Cynthia W. Steele

Cynthia W. Steele is the former vice president of product development for Split P, a wholesale company and division of Park Designs, specializing in tabletop and home décor textiles, serveware for tabletop entertaining and home accent furnishings. She was responsible for the trend and design direction for the brand as well as production of product catalogs. Ms. Steele traveled internationally to source product and work with factories as well as domestically to trade shows.

Prior to this, she was creative manager for C & F Enterprises, Inc. and Gallerie II, a leading wholesale company offering a complete line of bedding, home décor, and seasonal gifts. Before joining C & F, she was vice president of product development for Evergreen Enterprises, Inc., a wholesale operation of flags, garden, and home décor products under the brands of Evergreen, Cypress Home, and Cape Craftsmen. Preceding Evergreen, Ms. Steele was a national account executive for New Creative Enterprises and Square Nest, a wholesaler of giftware and decorative accessories for the home and garden. She was responsible for national key account sales in the Northeast, planning domestic, custom, and import programs for buying organizations, department and chain stores, and catalogue operations.

Previously she was director of national accounts for Silvestri, a manufacturer of giftware, decorative accessories, collectible artist lines, and seasonal collections. As director, she was responsible for the key account sales of the company, overseeing the national accounts team. For buying offices, department stores, and chain stores, she developed both domestic and import programs.

Prior to joining Silvestri, Ms. Steele was operations manager for a local manufacturer’s rep firm, overseeing the company sales representatives and serving as liaison with more than 30 vendors. In addition, she was responsible for handling key volume accounts for catalog, military, chain stores, and a leading home shopping network. Her duties included managing sales, forecasting, and maintaining profit for a category in Wal-Mart’s Retail Link™ Internet program. She has also coordinated programs and appeared as a guest host on QVC.

Formerly an assistant professor in the Department of Fashion at VCU, she has taught courses in apparel industry, retail buying, merchandising, trends, and fashion promotion.

Her professional background includes over 15 years’ experience in retail buying and management for department, specialty, and independent stores. She has worked in children’s wear, misses, junior and women’s sportswear, bridal and formalwear, men’s wear, and fashion jewelry and accessories.

Ms. Steele earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in fashion design and a master’s of education degree in adult education, specializing in human resource development. Both degrees are from VCU.

As a private consultant, Ms. Steele assisted independent retailers with financial planning and merchandising.