Category: APPAREL

         FINE APPAREL DEPARTMENT MANAGER       Summary     Results driven General Manager with strong interpersonal skills with extensive luxury retail sales experience, focused on client development and retention. Success has no excuses.       Accomplishments      Increased gross revenues at Max Mara Northbrook by 76%  Promoted to Store Manager after 12 months in the Assistant Manager position  Promoted to Assistant Manager after 6 months in the Stylist position  Profitably sold Sans Pareil Inc.  Turned a $2000 investment into 1.8 million dollar business within 5 years of inception        Experience     11/2013   to   Current     Fine Apparel Department Manager    Company Name   －   City  ,   State      Manage, drive a high volume multi vendor business to achieve goals  Strategically plan business to meet sales goals, talent development  Provide leadership, team building to store, sales staff in driving sales, service, profitability  Provide team with tools,  training of company values, core focus of brand imaging   Retain, motivate, coach, train an elite sales team in the art of clientèle  Motivate, lead by example in the standards of excellence   Work in tandem with buying office to meet business needs, maximize opportunities in market  Develop, maintain strong vendor relations to drive sales and meet sales goals  Oversee merchandise opportunities, set merchandise standards, evaluate merchandise performance, adjust to meet business needs  Oversee the selling process, providing leadership, motivation to store team, achieving sales, volume goals  Establish, maintain high performance service standards to enhance customer experience, actively seek input from customers to ensure consistent adherence to service standards  Actively train, develop, coach the team to achieve goals, while modeling sales focused behaviors, skills development that utilizes the available tools   Proactive in managing performance, ensuring that the store team clearly understand their roles, are focused on achieving goals  Oversee stylists development, empower the sales force to achieve selling goals through product knowledge, coaching, performance feedback  Attract, retain key associates by becoming/maintaining the employer of choice in local market  In constant pursuit of top talent in surrounding market to optimize staffing opportunities          01/2011   to   10/2013     General Manager    Company Name   －   City  ,   State      Consecutively increased business by 16% year one and 10% year two, by training, developing sales staff in the art of client outreach and retainment     Developed, implemented a standardized  process for client development performance, growth and increasing client retention  Established, maintain strong rapport with community to increase brand awareness  Train, maintain the standards of excellence set by brand  Provide leadership, team building to the store associates , driving sales, high caliber service, profitability  Provide store team with tools, coaching required to meet brand filter service standards  Focus on sales, profitability; establish, maintain customer focused standards, set work pace, deliver store goals  Provide vision, motivation to achieve goal  Groom for succession, empower to excel  Create, maintain high performance team and environment  Attract, retain key associates in local market         01/2010   to   01/2011     Assistant Manager    Company Name   －   City  ,   State       In partnership with management, increase YTD sales by 16%    Managed and successfully groomed all stylist in the art of client outreach resulting in double digit growth    Oversee the selling process, providing leadership and motivation to store management team, associates in achieving sales and volume goals  Establish, maintains high performance service standards, to enhance the customer experience, actively seek input from customers to ensure consistent adherence to service standards  Actively train, develop, coaches the team to achieve goals, while modeling sales focused behaviors, skills development that utilizes the available tools   Manage, evaluate performance, ensuring that the store team clearly understand their roles, are focused on achieving goals  Develop, retain direct reports, ensuring their readiness for increased responsibility and providing a bench of internal talent to fill open positions  Oversee stylist development, empower the sales force to achieve selling goals through product knowledge, coaching,  performance feedback  Maintain knowledge of top talent in the market place,  proactive  recruitment to fill open positions         06/2009   to   01/2010     Stylist    Company Name   －   City  ,   State       Developed and a maintained a strong client book which increased store revenue by 12% in 6 months YDT   Maintained, developed loyal clients, exponentially increased client spend  Developed, maintained a strong relationship with management, team members  Demonstrated strong operational skills (managing stock rotations, transfers, and inventory)  Top sales person in MaxMara Northbrook  Promoted to Key holder in 2 months          06/1992   to   03/2007     Owner/ Designer/ Wholesaler/ High End Children's Apparel    Company Name   －   City  ,   State       Turned a $2000 investment into a 1.8 million dollar business within 5 years of inception   Concurrently operated 2 retail locations, manufacturing facility   Successfully maintained, developed a loyal client following with exponential growth   Designed, produced, wholesaled a private label collection with margins of 70% and higher  Managed a staff of 48  Hired, trained staff to meet the business needs  Developed and maintained strong vendor relations  Recognized, introduced new designers into the market  Recruited and maintained a loyal and highly motivated staff with a turnover of 10% or less  Developed, maintained strong ties in the community by  partnering in charity activities   Sold business profitably in 2007           Education          Bachelor of Arts  :   Graphic Arts/ Business    Loyola University   －   City  ,   State       Minor Business/Jewelry design  Fluent in English and Spanish         Skills      Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point  Trend analysis  Ability to quickly adapt to changing markets  Established track record of customer focused sales growth  Ability to deliver results against goals build effective, motivated teams, foster teamwork, and demonstrate sound business judgment  20+ years related management experience  Business Acumen  Building Effective Teams  Customer Focus  Developing Direct Reports and Others  Drive for Results  Interpersonal Savvy  Managing and Measuring Work  Managing Vision and Purpose  Motivating Others  Problem Solving  Ability to Asses People  Consistently striving for excellence