Barbara D.

Lazarow

200 N Arlington Heights Rd #802* Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 * 216-272-800

7
Email: bl112b1c4@westpost.net
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
A leader in Consumer Product Goods Industry who excels at building business and
driving sales by creating new product solutions. Proven success at interpreting
client's goals and evaluating marketing opportunities. Entrepreneurial self-st
arter who manages multiple projects within tight deadlines and adapts quickly to
shifting priorities.
Creativity & Innovation Project/Product Management Brand Marketing & Positioning
Client/Vendor Relationships Leadership/Team Building Business Development
Strategic Insights Trend Forecasting Financial Management
Color/Style Forecasting Sourcing Event Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
GALLANT GREETINGS, Schiller Park, IL 2008 - Present
A privately owned provider of Greeting Cards specializing in value channels.
Creative Director
Refreshed, reorganized and professionalized the creative process. Led all develo
pment in updating the product image resulting in authentic, exciting and trend r
ight greeting cards.
* Built a design team that improved product value, streamlined costs and signifi
cantly increased sales for Dollar General and all customers.
* Expanded an editorial team to create modern and relevant verse resulting in a
new emotional connection with our target consumer.
* Created Seasonal programs for new promotional opportunities that resulted in h
ighest sell through in company history.
WILTON INDUSTRIES, Woodridge, Illinois 2007
A leading designer and marketer of consumer products with 3 major Divisions: Wil
ton Enterprises, Copco and The Weston Gallery.
Director, New Business Development, Wedding
Reported to the VP of Business Development and managed New Business creative tea
m. Identified client needs and led new wedding accessories and party related pro
duct development. Managed overseas vendors to identify new sourcing for innovati
ve product solutions and communicated product styling and packaging. Delivered
pitches for promotional and retail products.
* Successfully penetrated Target Corporation's Club Wedd with 7 SKU's, a first f
or Wilton.
* Created new Bachelorette programs that significantly expanded the retail prese
nce in Wal-Mart, Michael's, Party City and AC Moore.
AMERICAN GREETINGS, Cleveland, Ohio 2004 - 2006
$2 billion, global, publicly traded provider of Greeting Cards and Social Expres
sion products.
Senior Program Director, Surface Design Studio (2006)
Reported to VP, Surface Design and managed 11 creative staff. Integrated brand
marketing and product development into $280M Occasion and Seasonal gift packagin
g product lines for Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, Babies R US, Toys R US, grocery an
d drug chains.
* Directed and presented new product solutions that increased business, enhanced
brand recognition and updated image to consumers.
* Partnered with Sales to merchandise product at POS for Wal-Mart, AG, and BRU.
Revitalized the product to enhance the brand.
* Collaborated with Product Management and Global Sourcing to create innovative
product lines.
Senior Program Director, Card Planning (2004 - 2006)
Managed 18 card planners. Led creative development from concept through final pr
oduction for all-occasion and seasonal products. Coordinated projects across mul
tiple departments including Editorial, and the Design Studio- Illustration, Hand
- Lettering, Graphics, and Photography.
* Created a forecasting implementation and process to serve the corporate brand
within the retail environment.
* Consulted with the Retail Team that created a new corporate image in American
Greeting and Wal-Mart stores. Included signage, color and merchandising for all
occasion and seasonal products.
BLONDER HOME ACCENTS, Cleveland, Ohio 1998 - 2004
One of the nation's largest providers of wallcovering and coordinated home acces
sories.
Creative Director (1998 - 2004)
Strategically shifted the company from a wallcovering distributor to a home deco
r brand by building strong partnerships with vendors, identifying opportunities
in the market and developing unique and innovative products. Delivered sales pit
ches to customers including BB&B, Kohl's, Penney's, and Federated. Negotiated co
ntracts with new artists.
* Coordinated product releases, hitting 87% of product introductions, a company
best.
* Grew product sales 50%, reaching all-time high in spring 2000.

BL DESIGN, INC., Cleveland Heights, Ohio 1991 - 1998

President & Consultant to Blonder Home Accents
Founded design firm that developed turnkey creative solutions for home furnishin
gs products. Created and managed a product development department for Blonder wi
th internal and outsourced talent. Met strategic brand needs, strengthened cust
omer relations and increased revenue.
IMPERIAL WALLCOVERINGS, Beachwood, Ohio 1980 - 1991
Creative Director (1988 - 1991)
Developed business strategies and products for major brands. Created licensing
library with Raymond Waites, Pfalzgraff, Villeroy & Boch, Mario Buatta, Jay Yang
and others.
Design Director (1986 - 1988) Stylist (1982 - 1986) Colorist (1980 - 1982)
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Color Marketing Group: Board of Directors, 2003 to 2006
EDUCATION
MIAMI UNIVERSITY, Oxford, Ohio
BFA, Applied Design