Mercedes R. Gonzalez - International Fashion Strategist

1. Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com www.globalpurchasinggroup.com

2. Mercedes R. Gonzalez Building today’s industry strategies for tomorrow’s industry giants. An international retail strategies expert, Mercedes R. Gonzalez continues to add to more than 20 years of experience working in the fashion industry. Specializing in the business of fashion as founder and director of Global Purchasing Companies, Mercedes is sought after to streamline both domestic and international fashion and retail businesses. Mercedes grew up with fashion, working at her uncle’s apparel manufacturing company in the heart of the NYC garment district. After earning an economics degree from New York University, she went back to work full-time with her uncle where she restructured the company and ensured a stronger bottom line. Soon after, Mercedes embarked the fashion industry as a buyer and was hired by one of the largest buying offices at the time, Frederick Atkins. In the last 25 years Mercedes has worked with some of the most important buying offices in the United States, and has helped to open and streamline thousands of stores both nationally and abroad, including the inaugural Sears store in Panama. She’s had participation in private label for such stores as Dillard's and Harvey Nickels of England. Her experiences and continued effort to stay up to date in the industry have led to her expertise in the retail and design facets of fashion. Mercedes is praised for having industry know-how and for sharing tricks of the trade that her every day experiences have afforded her in presentations that are realistic and easily comprehensible. She has been featured on the “Today Show” and Fine Living Television as a retail expert and on Univision, playing herself as an industry maven as a judge on the Project runway type show MissionCatwalk, Along with television appearances, she has given presentations to the International Fashion Group, is a frequent speaker at the New York Public Library of business and Science with two award winning videos on retailing & starting a fashion line featured on the library’s website, and is regularly invited to teach workshops at Texworld USA and the MAGIC market week in Las Vegas trade shows each season. Known notably as having the most practical business sense, she is a preferred speaker at a multitude of regional and international fashion events including Miami Fashion Week, Jamaica Fashion Week, Asia Fashion Summit, and the Istanbul Textile Conference. Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “Just dropping a quick note to let you know how amazing Saturday’s seminar was! You are a wonderful speaker and I learned so much! Really inspired me to think about my business in a whole new light…” Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

3. Speaking Topics Presentation topics can be easily customized to your audience. Below are topics that Mercedes has been booked to present in the past. Speaking Topics Intended for Retailers: Retail 101 How to open and run a successful retail store (full day course) Creating the Ultimate Sales Team Training solutions for an A-List style staff The New Global Consumer Why traditional marketing doesn’t work in today’s market Subliminal Retailing The silent salesperson Retail 2.0 Building and streaming your retail operations for growth and profit. Sales, promotions and creating in store excitement How to create in-store sales and events Speaking Topics Intended for Fashion Designers: Get Started Learn how the fashion industry really works Starting a Fashion Line on a Shoestring Budget Best in Show How designers should prepare to make sales at tradeshows and beyond Speed to Market How to meet the demand for faster operations The Truth About Building an Ethical Supply Chain What a Buyer Wants from an Emerging Designer Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “Your though provoking presentation still resonates with me. It gave me really great insight on how the industry works.” Claude Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

4. Speaking Topics (continued) Speaking Topics of Interest to Retailers and Designers 10 Trends for the Next 10 Years An insight into fashion’s future Tweet, Like, Fans Tips on how to engage in social media marketing How to Market, Sell and Service the Plus Size Market Left Out Fashion’s Emerging Niche Markets Speaking Topics for the International Audience Entering the US Market Streamlining a cost-efficient entry point Super Retailers are NOT the Enemy How to protect yourself from the Wal-Mart's and Zara’s of the world Also available retail tours (Los Angels and New York City) An insiders tour of what makes a successful retailer and observations of today’s retail climate Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: "I'm still thinking about your class...I thought it was incredible BUT it also made me realize how much I don't know about the business. I still have a lot of saving to do, and I need to take more classes. Keep me posted on your next class, it's worth taking again." P. Diaz Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

