Alexander Bleiker
Cleveland,OH
Summary
Customer-oriented General Manager with 18 years of experience focused on increasing revenues and expanding margin. Adaptive and deadline-oriented consistently executes and completes multiple projects in high-stress environments. Meticulous leader and strategic planner with comprehensive managerial acumen, offering vision and motivational acumen.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
City Goods
11.2022 - Current
- Responsible for all aspects of creating a business model
- Human Resources and Team Management of 15-25 Team Members
- Policy and Procedure development
- Benefits Management, including healthcare
- Recruitment, onboarding, and training new employees on all facets of the business while instilling best practices
- Ongoing Team Member training as new brands, vendors, and products are introduced
- Implementation of "group me" to communicate with staff and employees while on and off-site
- Scheduling via ADP analyzes business metrics and traffic patterns to ensure proper scheduling of 25 employees for 27+ small businesses and a bar
- Responsible for all forms, legal obligations (W-2's, I-9's, W9's), and community guidelines
- Managed the payroll and biweekly check distribution, ensuring 30+ employees' hours were accurately input along with tip disbursements
- On-site management of daily tasks and strategy to grow businesses and evolve the current business model
- On-site operations and maintenance coordination
- Directly helped support 1.3 million in sales for the inaugural year
- Recruitment and sourcing of new brands and vendors to join City Goods, through social media, email campaigns, business-to-business direct marketing, etc
- On-boarding new brands and vendors including forms, contracts, inventory, merchandise, and installation
- Merchandising partnering with small businesses to analyze business metrics and trends to adjust shop and maximize the space being occupied
- Weekly inventory management and financial analysis
- Created and implemented collaborations, discounts, and deals
- Assist in the planning and execution of events, installations, and activations
- Managed biweekly Markets from May through September, 22 total events
- Small business sales, payment collection, sales tax preparation support, biweekly small business payouts, and bill pay tracking.
Product Presentation Manager & Sales Assistant Store Manager
NIKE
11.2019 - 11.2020
- Performed dual position that expanded responsibilities that included traditional visual merchandising, in addition to floor sales leadership, shipping, and receiving acumen
- Complete understanding of all business functions provided me with the knowledge to efficiently work through pandemic-induced setbacks in the workforce
- Had over 70 direct reports
- Involved in all facets of newly implemented pilot hiring process, developing new team members through history and heritage classes, and in-store live experiences
- Ongoing development of skill sets to champion career paths within the store and beyond
- Regularly scheduled "touch bases" to ensure both employee and store are functioning at a level to surpass prior year metrics
- Review and set into motion feedback and innovative means of retail adaptation, to ensure business continues to thrive in uncertain pandemic-induced era of retail
- Review and evaluate process feedback to incorporate innovative means of retail adaptation, to ensure business continues to thrive in uncertain pandemic era of retail
- Strategically balanced changing landscape during the beginning stages of COVID19 through innovative means of product distribution as a pilot program
- I.e., curbside pickup of items and direct-to-consumer distribution of in-store merchandise
- This program provided positive sales experience for consumers and employees
- The program was rolled out to additional stores within the fleet as a result of the program's lucrative success
- Selected by North America's product presentation and visual merchandising team to guide styling, merchandising, and training of the brand refresh of NIKE the Grove
- Chosen to structure, support, and administer facets of "LA styling" workshops, including both local inline and wholesale
- Provided guided tours of the marketplace to encourage implementation of local trends throughout district
- Provided participants with tools to share and convey our brand's mission
- Published author and content contributor of "Space," an interactive digital and printed magazine utilized by NIKE, Inc
- And its wholesale partners
- Space" provided a holistic overview of upcoming styling and merchandising for NIKE's stores and wholesale partners to reference during upcoming flow sets to create seamless vision through all touch points.
Product Presentation Manager
NIKE
03.2017 - 11.2019
- Aided in organization, planning, and execution of the Las Vegas store refresh
- Contributed dialogue and insights to help structure floor layout to best accommodate local and visiting consumers
- Prepped and managed overnight team of athletes and vendors to execute tasks in time-bound manner
- Communicated effectively with fellow leaders to pass off assignments and remaining workload prior to store opening
- Selected to participate in multiple facets of the San Francisco store remodel
- Assisted in creating and conveying the brand's vision for Men's categories including: category structure and layout, fixture blocking and product curation, and styling and placement of mannequins
- Educated store team on the brand's new direction and elevated standards
- Execution was delivered by way of floor walks (elevated leaders and store team) and one-on-one discussions (athletes)
- This process allowed for a holistic understanding and preservation of the newly elevated door
- Sole "Go-Team" member selected from West territory leadership team, to help assist in store opening of the flagship NYC location
- Showcased and implemented best practices with newly hired staff
- Contributed merchandising and styling expertise within various locations (NIKE SOHO and Macy's Times Square), to help support NYC market
- Created a sales culture that would exceed 20 million dollars in total sales for 2016
- Results were directly impacted by renewed focus on key areas of business, creating intuitive culture and multi-unit solution-based sales ideology
- Developed and cultivated a new team to execute flawless brand initiatives and seasonal floor sets
- Strategically balanced sales floor leadership along with merchandising experts to positively impact store
- Proficient in analyzing business needs in order to make adjustments to floor layout and staffing coverage through use of traffic reports and sales metrics
- Responsible for on-boarding and developing new and existing talent through visual training classes, product knowledge, frequent touch bases, and individual performance improvement plans
- Received numerous brand-recognized mentions for elevated execution of initiatives and category zone activations.
Product Presentation Manager
NIKE
12.2014 - 03.2017
- Assisted store manager by handling all visual and product presentation of entire store
- Planned and executed initiative and directive sets that include signage, windows, mannequins, and interior fixtures
- Recruited and hired top talent that fit the needs and culture of the NIKE brand
- Facilitated visual camps and set priorities for the team to ensure standards are met on daily basis
- Lead team in implementing exemplary customer service while on the sales floor and maintaining NIKE's core beliefs and culture at all time
- Recruited to the "Go Team" in February 2015 after being selected from merchandisers nationwide
- Facilitated merchandising NIKE Living Lab Santa Monica in April 2015 and NIKE Downtown Seattle in July 2015 as part of the Go Team
- Hosted NFL initiative for Super Bowl 2015, which required multi-category leadership and execution of specialized product presentation.
Men's Department Assistant and Interim Manager
Nordstrom
07.2014 - 12.2014
- