Herbert Brings Wealth of Knowledge, Industry Experience to Market Leader
(Vancouver, BC, Canada) – Popular golf and sportswear designer Linda Hipp announces that her company, LIJA, has hired Michelle Herbert as Manager of Product Development and promoted Ayr Barnett to Director of Operations & Business Development.
Herbert is a seasoned apparel industry veteran with experience in retail buying, color design, merchandising and private label development for a variety of sporting goods companies. Most recently, Herbert worked as Apparel Product Manager for Sierra Designs, where she was previously a Color Design & Trend Merchandiser. Prior to joining Sierra Designs, Herbert held the position of Soft Goods Buyer for Coast Mountain Sports in Vancouver.
Barnett has been promoted to Director of Operations & Business Development and will assume responsibility for new business development, including warehouse expansion, software, acquisitions and international distribution. In this position, she will also oversee the traffic/shipping department. Barnett joined the company in 2003 and assisted with its re-branding from Hyp Golf, playing a key role on the design team forecasting trends in fabrics and colors, while also managing the production and purchasing department.
"The addition of Michelle and promotion of Ayr puts us in a great position to continue expanding our product offerings," says Hipp. "Their combined experience helps us continue to transcend the boundary between on- and off-course fashion."
LIJA is a staple in finer golf and non-golf retailers across North America, including world-renowned resorts like Pebble Beach, Doral, Kiawah Island and Kapalua. The company’s Spring 2007 collection – showcasing innovative textures, superior styling, unique prints and functional fabrics – is in stores now.
For more information, call 888.263.1191 or visit www.lijastyle.com .
About LIJA
LIJA has received significant recognition within and outside the golf industry, achieving organic annual sales growth of at least 50 percent each of the past seven years. Enjoying a rapidly expanding sales force and account base in North America, LIJA recently began selling into the UK, Australian and Japanese markets.
Recent recognition for the company includes:
2006 PROFIT W100 Ranking of Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs (No. 5)
2006 Business in Vancouver "BC’s 50 Fastest-Growing Companies" (No. 20)
2006 PROFIT 100 Rankings of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies (No. 69)
2005 Canadian Golf Company of the Year – Score Golf magazine
2005 PROFIT W100 Ranking of Canada’s Top Women Entrepreneurs (No. 3)
2005 PROFIT 100 Rankings of Canada’s Fastest Growing Companies (No. 56)
2004 Polartec APEX Award (for innovative use of technical fabrics)
North America’s "Top-5 Up-and-Coming Women’s Golf Apparel" – GolfWorld Business
Individually, Hipp has been honored as a grant recipient of the Matinee Fashion Foundation Award, which annually recognizes and funds select Canadian designers, and voted a "40 Under 40" winner by Business in Vancouver.
Hipp, 40, previously worked as a business development executive for Vancouver’s Canucks (NHL) and Grizzlies (NBA). An avid and highly-skilled golfer, Hipp struggled to find on-course apparel that meshed with her off-course fashion sensibility. Recognizing a market opportunity – and the chance to combine her passions for fashion, golf and business – Hyp Golf was launched in July 1997. The company re-branded as LIJA in late 2004. Chiefly influenced by both European trends and West Coast style, Hipp has garnered a widespread reputation as one of North America’s hottest sportswear designers.
Contact:
Andrea Latta
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3383
twilliams@billycaspergolf.com
