continued. . . 

Even the most balanced have sleepless nights.

Probably what bothers me most are missed opportunities. Does that sound corny? There’s so much more we can and will do. I hate missed opportunities. I’m always thinking, ‘We should have approached that customer about this program’. We’ve got many ideas. To further answer your question though, what I don’t let get me down is the minutiae, no drama, no politics. That stuff doesn’t hit my radar screen and, happily, we really don’t have that at Gibson.

Since you oversee all product development, do you get a chance to design as well?

Not as much as I’d like to. It’s mostly trend and design directions that I focus on to keep feeding my design staff.

Are there designs/collections you love that never see the light of day?

That’s usually not the problem. The problem is sometimes we don’t find the right medium to execute the design. Maybe it didn’t translate as a hand paint; maybe it should have been a decal. Or the body shape is wrong. The surface design is usually right.

Is there a favorite part to your multi-level job?

There are a few. I like working with my staff. They’re hip, young, creative, and energized. Well, maybe not all of them are young, but they’re definitely hip and fun. We have designers in their 20s up to their 50s. The interplay of energy is wonderful. I also like planning and strategizing a collection from the color palette to materials used. And I really like working with buyers and customers. I get a lot of face time with them and a lot of energy from it. We work with practically everyone: Macy’s, Wal-Mart, Target, Dillard’s, Crate & Barrel. My job is to make them look good and make their lives easier. I particularly like the trend presentations I do for them, which I tailor to their needs and to where I think they should be in the market.

How often is that?

We do three presentations a year for most stores: everyday, seasonal, and spring. Our customers are very receptive. We complement their in-house product development team with our specific category focus. We do so much private label for so many stores that they respect our opinion and point-of-view.

How great is the lead time?

Ideally, I’m working 12 to 18 months out; in some cases it’s 24 months.

What will we be seeing next year?

I’m very excited about grays, neutrals, and blues in many varieties.

What about new techniques?

I’m focusing on new reactive glazes and then mixing-and-matching them with other media such as hand paints to create the wow.

What have you learned since coming to Gibson?

There’s been so much. I spend a lot of time in China working with factories and understanding their capabilities. We’ve become more fresh, innovative, and sophisticated in our ability to analyze trends and develop product. As we become a more global company, we’re looking for things that make us individual and unique. We’re broad, but we continually offer product in our assortments that no one else can offer. I like to have a product point-of-view and that’s what keeps us fresh and exciting and why our customers like us so much. Our lines have evolved very nicely since I’ve been here and that’s a great sense of accomplishment.