Paul Kotowski Email & Phone Number

Elmwood Park, Il, Us

Greater Chicago Area

Manages the workflows associated with returns, exchanges, and price adjustments, as well as organizing and facilitating the operations and policies of the business while maintaining compliance of company policy. Responsible for collaborating with cross functional departments to identify areas of opportunities in workflows and processes to maximize the customer experience.

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, United States

Create a unique experience for Lovesac clients, by identifying the client’s needs through utilization of the Lovesac proprietary selling process through demonstrating, quoting and closing sales, providing a customized shopping experience.

Greater Chicago Area

Work in fast paced retail environments, providing consumers with the opportunity to see and purchase the latest or improved products from Crossmark's retail clients. Execute in-store retail merchandising activities as outlined in project plans using plan-o-grams and schematic layouts to implement merchandise resets for Crossmark retail clients. Sell-in promotional displays and features to store management. Communicate effectively with store personnel regarding tasks, sales activities, promotions, and client objectives. Execute work independently and/or as part of a team. Provide support to shoppers in store as required. Scheduling of work to ensure work is completed on time. Report all completed retail activity via the appropriate designated systems on the day the work was performed.

Elmwood Park, Illinois, United States

Conducted research on behalf of the U.S. Census Bureau. Collected household and demographic information by canvassing assigned areas/zones. Traveled to designated households and conducted interviews with residents. Identify myself and helped individuals complete the census questionnaire. Assisted residents by reading the questionnaire and answering questions they may have had about the census.

Chicago

Assisted in developing the store budget and carefully monitored adherence to expense plans. Communicated andmade recommendations for expense reconciliation. Sought to reduce expenses by monitoring fee (sends, alterations, etc.) compliance. Worked closely with the VP, General Manger to reconcile the store's physical inventory. Assumed direct responsibility for cash office functions. Established building care standards in conjunction with VP, General Manager. Assumed direct responsibility for the quality of building maintenance. Was responsible for proper functioning of equipment and identified and implemented ways to conserve all utilities. Enforced all safety standards. Ensured that all responsibilities of the Shipping/Receiving Manager were executed. Oversaw alterations, the cash office, purchasing, and the POS systems. Took action to reduce all components of inventory shortage. Monitored internal theft through various systems. Ensured store operations were compliant to all policy and procedures that applied to operations. Ensured that managers and associates were instilled with a high levelof shortage awareness and an understanding of their role in shrink reduction. Developed and implemented initiatives to reduce loss, partnering with selling executives. Facilitated accurate and efficient physical inventories and was able to reconcile shortage results. Performed audits to ensure compliance in regard to department standards. January 2018 – .50 shrink - best shortage in the companyJanuary 2019 - .67 shrink – best shortage in the company

Northbrook, Illinois

Created a world-class customer experience by providing passionate customer service and selling through customer engagement. Supervised the freight flow process function including shipping/receiving, transfers, RTV’s (Return To Vendor), claims, key recs, claim processing and misdirected freight processing. Upheld company standards for merchandise presentation. Maintained the receiving and stock areas. Supervised the maintenance crew to ensure acceptable standards are maintained for the overall upkeep of the building. Assisted the store management team with general supervision in the store in accordance with Company policies and procedures including opening and closing the store and front-end coverage. Complied with cash office procedures and prepared deposits and balanced cashiers. Promoted company programs including warranty sales, Scorecard (loyalty program), private-label credit cards, and other seasonal promotions.

Rosemont, Illinois

Guided the merchandise team with daily responsibilities, along with supporting the selling team. Conducted monthly markdowns, merchandised the selling floor, re-ticketed merchandise and maintained the store standards. Conducted daily, monthly and yearly inventory counts. Lead the merchandise team with receiving, unloading and processing shipments. Located online orders for clients, pack them and ship them through Fedex. Completed RTV's and store transfers before completion date, along with MOOS (Mark Out Of Stock). Completed visual changes and marketing changes per company directive. Opened the store and registers. Conducted cash counts to balance the deposit from the night before, inputted all information, prepared the deposit and balanced the safe. Lead morning meetings to convey sales goals and expectations of the team. Provided excellent customer service at all times to clients, as well as associates and resolved all customer issues in a timely fashion.

