Team Bio
Bill Kokoefer
-Bill Kokoefer has extensive knowledge of all aspects of the international trade, manufacturing as well as product development, sales and marketing, merchandising, logistics, brand building and public relationships; His outstanding leadership and management skill were forged from years of personal engagement in every step and detail of daily business operations,
--Bill has founded and successfully run several companies in his 40 years of entrepreneurial life. His experience and expertise in manufacturing, sales and marketing sectors both domestically and internationally goes back in the early 1970s, His start-ups include Creative Group, ---- An America sales / Marketing company specialize in the craft merchandise industry—work with Major account such as Michaels, Wal-Mart, Jo-Ann, Hobby-lobby, etc. He was instrumental in launching and building several household brands direct to retail and grew the company’s sale to 100 million in 5 years period of time.---His major achievement was the international Candle business, where he originally started manufacturing from Mexico---Colombia, Guatemala, then China and India, grow from 0 to a 3 billion dollar business in 10 years period of time.
---Bill Started working with factories in China since 1995, he is the owner of Chinagy Sourcing, inc, specialize in general merchandise sourcing, manufacturing and supply chain management out of China.He directs, manages planning and implementation of marketing and sales strategies, development of new markets and distributor networks, and trade show participation to grow sales in all categories of business. Under his leadership, the company grew from 0 to a 10 million dollar business in 5 years period of time.
---During Bill’s professional years, he has worked with all major retailers in US, Canada, Mexico, UK, and Europe including Wal-Mart Stores worldwide, Sears, Kmart, JC Penney, Nordstrom, Sam’s Club, Dillard's, Federated Dept. Stores, Dollar Tree, Walgreen, Rite Aid, CVS, BHS, TJ Morris, and has developed solid relationships with clients worldwide--Bill Kokoefer holds a BA degree in Marketing from University of Cincinnati
James Saar
James Saar is an accomplished international professional that has over 34 years experience in manufacturing & wholesale worldwide. He started in the industrial engineering field in 1978, quickly advancing to positions of Chief Engineer and Director of Engineering for $100 million+ annual sales companies.
His major accomplishment was the supervision and oversight for the construction and operations of 21 manufacturing facilities globally for several major direct to retail corporations.
Saar has also established a major sales organization group to sell manufacturer’s products direct to USA & global retail markets in all areas of retail from drug chains, hardware, discounters, grocery, home improvement, convenient stores, Sporting retailers and specialty chain accounts.
Saar continued his career growth into operations for major corporations and held titles of V.P. Manufacturing, General Manager and President of $150 million NY Based Wholesaler and other companies doing over $100 million annual sales. He was instrumental in launching and building several household brands direct to retail over the course of 10 years.
Saar has owned an international consulting company since 1995 that has consulted and counseled clients in manufacturing, wholesale and retail in 67 countries. His team has developed client’s products to market ready in order to fast track to global retail. Saar’s company rendered services i.e. cost reductions programs, new manufacturing plant construction, implementation & turn-key arrangements, efficiency improvement programs, and product development programs to tailor products to match retail expectations. Saar develops business plans, arranges for startup and on-going businesses purchase order finance –factoring, setups BOSS systems (back office support), established distribution/warehouse logistics and develop overseas product manufacturing sourcing for private label retail.
Saar & his team develop patented intellectual properties into viable retail ready product and secures for the IP owner services and implements programs for product development, marketing, sales, manufacturing, distribution to be able client to deliver product to end consumers.
Mr. Saar is a Natural Science & Mathematic BS Major, Certified international Methods-Times-Measurement Engineer and instructor and is a certified professional engineer.
Joey Girardin
Joey Girardin is Founder & CEO of Girardin International Marketing Group
Career merchandise sales of over I billion dollars to major channels.
