Matthew Laurich Email & Phone Number

Columbus, Oh, Us

Columbus, Oh, Us

Ames, Ia

Leveraged prior retail experience as a general manager with The Container Store to bring structure, systems, organization, and a traditional retail mindset to an independent university bookstore that offers an extensive product selection, including course materials, books, clothing, tech (an authorized Apple retailer), art, supplies, gifts, graduation, and sundry products. Oversee up to 12 f/t staff and 125 student associates.• Increased total store sales from $23M to $32.5M with significant growth in key categories. Increased apparel from $2M to $3M and gifts from $523K to $800K (on pace for $1M before COVID-19).• Implemented new cycle counts and reduced inventory shrink from 2.2% in 2010 to consistently less than 1% of sales – among the best in the industry (4 of the last 5 years were below 0.5%).• Manage most daily operations, as well as buying, inventory, vendor negotiations, P&L, promotions, marketing, and much more, while the director is more actively involved in university functions.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Promoted to oversee every aspect of the company’s first and only store in Washington DC after previously opening this location as the store manager of visual sales in 2005. Provided leadership, direction, coaching, and ongoing support to a talented, customer-focused team of 75, including 2 store managers and 8 full-time team members (2 sales managers, 3 visual merchandisers, 2 coordinators, and 1 operations leader). • Increased sales from $9M to $10M despite extremely challenging economic conditions. Improved the average dollars-per-customer by 5% each year – a key internal focus.• Trained, developed, mentored, and promoted approximately 12 top performers to higher-level roles in the company, including at least 6 who advanced to management roles or higher-level positions.• Maintained exceptionally high visual merchandising/presentation standards. Consistently chosen by senior executives to send team members all around the country to open new stores.