5. Speaking Engagements As a seasoned professional speaker and fashion industry expert, Mercedes is booked to present at conferences from Chile to China. Below is a recap of the year plus examples of earlier engagements. The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market (USA) Jan 8, 2015 Creating the Ultimate Sales Team Jan 8 2015 How to Run a Successful Retail Shop Texworld (New York, USA) Jan 20 2015 Get Started: Starting a fashion line in today’s market MAGIC (Las Vegas, USA) Feb 17 2015 Know Your Show Floor ABC’S: A seminar for new stores Feb 17 2015 How to Open and Run a Successful Retail Store Feb 18 2015 Understating What it Takes to Start a Fashion Line Feb 18 2015 Wow Customer Service Feb 19 2015 The Sales and Promotion Game ASD (Las Vegas, USA) March 1 2015 A step by step orientation for buyers new to the ASD show March 1 2015 The truth in retail: Why E- Tailing doesn’t work March 2 2015 Global Manufacturing: Working with overseas factories March 2 2015 Sourcing Destinations Beyond China: new up and coming countries Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “I really wanted to say that this workshop was absolutely fabulous! You provided me with so much information and perspective on things I didn't know about. I feel you saved me a lot of wasted time and money.” N. Brewer Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

6. Speaking Engagements (continued) Origin Africa - Home Textile & Home Décor: Product Development & Marketing; Special sourcing seminar November 9 2014 Fashion Forward (Dubai) - What A buyer Wants From An Emerging Designer October 6 2014 Phoenix Fashion Week (Phoenix) - How NOT to launch a Fashion Brand October 3 2014 Phoenix Fashion Week (Phoenix)-Building the Perfect Sales Team October 3 2014 La International Textile Show (Los Angeles, USA) - Taking Your Business to the Next Level June Sapica (Leon, Mexico) - Retail 101 August 29 2014 Aug 2002-2015- MAGIC, Las Vegas What a Buyer Wants from a Young Designer Host of Welcome Seminar at each MAGIC for the past 5 years Sales & Promotions How to not start a fashion line Creating the ultimate sales team How to open and run a successful Retail store Welcome New Stores Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “I really wanted to say that this workshop was absolutely fabulous! You provided me with so much information and perspective on things I didn't know about. I feel you saved me a lot of wasted time and money.” N. Brewer Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

7. Speaking Engagements (continued) TTCSI National Services Week, Trinidad 2011 Getting Started (how to create a successful fashion line) Phoenix Fashion Week Since 2010 Starting a Fashion Line on a Shoestring Budget Retail 101: How to open and run a successful retail store Best in Show (wholesale sales training) Handbag Designer 101 Awards NYC Since 2011 Moderator on a panel for What the Buyers are Really Looking For Oct 2011- LA Fashion Week The Silent Salesperson Aug 2011- Texworld, NYC Starting a Fashion Line on a Shoestring Budget Mercedes Benz South Africa fashion week 2012 Entering the US market Miami Fashion Week Judge, and Staff Consultant since 2010 SC Brusque, Brazil 2009, 2010 Guest Speaker 10 Trends for the Next 10 Years Entering the US Market ASD, Las Vegas Since 2010 Retail 101 part 1 Retail 101 part 2 Creating the Ultimate sales team JAMPRO Caribbean Fashion Week, Jamaica 2011 Entering the US Market Asia Fashion Summit, Singapore since 2011 20 Seconds to Wow a Buyer Launching a Retail Store Creating the Ultimate sales team Get started (given at Blue print tradeshow) Entering the US market (given at Blue print tradeshow) Key note speaking 2013 10 retail trends for the next 10 years Key note speaker 2013 5 must know key points of consumer behavior. Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “I really wanted to say that this workshop was absolutely fabulous! You provided me with so much information and perspective on things I didn't know about. I feel you saved me a lot of wasted time and money.” N. Brewer Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

8. Speaking Engagements (continued) LA Fashion Week 2011 Creating In-Store Sales and Events Miami Fashion Week Since 2010 Get Started: Insight on how the fashion industry works KOTRA, NYC 2011 Best in Show: How designers should prepare to make sales at tradeshows KOTRA Korea 2012 Understanding the consumer behavior for the textile industry Entering the US market Monkees (20 store boutique chain based in North Carolina) 2011 Retail Sales Training Seminar Russian Retail Conference, Novosibirsk 2011 Super Retailers are Not the Enemy! Dominicana Moda fashion week Since 2010 Entering the US Market Get Started! Colombia Moda Since 2011 Invited as consultant Bridges of Fashion, Istanbul Textile Conference 2009 & 2010 Guest Speaker The New Global Consumer Peru Moda, Lima 2009, 2010, 2011 Guest SpeakerEntering the US Market Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “Very good class, & Mercedes does a fantastic job. It was well worth my time. “ L. Marshall Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

