Assisting with time recording, invoicing, contract renewals, book keeping and expenses, travel, looking for new business opportunities, engagement with recruitment companies for business development and contract identification.

Customer sales within the homewares department during the Christmas period. The role was a fixed term contractI applied for this role as a means of re-entering the workplace and enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere and pace

Mother to two children and managed household budgeting and diaries/appointmentsCompleted separate courses in ‘Shoe Making’, ‘Interior Design’ and ‘Fashion Buying & Merchandising’ at London College of Fashion and Chelsea College (UCLA) prior to relocating to Manchester

Established my own business focused on luxury and modern furniture as well as homewares with additional lines in fashion accessories. Shop size was 1,200 square feet with four staff membersSole responsibility for finance, payroll, tax returns, staff recruitment and training, product sourcing, displays, supply chain management, lease negotiation, business financial planning, day-to-day operations, advertising and strategyDesigned shop layout having taken the lease requiring full renovation, designing layout, lighting, walls, flooring, displays including stage areas, signage and electrical/heating outputs; negotiating with landlord, agents and buildersNegotiated purchases and accounts with major distributors (Coach House, PD Global, One World, Rutherford & McGowan, Heaven Sends, Parlane, CIMC and Gisela Graham). Sourced suppliers at trade shows including the Spring and Autumn Fairs at the Birmingham NEC, Pulse in London and on site at the distributer’s showrooms/warehousesBusiness earned a profit in each of the six years, and was recognised throughout Portsmouth as ‘one of the best shops in the City’. For example, asked to showcase items at Raymond Blanc’s Brasserie in Portsmouth during their summer events and was also featured in Southsea Directory’s most desirable shops (nominated by customers)Worked with other business owners to design a Beauty salon as well as a hotel refurbishment including bedrooms, reception rooms and lobby as well as offered bespoke advice to numerous private homeowners on their own projectsBusiness dissolved in Jun ’14 in order to support family and husband’s career alongside our relocation to London

Supervisory duties included key holding and responsibility for opening and closing of the store as the Store Manager was on long term sick.Day to day tasking of part-time employees ensuring that Laura Ashley processes were administered sickResponsibility for cashing up, resolving customer queries, returns, complaints and liaison with other storesVerifying stock upon delivery into goods in – updating of inventory, stock room management, stock rotation, pricing and coordinating of displays along Company guidelines

Managed the Guerlain counter within House of Fraser, ChichesterManaged stock deliveries, inventory control and liaison with Area ManagerManaged displays and promotions in accordance with company directivesReport weekly/monthly financial takings to Area Manager and manage day-to-day takings and book-keepingAdvised on all aspects of make-up, fragrance and skin carePerformed beauty room treatments such as mini facialsCompleted two intensive beauty training courses with one of Guerlain’s head trainersRefreshed and reinvigorated Guerlain’s counter. Built an increasing customer base and capitalised on repeat salesIntroduced beauty treatments to Guerlain’s clientele

Attended beauty courses on behalf of local Space NK branch, and upon return, tasked with training branch staff in new products and techniquesHeld responsibility for key holding, opening and closing the store, cashing up and dealing with customer complaints; held manager status on shop systems responsible for refunds and exchangesGranted access to Space NK Share point, allowing shop floor visualisation plan to be implemented in lieu of manager's absence

Commission based sales roles within MFI (2 yrs), Harveys (4 yrs) and Benson Beds (3 yrs).▪ Created order documents and scheduled deliveries▪ Managed stock and store visual arrangements▪ Provided after sales service and advice▪ Ensured furniture deliveries were made on time using computer systems to track progress and payload▪ Arranged additional courier provision in times of high demand▪ Responsible for cashing up, weekly caretaker duties and customer complaints▪ Responsible for displays and assembly of furniture▪ Arranged customer finance agreements, deliveries and after sales service support▪ Completed a NVQ: Modern Apprenticeship in Retail and received an award from Chichester college