Carey Watson

Marketing & Advertising

Carey graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Finance and four years of Division 1 golf to his credit. But it was the challenge, theater and diversity in the retail industry that would fuel a 32-year career. While training at the May Co. in Los Angeles, he realized a smaller company in a growing market would offer more  opportunity. So, Carey became the newest trainee at Burdine’s Florida, a division of Federated Department Stores, with sales of $350 million and 10 stores. In eight years, he progressed through the merchandising and store management ranks to become a vice president. Four years later he was named Senior Vice President of Marketing, which included leading the Federated marketing team for three years. When Carey retired Burdine’s had 70 stores and sales had grown to $1.4 billion. Today Carey is consulting with small and medium sized companies to help them carve out more competitive positions in their markets. Carey describes yerba mate as a subtle energy source and has been won over by Tukã’s approach to using only sustainably grown and harvested yerba mate in its product offerings.