Phil Watson Email & Phone Number

Charlottesville, Virginia Area

Kansas City, Kansas

Store Manager:Led the turn-around of the under-performing location into a leading store responsible for $1.2M in annual sales. Managed all store operations, established sales expectations, evaluated sales performance, and implemented aggressive sales programs, resulting in a 23% increase in revenue gains, increased Black-Friday sales by 48%, and a significant reduction in annual shrink loss from 5.0% to 0.13%.Analyzed product performance and product levels and made appropriate adjustments. Conducted inventory control procedures, tracked inventory flow, and collaborated with corporate executives on future product lines and sales strategies.Directed a team of over 10 Sales Associates and 3 Managers (doubling during the holiday season and other peak times). Interviewed and hired new team members and provided training in sales, customer service, loss prevention, product placement and branding, inventory management, and adhering to corporate expectations.Created schedules, delegated works assignments, approved payroll, conducted employee evaluations, and coached staff on achieving professional goals.New Store Opener: Tasked with opening strategic locations, traveling nationally to conduct a 10 day new store set up, and supervising the entire process from occupancy to launch. Collaborated with corporate teams and store managers during the planning and execution, and coordinated the activities of employees and temporary staff.Oversaw the construction and installation of all store fixtures, determined the placement of product displays and imagery (logos, advertising, and promotions), determined if additional assets were needed, and tracked the progress of all assignments to deliver the opening on schedule.Well-versed in building, safety, and fire codes and coordinated with regulatory agencies to secure all permits.Trained staff on company P&PS, corporate expectations, inventory management, loss prevention, and the use of all technologies.

New Port Richey, Florida

Directed and managed all business operations and site management functions for an interlocking decorative brick paver and stone design company specializing in custom brick designs for new construction, renovations and remodels, pools and patios, and driveways for residential and commercial clients.Oversaw all sales roles and met with potential clients, contractors, designers, and architects to determine the overall design needs. Prepared proposals and estimates, negotiated pricing, secured contracts, and created timelines and budgets based on the scope of each project. Managed each project’s budgets, ordered materials, reviewed and approved man hours, and managed overhead costs. Partnered with home owners and builders, ensuring all deadlines and cost expectations were meeting standards, as well as delivered valued engineering, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional customer service.Oversaw a team of 5 craftsmen, monitored the progress of each project, reviewed and implemented changes to plans, conducted routine walk through inspections, and made certain each site was properly equipped. Responsible for all administrative duties (bookkeeping, AR/AP, billing and invoices, payroll, creating proposals and estimates, licensing and insurance, securing permits, and advertising) and incorporated Microsoft Publisher for all formal documentation, sales and marketing, and administrative applications.Utilized various visualization programs to integrate the client’s home into the design, manipulating the elements to demonstrate the various layouts and design options and create a final concept.

West Palm Beach, Florida

Managed all store operations and the daily activities of a high volume location, maintained an average UPT and ADS performance above company standards, and exceeded all established corporate sales goals by vigorously pushing new product lines and introducing product lines specific to the region and clientele.Selected to develop a new market and open new stores in the region and analyzed local market conditions and competition and developed strategies to win market share. Visited new and potential locations and provided additional sales and operational training and support; assessed visual presentations to ensure branding was consistent and products were properly placed; established inventory levels; implemented processes to improve the sales; and instructed all team members on loss prevention producers and limiting liability.Managed a team of over 15 Sales Associates and 5 Managers and created staff schedules, assigned daily work duties, approved hours, and monitored all activities to ensure team members were conducting themselves in a professional manner. Met with each Sales Associate, reviewed their goals and quotas, and provided additional training and mentoring.Interviewed, hired, and trained all new staff members for the West Palm Beach location and all new locations in the District. Conducted regular staff meetings to review performance, planned for upcoming product launches, discussed changes to corporate policies, and obtained feedback from team members.Performed inventory control procedures and tracked in-store counts versus corporate counts, as well as monitored loss prevention, regulated inventory flow, tracked sales performance, and generated a range of corporate reports. Ensured all displays and visual materials were updated based on new products and that all product presentations were rotated and properly prepared for display.

Germany & Italy

Primary sales leader for a Business to Business (B2B) distributor of a range of sporting goods, technical outerwear, footwear, and sporting equipment to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in the Germany and Italian region. Generated an average of $10M in annual product sales and represented prominent, luxury brands such as K2, Oakley, Smith Eyewear, Polar, Columbia Sportswear, The North Face, Pro-Flex/K2 Bikes, and Camelbak. Responsible for 9 military bases and an average of 18 stores, including Main PXs, Military Clothing stores, and high-end Sporting Goods stores. Traveled extensively, with each location requiring several days on site, and met with store managers to assess their future purchasing needs. Demonstrated products, negotiated costs, constructed yearly projections and determined inventory levels based on external factors such as troop deployments in order to minimize buy backs, and secured contracts. Performed on-site sales training and product demonstrations, providing detailed instructions on the proper usage of highly technical equipment (with many products designed for military purposes), effective sales techniques, and maximizing product displays.Met with manufacturers, reviewed new product lines, determined costs and logistics, and made final decisions in selecting soft and hard product lines. Hired, trained, and managed a team of 3 sales representatives and monitored individual sales performance, assisted with high-level sales and complex negotiations, and provided ongoing support. Managed a special events budget and coordinated on-site and off-site demonstrations, community events, and special sales promotions. Partnered with store managers to secure agreements on sales specials and discounted items. Organized a company-sponsored, 5 man mountain bike racing team; sponsored racing events; designed and presented the Department of the Army prestigious leader jersey; and sponsored the All-American recreational Ice hockey team.