For almost 4 decades Ruth Waldfogel has been involved in the Home Furnishings industry, on both sides of the fence, retail and wholesale. Having been a Senior Vice President of Product Development for R.H. Macy’s (now Federated Department Stores) for 13 years, her range of experience includes product development and design direction, brand building, merchandising, and sourcing.

Ruth began her career in 1970 as part of the prestigious Bloomingdale Training program, eventually working her way up to be Buyer of Antiques and Modern Gifts, a Furniture Department offshoot that was the brainchild and favorite of then Bloomingdale’s President and CEO, Marvin Traub.

In 1974, after Bloomingdale’s, Ruth went to Workbench Inc. as Store Manager but quickly became the buyer for the contemporary furniture store chain.

When R.H. Macy’s Corporate called, Ruth went as Divisional Merchandise Manager of Product Development for Home, quickly rising to Senior Vice President for Home and Lingerie. During her tenure private label programs in Home increased 500% as she and her team introduced Tools of the Trade, Charter Club, Jennifer Moore for the Home, Jennifer Moore Lingerie, Morgan Taylor Lingerie, Home Design and other labels still in existence today.

After returning to Workbench for a 2 year stint, Ruth decided to become an Industry Consultant in order to be accessible to her 2 young children, one of whom has special needs. Since 1992, she has been involved in a variety of projects with companies such as Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores, Crabtree and Evelyn, American Museum of Natural History, Sarita Handa Exports, Denyse Schmidt Quilts, Martha Stewart Furniture, Calvin Klein Furniture, West Elm, and others, including uncommongoods.com, an Internet startup (without bricks and mortar) still flourishing today.

Ruth graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Political Science and minor in History.