Maintains contact with Senior Management of Major National Retail Chains, Major U.S. Corporations, Associations and Organizations
• Over 30 years in the fashion and general merchandise industries
• Girardin Marketing Group has a unique business model and performs numerous
services for its clients. We design, source and manufacture general soft and hard line merchandise for major retailers, brands and corporations. The product categories and scope of our market ranges from impulse items to "big box" stores to "big ticket" items through direct response channels. We manufacture and sell products to dollar stores, through all tiers up to high end department stores. Girardin Marketing also consults with companies who require our expertise in any facet of the products or services business.
• We consult to our clients who need expertise in licensing and branding their products and services. This segment includes licensing of merchandise and intellectual properties, trade marking and patenting, legal expertise, if required.
• Girardin Group consults clients that need our expertise in procuring private equity
funding from the global financial market.
* Our most recent consulting efforts focus on mergers and acquisitions that require
private equity financing.
Prior to entering the business world, Joey Girardin was a professional hockey player.
Lily Kokoefer
Lily Kokoefer has extensive international experiences in merchandise sourcing, manufacturing, sourcing management in China since 1995;
with a background of managing a team of well trained bilingual specialists in China for more than 17 years, handling supplier chain management functions such as: supplier evaluation, quoting, pre-production samples, testing, production, quality control and logistics. familiar with the China ground work, local culture, government rules and regulations, extensive network of over 1000 direct factory connections in China. product sourcing area covers wide range of categories;
Lily also has extensive experience of working with major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, JC-Penny, Dollar tree, Walgreen,etc, experienced with retail chain’s industrial standard and regulation, required testing procedures and protocols.
**Active Member of Tampa bay Chinese Chamber of commerce**Active Member of Golf-coast Chinese-American association**Active Member of Guizhou provincial Chamber of Commerce, Shenzhen China
**Vice President of Chinagy Sourcing, Inc---Provides sourcing and manufacturing service from China for buyers around the world.April 2002 – Present (10 years 2 months)
Education: University of South Florida, USA - College of Business AdministrationBA, Information technology, international business, economics2001 – 2003. Summa Cum Laude. Holds a Bachelor degree in Management Information Systems, International Business and Economics, Guizhou University, ChinaBA, Accounting/Finance1993 – 1996
Fred Hoffer
Fred Hoffer is an accomplished professional that has over 40 years experience in Retail, Wholesale and Manufacturing worldwide. He started in retailing in 1967 as an assistant buyer rose from Assistant buyer to Executive VP and GMM at various retail chains.
His wholesale experience started in the Menswear industry in 1973 and Fred Hoffer built his first menswear Company from a start up to over 30 million dollars between 1974- 1977.
He started in the woman’s business in 1978 working for Cross Country Fashions and built the company from a small 2 million private label company to 165 million dollars in sales.
Fred Hoffer started several women’s companies and developed Stephen Douglas Ltd to over 150 million dollars in sales until it was sold to Harvard Knitwear. Mr. Hoffer was one the first women’s manufacturers to build plants in the Dominican Republic.
Hoffer started a new company “Travables” and took it to over 20 million dollars in 5 years and sold it.
He started a sourcing division for Matsouka Shanghai a 7 billion dollar Chinese company as their US representative. Expanded US business to over 50 million first cost dollars
Fred Hoffer Started his own consulting business in 2001. He worked with both retail and wholesale accounts. Accounts included Nike, Fubu, Joseph Abboud, Cross Country Fashions and Express.
He joined Sarvis Inc., a military Broker, as a consultant, doing over 700 million in sales with the military exchanges and became their VP of New Business.
He is currently one of the directors of Girardin International.
Ellen Zhang
2004年双学位本科毕业，主修国际经济与贸易。
良好的英语沟通能力和电脑使用能力
从事外贸采购、国际商务、海外销售、业务跟单工作8年，其中服务于BILL KOKOEFER公司6年
熟悉国际贸易操作流程
对海外业务拓展和维护客户有丰富的经验
对网络营销和邮件营销有独特的方法与技巧
对外贸网站推广、关键字设定、搜索引擎优化有良好的实战经验
熟悉美国进口商采购模式，熟悉美国大买家Wal-Mart,Michaels, CVS采购习惯