Kate Gardner

C3 Executive Search Co-Founder • theJuice Co-Founder

Now in her 5th decade of devotion to the Direct Selling community, Kate is a highly respected and trusted advisor to her colleagues and their companies around the world. Her experience and expertise are now focused on resourcing talented people for her colleagues’ companies via GardnerCo LLC dba C3 Executive Search, in addition to selected consulting projects. As a seasoned and successful direct selling executive herself, Kate has the unique perspective of a thought leader … one who draws upon the history of the Direct Selling channel; one who is consistently analyzing the current inflection points in the model and one seeking to illuminate the future of the Direct Selling workplace with unique insights and staffing options.

Kate’s story begins with ringing doorbells for Avon, carrying a basket loaded with demonstration products walking her neighborhood territories. She felt empowered—creating her own income and spending balanced time between her family and her business. Avon recognized her spirit and talent, bringing Kate into its field management structure where she led her inner city/urban market to Avon’s highest sales management growth award, Circle of Excellence.

After the experience of knocking directly on consumers' doors, Kate tested the waters of party plan with Princess House and building a sales organization with an early nutrition Network Marketing company which led to early direct selling management experience and ultimately to C-Suite and founder/ownership.

Tapped by the nationally recognized women’s fashion design and manufacturing house, Jerell of Texas, Kate was tasked with the migration of the $150M Multiples fashion label out of traditional retail stores and into the direct selling party plan venue as Multiples USA dba Multiples At Home.

Always an innovator and pioneer, in the mid-90s Kate engineered early success in cross/omni-channel marketing, selling direct to consumers in their living rooms via live appearances on HSN (Home Shopping Network). She combined the 5-year HSN initiative with effectively using Outlet Stores in concert with the independent field sales force. A “never been done before” brand exposure and sales success story using alternative direct-to-consumer channels of distribution. Additionally, she led the collaboration with the Dallas-based beauty brand, BeautiControl, on its groundbreaking direct-to-consumer fashion catalog.

In 1999 the parent company to Multiples USA, Jerell, Inc., sold to then publicly held Haggar Men’s Wear. At Haggar’s request, Kate facilitated the sale of Multiples USA to Dallas-based party plan lingerie and fashion company, Colesce Couture. She continued to lead the field through the acquisition and transition.

Throughout her tenure as President/COO with Multiples USA and over the course of 20+ years (1994–2016), Kate served multiple terms on the Boards of Directors for the DSA and DSEF, inclusive of three terms as DSA Member Services Chair. She was also an active member of the DSA’s Technology Council, formerly the Integrated Marketing Council, during the early days of exploring what we now call “digital marketing.” Coincidentally, Kate served on the nonprofit board of Attitudes & Attire and led the Multiples USA sponsorship of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure across the U.S.

In 2001, after leaving Colesce, Kate founded MAVA D. Enterprises LP, a fashion direct sales company featuring an imported French collection, Chantal B., and the personally designed private label, Destinations. In the spring of 2005, Kate sold the business to her investment partners, returning to direct sales consulting.

Kate’s direct selling journey also includes key/top corporate positions with Adorn of Dallas (jewelry and accessories), Million Wishes by the Jones Apparel Group (also jewelry and accessories), and WineShop At Home. Her career is rich in relationships throughout all levels of Direct Selling Professionals—from the field to the C-suite—which makes her ideally suited to lead, advise, and support the search for executive talent, and provide platforms through which executive colleagues can connect, learn, and grow.

Then there are Kate's direct selling “passion” projects—giving back and supporting her colleagues, friends, and youth around the world. From 2008 to 2012, Kate took a four-year assignment as the Director of the SUCCESS Foundation, managing the SUCCESS for Teens program funded by SUCCESS Partners. She worked inside the offices of Direct Selling News with its publisher, John Fleming, as they developed nonprofit, public school, and church relationships around the world to share the book and message of SUCCESS for Teens, premised upon Jeff Olson’s book, Slight Edge.

Kate collaborates with direct selling veteran Brett Duncan as co-founder of a direct selling first—theJuice—a fresh approach to networking and peer-learning with top direct selling executives. Now in its 13th year supporting executives in the direct selling community. Separately, she also co-founded the direct selling Women’s PowerCircle.

Additionally, Kate supported direct selling channel icon John T. Fleming with research and interviews on the Gig Economy as he wrote his book, Ultimate Gig.

Kate is a degreed professional with a BA in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her first and dominant joy is centered on having raised her beautiful, spirited, and talented granddaughter, Victoria, who is pursuing her degree in Environmental Science. Kate’s son, Ryan, is happily married to his stunning Nigerian bride, Yemisi, and is the proud dad to her two teenage daughters. He works in management with Harbor Freight.

Kate resides in the Charlottesville, VA area, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Reach out to Kate any time to explore her C3 Executive Search services—or just for a bit of lively networking!