LISA JENKS
lisa@lisajenks.com
646-298-4104
CAREER PROFILE
Award-Winning Jewelry and Watch Designer with 25+ years of experience managing product development and distribution, with pieces sold through major retailers including Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus
Track record of developing licensed collections and exclusive product lines which were sold throughout 150+ retail locations nationwide, designing high-end home décor items, watches and fine fashion jewelry pieces
Career history of training and supervising teams of up to 25 staff including commercial designers, jewelers and production managers, working to ensure the highest quality of workmanship and adherence to product specifications
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LISA JENKS, Creative Director/Designer 2009 - Present, Brooklyn and New York, NY
Launched contemporary jewelry company with pieces sold at upscale boutiques, art galleries and jewelry stores nationwide
Design over 130 styles each year across multiple collections, developing fine fashion jewelry pieces including watches valued at up to $5,000 featuring diamonds, pearls, precious gemstones, sterling silver, brass, bronze, 14K and 18K gold
Work directly with on-site jewelers and manufacturers to create unique and timeless pieces; additionally responsible for training and supervising staff to ensure the highest quality of workmanship at all times
Manage company operations, promoting prompt and accurate fulfillment of orders for nationwide retail accounts
Supervised designer throughout development and launch of e-commerce website, significantly expanding revenue channels
Licensed Designer 2006 - 2009
Oversaw all development of exclusive product lines for popular brands including Estee Lauder’s Origins and QVC, designing licensed merchandise and luxury product lines across categories including home décor, tabletop, gift items and accessories
Recruited by Lifetime Brands to launch their exclusive collections, which were sold by over 100 retail outlets nationwide, with individual pieces priced at up to $300 per unit
Designed collections for QVC, presenting lines through televised appearances, which reached millions of viewers worldwide
Company Founder 1987 - 2006
Launched upscale design company specializing in high-end fashion fine jewelry, home décor collections, accessories and gift items
Oversaw all in-house manufacturing of 18K and sterling silver jewelry and watches, with pieces sold over 120 high-end retailers worldwide including Barneys NY, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman
Developed collections of handbags and home accessories, managing relationships with domestic and overseas manufacturers
Created licensed collections of high-end flatware and glassware which consistently generated over 20% of total sales revenue
Led development and launch of company website which evolved into strongest retail account within two years
Implemented marketing strategies such as newsletters and email blasts, significantly increasing customer retention
Trained and supervised team of 25 in-house staff including jewelers, production managers, controllers and sales managers
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
FENN WRIGHT & MANSON, Senior Designer: Clothing, New York, NY
Contemporary sportswear collection. Creative responsibility for the collection including knits and wovens. Travelled to the Far East to implement samples and to Europe and Tokyo for retail and fabric research.
STAR OF INDIA, Associate Designer, New Delhi, India
IRKA, Assistant Designer, New York, NY
EDUCATION
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN New York, NY
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Fashion Design, Graduated cum Laude
SUMMARY OF SKILLS
Operations Management, Product Development, Retail Accounts, Financial Management, Marketing Initiatives, E-Commerce Programs, Commercial Design Protocol, Wax Casting/Metal Work, Staff Development
Proficient in MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), MRP (Materials Requirements Planning) and inventory management platforms, with knowledge of CAD software.