Greater Chicago Area

Transported passengers with the ability to relate to demanding needs while remaining calm, focused and professional. 4.9 star rating

Chicago, Illinois

Supervised and trained 25 Support Team members and 3 managers. Recruited, interviewed and hired new associates and seasonal associates. Worked closely with Human Resources to document, counsel and terminate associates when appropriate. Responsible for ordering all store supplies, maintaining supply inventory and staying within budget. Worked closely with Operations Manager to ensure continuity and maintenance of the building. Helped plan store’s yearly budgets and maintained budgets throughout the year. Conveyed any corporate communications. Balanced store inventory, transferred merchandise among locations and managed resale to vendors. Reconciled any discrepancies (unit shortages or overages, inaccurate ticketing, damaged merchandise). Ran the delivery and gift wrap department that shipped out client’s goods, through Fedex, USPS and courier services. Resolved clients' concerns by tracking their purchases and helping solve problems with Fedex and other services, if there were any issues.

Chicago, Illinois

Supervised and trained 10 members of the Optimal Support Team on processing incoming merchandise for all departments. Facilitated promotions through scheduling and coordinating price changes within deadlines. Maintained organization of stock rooms to foster accessibility. Responsible for fulfillment of online and store to store orders, along with RTVs and damages. Consolidated, scanned and shipped sale merchandise upon completion of sales. Participated in weekly management and store meetings. My Fulfillment rate was at 94%, price capture rate was at 93% and RTV rate was 96%Coordinated events with public relations firms and order corresponding supplies for the team. Worked in conjunction with Loss Prevention to minimize shrink.

Chicago, Illinois

Focused on external apprehensions and store shortage reduction. Conducted audits for assigned departments and other area, as needed. Tracked register overages and shortages. Monitored CCTV system and educated associates in shortage and safety issues. Prepared incident and theft reports. Coordinated apprehensions with local law enforcement and attended and testified in court hearings.

Skokie, Illinois

Interviewed, trained and evaluated security staff, along with providing direction on store objectives. Developed store programs focusing on external apprehensions and store shrink reduction. Provided leadership and direction to agents on external investigations. Conducted internal investigations; researched and tracked register shortages, developed systems and procedures to aid in register shortage reduction. Monitored CCTV systems and installed equipment (e.g., covert cameras). Interviewed and interrogated employees. Oversaw audit program for entire store, reviewed agents audits and responded to audit concerns. Discussed and developed best practices with Operations and Human Resource Managers. Educated and trained store family on loss prevention-related issues, as well as store policies and procedures. Planned shortage programs and took active roll in inventory. Worked closely with Operations Manager on safety and security for building. Managed alarm systems, keys and locks. Conducted monthly shortage/safety meetings with store associates.

North Riverside, Illinois

• Developed internal investigation log for initiating and tracking case activities, with subsequent program implementation at all regional stores.

Chicago, Illinois

• Case management and credit fraud investigations, documenting company policy violations, employee compliance, over and short month-end analysis. • Responsible for creating the weekly Loss Prevention schedules.

Oak Brook, Illinois

North Hollywood, California

• Conducted weekly storewide audits on three high storage stores and random audits on high shortage stores. • Traveled among stores to conduct audits, identify issues, unannounced follow-ups, along with developing appropriate strategies and presenting findings to Store Directors. • Monitored store audit progress to improve compliance and shortage results, throughout the season. • Attended manager meetings at store locations to discuss store shortage and progress on strategies. • Was assigned seasonally to one location to run inventories and reconciliation.

Woodland Hills, California

Thousand Oaks, California

Lombard, Illinois

Bloomingdale, Illinois

• Provided training for Loss Prevention agents at regional locations.

Norridge, Illinois