9. Speaking Engagements (continued) Origin Africa held in Ethiopia 2012 The state of Emerging African Designers MINAS Trend Preview by APEX Brasil 2009 Ten Trends for the Next 10 Years Castilla y Leon Fashion Week, Spain 2007, 2008, 2009 Entering the US Market MAGIC Market Week Key note speaker since 1999, Las Vegas Retail 101: How to open and run a successful retail store Creating the Ultimate Sales Team Starting a Fashion Line on a Shoestring Budget How not to start a fashion line Understanding the plus size market The 5 finger discount (lose prevention) Texworld USA Fetured speaker since 2009 Starting a Fashion Line on a Shoestring Budget What a buyer wants from an emerging designer Guest speaker on marketing panel Partner with Singapore & Beyond, NY & LA 2008 Retail tour Hong Kong Fashion Week and Boutique Show Guest Speaker 2008 10 Trends for the Next Ten Years The New Global Consumer Montreal Fashion Week 2008 Entering the US Market WWD Holiday Conference 2007 Panelist for roundtable discussion Madrid Fashion Week 2007 Invited as consultant Chilean (Mall Plaza) Conference 2005 Super Retailers are Not the Enemy! Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for your seminar last week. I have talked to many boutique owners and have read many retail books, but it does not compare to the tremendous wealth of real world, up-to-date retail knowledge that you possess. I learned so much and am so glad I decided to participate- the price is well worth it.” J Burrell Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

10. Video clips & for your Reference See videos of Mercedes at the following links www.oneweekjob.com we are week 35 As a judge on Mission Catwalk : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yi0dFoc8SY&feature=share&list=UUYCHBP2mbmfJRcA1n4O7CDg Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist globalpurchasingcompanies What people are saying: "....I'm really excited about getting our store open as soon as possible and after your class I feel this is now possible." A. Meeks @mercedesgpc NYFASHIONBUYER Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

11. Publications Publications Mercedes has contributed to the following magazines, newspapers, and newsletters. Fashion Mannuscript Intima Magazine Black Enterprise Focus on Fashion Retail Magazine Off-Price Apparel Magazine Press Women’s Wear Daily WWD.com (Retailer Roundtable) California Apparel News Crain’s Business New York Public Library (SIBL) Television Fine Living Television, “Designer Living with Sheila Bridges”, 2004 The Today Show feature from Vocation Vacations, 2006 Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying: “Your inspiring and informative Feature Presentation, Fashion101, drew in various stakeholders and held their attention for the duration of the workshop. Your comments were both insightful and helpful to the audience and this workshop would not have been the resounding success that it was without your presence and invaluable input…” N. Tewarie, CEO of TTCSI, Trinidad Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com

12. Program Fees PANEL PARTICIPATION $500 TO CHAIR A PANEL $1000 KEYNOTE $2500 HALF DAY SEMINAR $3500 FULL DAY SEMINAR $5000 Travel Expenses and Accommodations Fees do not include travel and accommodation expenses. Travel and accommodations will be arranged by the speaker. The client pays for speaker’s airfare, travel to and from the airport, hotel accommodations, travel to and from the hotel, all meals, and a per diem fee that can be negotiated. Deposits and Cancellations 50% of fees is deposit is due 30 days before the scheduled event. The balance of the fee is due upon the time of event. Reimbursement for travel and accommodations is due upon the time of booking. In the extreme chance of cancellation, the program can be rescheduled at a mutually convenient time. If the event is canceled by the client and not rescheduled, the deposit will be retained. Mercedes R. Gonzalez International Fashion Strategist What people are saying; “…I was so delighted, pleased, excited by all you had to say and share. Thank you! Your knowledge and passion for retail is impressive. Thanks so much again for a truly wonderful experience.” N. Best Global Purchasing Companies 1133 Broadway, Suite 908 New York NY 10010 T 212-414-4001 mercedes@globalpurchasinggroup.com