Administered complete scope of operations with accountability for profit/loss performance of $2.1 million in sales; oversaw and ensured performance of 4 department leaders throughout craft, floral, framing and fabric departments.Analyzed day to day sales performance; organized and reviewed merchandising; delegated assignments to managers and associates; planned and executed promotions and advertising; contributed hands-on to customer service; communicated with freight processing and backroom groups; addressed sales, promotions and retail strategies with managers; ensured facility safety and maintenance; led operations consistent with company policies and standards.* Recruited, hired, trained, led orientations and evaluated performance of 1 assistant manager, 2 full-time key holders, 17 part-time associates; additionally, hired and trained 4 part-time holiday associates.* Utilized comprehensive retail knowledge and success to determine merchandising of quickly changing seasonal products added to retail floor with no plan-o-gram guidance.* Motivated retail staff to promote Catan Club membership resulting in company-leading 83% success (versus goal of 75%) in new memberships and membership renewals; commitment process required associate to acquire customer contact information for marketing communications.* Minimized both internal and external theft by training associates on loss prevention techniques as well as by cash office activity and cash handling procedures.* Improved productivity by training and coaching associates on freight procedures; additionally, separated freight by aisle and section number to reduce distance and allow freight to be stocked in timely manner.

Oversaw all facets of operations with responsibility for revenue profit/loss performance; responded to sales activity; assigned tasks and supervised 4-6 employees; spearheaded B2B sales and account management; recognized trends and coordinated merchandising, marketing and promotions; managed cash operations; maintained inventory; carried out cash deposits and bank transactions; controlled internal and external theft.* Improved sales by coaching associates on company policies and procedures, including emphasis placed on delivery of customer service exceeding expectations.* Reduced payroll by right-sizing associates needed to maintain operations without sacrificing overall sales and customer service; reduced staff to 4 associates, replaced assistant manager position with part-time keyholder, and eliminated part-time position.* Assisted with grand opening of new store; provided interior layout recommendations during construction phase; store recognized as company’s 1st university store and 1st store in Ohio.

Orchestrated and contributed hands-on to daily operations throughout $4.8 million store; accountable for overall profit/loss performance, store finances, retail sales and merchandising strategies, account canvassing and management, relationship management with small business owners/decision-makers, freight process, store safety/security/audits, and customer issue resolution.Hired, trained, evaluated performance and ensured contributions of 25 full/part-time staff; navigated managers and associates through implementation of individual development plans covering sales techniques, customer service, loss prevention, safety, merchandising, inventory control and current promotions.* Successfully met $4.8 million budget goal and previously exceeded budgeted sales year over year from 1% - 7%; facilitated 25% - 40% gross margin averages through guidance of associates on techniques selling profitable items, including add on sales and service plans.* Carried out business development maintaining activity of 300 top customers and rebuilding relationships with customers (with reduced shopping levels in local store); averaged 75% win-back performance (amidst goal of 70%) through use of proactive and diverse methods communicating and building customer relationships.* Expanded store revenues through proactive communications with 10-20 business customers weekly; addressed upcoming promotions and in-store deals as well as respond to product/service inquiries.* Improved integrity of new sales and marketing program (sales representative circulating local area) resulting in companywide policy change and employee terminations; researched policies and regulations, located “loophole” in program exploited by account manager, and presented findings to home office loss prevention department.

Entrusted to achieve annual sales budget ($10 million to $12 million year/store), hours budgets (based on store sales), shrink goals (set annually by company), and handle customer service concerns and issues. Oversaw audits, inventory control, loss prevention, POS procedures, building maintenance, personnel, merchandising, scheduling, hours control, cycle counts, pull-downs, price changes, supply and fixture needs, yearly inventories, and all aspects of running business; approved raises, handled disciplinary issues, and set up/followed up on in-store promotions.Hired, scheduled and managed 10 managers, 12 department supervisors, and 55 associates (100+ during holidays); supervised task, shipping, receiving, and customer service managers, auditing all operations paperwork including price changes, vendor returns, shipping/receiving logs, weekly cycle counts, cash, office paperwork, and registers.* Commended by upper management for going above and beyond call of duty to superbly handle customer service concerns and issues with philosophy no customer should leave unhappy. Also, motivated management staff to do the same.* Improved customer retention and loyalty and increased sales 25%-35% by helping to develop and implement Replay, a customer loyalty program used to reward customers with certificates redeemable for store product. Personal store sold 1139 “years” of Replay memberships, the best in the company.* Headed team of eight associates who, with task manager, decreased time for processing and stocking shipments from two days to only one by dividing shipments into sections by department and assigning all team members to work in the same area until it was complete.