April Stutz Email & Phone Number

Portsmouth, Va, Us

Suffolk, Virginia, United States

Virginia Beach, Va

• Marketing strategies, brand development, social media engagement, setting and managing budgets, merchandise buyer, accounting and bookkeeping, trunk shows and events, fundraising After 3 years as manager, myself and 2 other associates were asked to take over the business and I was promoted to President. Having the store change ownership, it was vital to solidify the brand and voice of Simply Selma's by creating social media platforms, developing new marketing strategies and email campaigns, and launching a new e-commerce website. The store gained over 2500 followers and had an average email open rate of 28%. I, along with my partners, cultivated new relationships with vendors and artists and hosted up to 10 trunk shows and events yearly, resulting in thousands of extra revenue and increased brand loyalty within the customer base. We also reached out to other local businesses and non-profits and planned and coordinated several joint events and fundraisers, expanding the store's community footprint. My partners and I scoured the buying markets for new, fresh products and I analyzed the success of existing goods to ensure inventory sell-through. I designed new floorsets and we were always trying to out do ourselves when it came to merchandising and building visual stories and installations. Behind the scenes, I put on the hat of accountant and became proficient in Quickbooks and creating budgets. I made appropriate adjustments to inventory, staffing, and spending; to lower expenditures and maximize profit margins. Because of the attention to detail, the strong relationships that were built, and the magical place we created; Simply Selma's was awarded Retail of the Year, Best of the Beach, and the Minerva award. At Simply Selma's I learned how to not just build a business but build a family of co-workers and trusted partners, and when you are afforded the opportunity to work with "family", it is a priceless gift.

Virginia Beach, Va

• Developing and implementing operational systems, shipping and receiving, creating staff review procedures, staffing efficiency and payroll control, creating visual installations and floor plansAs a manager, my goal was to build upon the strengths of Simply Selma's and also do away with its weak links. The store's visual merchandising was a strength that I enhanced by ensuring displays were not only beautiful, they were shoppable for customers as well. The team was made up of talented people, but I utilized their skills and talents more effectively through training and delegating tasks and projects. Communication was an area I improved by leading store meetings, creating a quarterly employee review schedule, and implementing daily walk-throughs with team members to discuss new products and sales goals. With my contributions, the store ran more efficiently and cost-effectively, and team members were better utilized and more empowered. My motto of "get it right, get it tight" was somehow created during this time and it has stuck with me ever since.

Virginia Beach, Va

• Promoting small business, product knowledge in jewelry and art, upgrading POS systems, streamlining systems and enhancing productivityJoining the amazing staff at Simply Selma's was a breath of fresh air and it was invigorating to work for a small business that had a big footprint in the community. I further developed my customer service skills and hearkened back the days where shopping wasn't just a task to get done, it was an experience to be enjoyed. I offered up much of my experience from working in corporate retail, and helped upgrade systems in sales, stockroom management, and inventory control.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

• Recruiting and interviewing, orientations and training, coaching, quarterly evaluations, staff schedules, payroll efficiency, publish newsletterI worked with the General Manager to recruit and hire talented people who, through training and staff events, became a dynamic sales team that collaborated to achieve goals and work effectively together. I enjoyed one-on-one training and coaching with my department managers, helping them brainstorm how to rally their teams, and raise the standards in their specific departments. Administering Individual Development Plans to the entire staff was a new challenge I met, and developed a gracious yet effective way to give positive, constructive feedback to my peers. I met the immense challenge of being General Manager of the store for three months. I led our team in exceeding sales goals and performing well in company contests, all while keeping a tight grip on payroll budget and inventory control. Our store placed 10th in the company for increased monthly sales and I was awarded the "Catch the Spirit" award for the Southeast District for outstanding customer service and leadership.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

• Team leadership, service and operational training, visual merchandising and floor planning I led my first team as Decorative Accessories Coordinator (and later as Design Studio Coordinator) and fine-tuned my personal style of leadership and team building. It was important to learn how to connect with each team member, in order to provide them with more personalized training and coaching, and empower them by encouraging their specific abilities as they related to meeting our goals. I rallied my associates together and built an efficient and confident team. My steps to success in leadership became: evaluate, delegate, adapt, and achieve. I was responsible for the visual floor planning and merchandising of the entire store, which proved to be some of the hardest and most rewarding work. From drawing the floor plan, planning the domino effect of furniture moves, to leading a team beginning at 6am and moving every piece of furniture and product; it was all worth it to create fresh and inspiring displays and visual stories. It was like putting together a life-size jigsaw puzzle, and I became a puzzle master.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

• Meeting sales goals, teamwork, visual merchandising, inventory management, POS procedures My first opportunity working with a large team in retail sales. I'll admit, I was a deer in headlights at first but then quickly felt right at home. POS procedures were a breeze and I excelled at meeting the daily sales goals and accomplishing the day's projects. I learned new techniques in sales and upheld a high standard of customer service. It was here that I discovered my passion for interior decorating, space design, and home furnishings.

Lynchburg, Virginia Area

• Recruiting, interviewing, presentations, trade shows, application processing, salesThis was my first real job in sales and I learned that I loved building relationships with potential clients (students), not just "selling" them our product (an education at R-MWC). I invested time and listened to them, earned their trust, and walked them and their families through the decision-making process; all the while promoting how the college and the student could both benefit from each other. It was so exciting when I made the perfect match. And I had some adventures too, driving alone up and down the east coast, pre-Google Maps.

Lynchburg, Virginia Area

• Marketing, recruiting, event planning, operations supervisor Created and organized 11 summer camps and campus events. I handled everything from marketing and recruiting, to coordinating daily activities, and organizing receptions and closing ceremonies. I was thrilled to negotiate the contract terms with a national dance company for a week long dance workshop. I got my first taste of event planning and promoting during this summer, and I was hooked.