruth Langsford. $6.5M in sales. Exceeded target adoption rates by 50%;

    • Italy
    • Retail Apparel and Fashion
    • 200 - 300 Employee
    • Director of Product Development, Global Sourcing and Fabric R&D
      • Dec 2009 - Mar 2012

      Oversaw cross-functional team designing direct import program – QA, QC, and factory, vendor and customer education. Revamped manufacturer-focused sourcing strategy to prioritize end-consumer needs. Spearheaded introduction of new technology to create brand USPs - including anti-bacterial and odor-reducing technology for knitwear. ♦ Key Achievements ♦ • Pioneered vendor scorecard process to improve product quality and sales • Devised strategy to reduce costs of samples by 20% • Formulated “Made in America” collection strategy; delivered across menswear products for all product categories. Success of initiative led to expansion of strategy and adoption by womenswear division

    • Global Sourcing Manager-Wovens
      • Aug 2008 - Dec 2009

      Manager of Global Sourcing (all wovens) and Product Development. Focused on streamlined T&A's and process to improve sampling and production quality. Sourced Fabrics and built Fabric standards for all bottoms. Streamlined Vendor matrix to "make the big bigger" and launched QVC into Indonesia. Manager of Global Sourcing (all wovens) and Product Development. Focused on streamlined T&A's and process to improve sampling and production quality. Sourced Fabrics and built Fabric standards for all bottoms. Streamlined Vendor matrix to "make the big bigger" and launched QVC into Indonesia.

    • United States
    • Retail
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Sourcing Manager
      • Aug 2006 - Aug 2007

      Headed cross-functional product development team initiatives that devised and implemented standardized construction methodology for woven tops and synthetic knits. Coordinated efforts of multinational offices, vendors and factories to collaborate on enforcing strict quality assurance. Implemented direct sourcing protocols within R&D process to enable the creation of exclusive fabrics. Headed cross-functional product development team initiatives that devised and implemented standardized construction methodology for woven tops and synthetic knits. Coordinated efforts of multinational offices, vendors and factories to collaborate on enforcing strict quality assurance. Implemented direct sourcing protocols within R&D process to enable the creation of exclusive fabrics.

    • United States
    • Retail
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Sourcing Manager - Casual Wovens
      • 2002 - 2007

      Controlled casual women’s and men’s fashion - largest single volume area. Coordinated transition of core fabric sourcing from Europe to Asia. Remodelled siloed work culture by fostering end-to-end collaboration between sourcing, design, manufacturing and merchandising operations. Increased margins and reduced costs by introducing a seasonal strategy for material management. Controlled casual women’s and men’s fashion - largest single volume area. Coordinated transition of core fabric sourcing from Europe to Asia. Remodelled siloed work culture by fostering end-to-end collaboration between sourcing, design, manufacturing and merchandising operations. Increased margins and reduced costs by introducing a seasonal strategy for material management.

    • United States
    • Accounting
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Director of Merchandising & Sourcing / Various Other Sales and Merchandising Roles
      • 1990 - 2002

      Oversaw production of sportswear, casual dress, dress furnishings and neckwear for the HMX division on behalf of Pringle of Scotland, Ted Baker, HSM Sportswear and Jack Nicklaus Golf. Furthered manufacturing operations in Europe. Established production of sportswear in Asia. Oversaw production of sportswear, casual dress, dress furnishings and neckwear for the HMX division on behalf of Pringle of Scotland, Ted Baker, HSM Sportswear and Jack Nicklaus Golf. Furthered manufacturing operations in Europe. Established production of sportswear in Asia.

Education

  • The University of Texas at Austin
    Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
    1979 - 1982

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