Gary Thomas Email & Phone Number

South East London, Kent & Sussex

Responsible for the management of fifteen stores and 49 staff in the South East (East) Region. • Achieving individual store and region sales targets within the CDC strategic marketing plans • Containing costs within budgeted levels • Ensuring customer service levels are maintained through effective stock control • Ensuring each store and store manager achieves the required standard of performance in all aspects of store activity • Effectively briefing, training, developing… Show more Responsible for the management of fifteen stores and 49 staff in the South East (East) Region. • Achieving individual store and region sales targets within the CDC strategic marketing plans • Containing costs within budgeted levels • Ensuring customer service levels are maintained through effective stock control • Ensuring each store and store manager achieves the required standard of performance in all aspects of store activity • Effectively briefing, training, developing, motivating and managing the performance of all the store staff • Ensuring network directives are correctly implemented • Ensuring effective control of administration Show less

Responsible for the business development programme for stores in the South East and London area. Working in conjunction with the Regional Operations Manager. • Drive performance improvements with store managers in sales, customer service and store standards. • In conjunction with store and sales teams, identify ways in which new business can be generated, existing business increased and lost business regained. • To prepare, maintain and update management control information as… Show more Responsible for the business development programme for stores in the South East and London area. Working in conjunction with the Regional Operations Manager. • Drive performance improvements with store managers in sales, customer service and store standards. • In conjunction with store and sales teams, identify ways in which new business can be generated, existing business increased and lost business regained. • To prepare, maintain and update management control information as required by the business • To be involved with the recruitment, training, motivation and performance monitoring of CDC store teams. • Take ownership of the medium term objectives of the CDC stores in relation to the South East plan and a number of contractor store developments. Show less

Responsible for the integration of ten acquisition stores into the Dulux Decorator Centres national network in the South East of England. Stores had a sales budget of over £9,000,000 per year and 54 staff. • On-going training and development of new and acquisition staff, including new employee induction. • Electronic Point Of Sale (EPOS) computer training. • Systems and procedural development. • Safety, Health and Environment (S.H.E.) system implementation. • Special… Show more Responsible for the integration of ten acquisition stores into the Dulux Decorator Centres national network in the South East of England. Stores had a sales budget of over £9,000,000 per year and 54 staff. • On-going training and development of new and acquisition staff, including new employee induction. • Electronic Point Of Sale (EPOS) computer training. • Systems and procedural development. • Safety, Health and Environment (S.H.E.) system implementation. • Special projects as specified by the Regional Operations Manager including training courses, audit reviews and S.H.E reviews. • Presentations at regional meetings on a variety of subjects. Show less

Responsible for the running of a large Contractor store in the Beckenham area. Working with and motivating a team of 10 employees in activities relating to the sales and service of Dulux paints and decorating materials to the trade and public consumer. • Improved a store that had previously failed to achieve its sales targets. Achieved sales of £2,250,000 in 2003. • Purchase and management of stock with a value of £200,000. • Staff training in products, systems, customer care and… Show more Responsible for the running of a large Contractor store in the Beckenham area. Working with and motivating a team of 10 employees in activities relating to the sales and service of Dulux paints and decorating materials to the trade and public consumer. • Improved a store that had previously failed to achieve its sales targets. Achieved sales of £2,250,000 in 2003. • Purchase and management of stock with a value of £200,000. • Staff training in products, systems, customer care and team organisation. • Selected out of 13 stores to be Store Manager of the year (2002). • Nominated to attend a ‘Developing for the Future’ training course, which consisted of five modules over a 12 month period to become a Regional Manager. • The store was selected twice from 145 stores to be a regional winner in 2002 and 2003 in a company competition to find the best store in the country. Show less

Reporting to the Safety, Health and Environment (S.H.E.) manager the role involved ensuring the Company had legal and safe systems of work and policies. This job role meant covering the whole of the United Kingdom. • Safety audits in stores and working with various head office departments and outside agencies to raise safety awareness. Ensuring outstanding actions were completed. • Fire Risk Assessments completed on stores. • Manual Handling Trainer - training new staff and… Show more Reporting to the Safety, Health and Environment (S.H.E.) manager the role involved ensuring the Company had legal and safe systems of work and policies. This job role meant covering the whole of the United Kingdom. • Safety audits in stores and working with various head office departments and outside agencies to raise safety awareness. Ensuring outstanding actions were completed. • Fire Risk Assessments completed on stores. • Manual Handling Trainer - training new staff and completing refresher training for existing staff. • Introduced and produced a bi-monthly Safety 1st Newsletter going out to all store staff informing them of current issues and statistics. • Setting up and the management of a Safety 1st Procedure Manual which contained all the Company safety policies and procedures. Writing some of the key procedures. • Setting up and management of a Disaster Recovery Folder for all stores. • Accident Investigation when needed and ensuring corrective action completed. • Fork Lift Truck Instructor trained to a nationally recognized standard for counterbalance and reach trucks. Trained over 25 staff in the stores in 12 months. Show less

Reporting to the Regional Stores Manager with responsibilities for implementing and monitoring all key customer service and store logistics processes. • Covering 26 stores and 75 staff with a sales budget of £12,000,000, completed systems and financial audits to ensure that stores were functioning properly. • Organised product-training sessions for staff throughout the region. • Handled all operational issues to ensure stores in the region achieved sales and fixed cost budgets.… Show more Reporting to the Regional Stores Manager with responsibilities for implementing and monitoring all key customer service and store logistics processes. • Covering 26 stores and 75 staff with a sales budget of £12,000,000, completed systems and financial audits to ensure that stores were functioning properly. • Organised product-training sessions for staff throughout the region. • Handled all operational issues to ensure stores in the region achieved sales and fixed cost budgets. • Trained store staff to ISO9002 standard in systems and paperwork. • Deputy for Regional Sales Manager in his absence. Show less