From shop floor to senior counsel.
Most advisors at this level have spent thirty-five years in conference rooms. Richard Amodio spent his on factory floors, retail floors, and product development tables.
Thirty-five years, in six moves.
The arc is unusual not for any single role, but for what no role omits. Every seat carried product, sourcing, and the factory floor at the same time.
Buyer at Eastern Mountain Sports. Rises to Merchandise Director, camping and technical sport, across more than 100 stores.
First China sourcing. The factory relationships that run through everything since.
VP Global Product Development, Eastpak and Timberland. Globally distributed product lines.
CenterEdge Consulting founded. Continuous client engagements from that year to this one.
VP Business Development, Grand Union Hong Kong, to 2015. Stitchless and molecular-bonded product for global clients.
CenterEdge, present. Senior advisory, PE diligence, and fractional leadership for outdoor and hardgoods brands.
Profile
Richard led product development, sourcing, and supply chain strategy for over thirty years across the outdoor and hardgoods industry: from the shop floor at Eastern Mountain Sports to VP roles at Eastpak, Timberland, and a Hong Kong manufacturer with fourteen factories across China. He founded CenterEdge Consulting in 1999 and has worked with global brands on product, sourcing, and supply chain ever since.
His sourcing footprint spans China, where the relationships date to 1989, and Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, and Mexico: dozens of factory relationships built over three and a half decades. At a moment when brands are rethinking their Asia supply chains, he brings ground-level manufacturing knowledge that very few consultants can match.
At Eastpak and Timberland he oversaw global product development driving $125 million in annual sales. At Grand Union in Hong Kong he led a team of seven merchandisers developing technically advanced products for global clients using stitchless and molecular bonding technologies. At EMS he rose from buyer to Merchandise Director, overseeing camping and technical sporting goods across more than 100 stores, including collaborative development programmes with retail partners in Japan and Europe.
He works best with brands that need senior, experienced hands to navigate sourcing, product development, and supply chain decisions. He does not take on every brand.
- Based
- Delray Beach, FL · Eastern Time
- Direct
- ramodio@centeredgeconsulting.com
- linkedin.com/in/richard-amodio-8164178
- Expert networks
- GLG · Guidepoint · AlphaSights · Third Bridge · Dialectica · Coleman Research
Career
- VP Global Product Development, Eastpak and Timberland: $125M in annual sales, globally distributed product lines.
- VP Business Development, Grand Union Hong Kong, 2007 to 2015: 14 factories across China, a team of seven merchandisers.
- Merchandise Director, Camping and Technical Sports, EMS: 100+ stores, retail development partnerships in Japan and Europe.
- Buyer and Merchandise Manager, EMS, 1987 to 1993: the category and sourcing groundwork everything else was built on.
- China sourcing since 1989: dozens of factory relationships across 35+ years.
- Founded CenterEdge Consulting in 1999: twenty-seven years of continuous client engagements.
- Supply chain diversification: China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Mexico
- Factory development and management: dozens of relationships built since 1989
- Product development: packs, luggage, tents, sleeping bags, hardgoods, technical apparel, garments
- Stitchless and advanced manufacturing: molecular bonding, thermo-adhesive, sonic and RF welding
- Divisional merchandising and category management: camping, technical sports, travel
- Retail operations: buying, merchandising, 100+ store oversight
- Brand licensing: Timberland packs and travel, Lonely Planet
- Strategic business planning and VP-level business development
The outdoor experience is first-hand.
The product judgement comes from using the product. Richard is a NOLS graduate and a certified Eastern Professional Ski Touring Instructor, has guided for the Helen Keller Institute and the New York State Department of Corrections, and lectures as a guest at MIT and The Explorers Club.
- NOLS graduate
- Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
- Eastern Professional Ski Touring Instructor (EPSTI)
- Guest lecturer, MIT and The Explorers Club
- Outdoor guide, Helen Keller Institute and NY State Department of Corrections
What clients have said
“CenterEdge was a keystone sourcing and design partner. Rich's leadership consistently improved quality and margins across nearly all targeted growth categories. I highly recommend him.”
“CenterEdge LLC has been a keystone design and sourcing partner during my outdoor career from 1995-2013. Kelty Packs, Pearl Izumi, Patagonia, and Prana were all recipients of the leadership of Rich Amodio and his talented team. As CEO of each of these firms it was always so comforting to know that I could rely on CenterEdge to work hand in hand with my inside operations and design team to come up with the optimum sourcing prescription. I am proud to say that in each of the company engagements we were able to increase quality and margins in almost 100% of the growth categories we focused on. Rich is a trusted professional and is highly recommended.”
“Rich has been my most valued partner and counsellor. No other firm operating in Asia offers more experience, insight, and leadership for Western companies.”
“I have been a friend, customer and colleague of Rich Amodio and CenterEdge Consulting for most of ten years in my various sourcing and supply chain roles. Rich has been my most valued partner and counsellor and I know of no other firm operating in Asia supporting western companies that offers more experience, insight and leadership. My recommendation could not be more unequivocal.”
“With their help, we were able to navigate the complex areas of manufacturing and design in Asia for many years. A successful team to have on your side.”
“A heartfelt thank you to Richard Amodio and his team for their vast knowledge of all resources in Asia and the world. With their help we were able to navigate the somewhat difficult areas of manufacturing and design, and its transition into the vast Asian zone for many years. A friend and successful team to have on your side.”
“Their deep experience and knowledge, combined with thorough execution, has been invaluable in launching our ambitious line of new products. They know the process, and how to get things done.”
“When facing the daunting task of creating a complete line of outdoor gear in nine months I was fortunate enough to meet Rich. He was instrumental in all of our sourcing needs.”
“When facing the daunting task of creating a complete line of outdoor gear in nine months I was fortunate enough to meet Rich. He was instrumental in all of our sourcing needs. The deadline was met with high quality product without a glitch. Rich was a lifesaver and I would not hesitate to work with him again.”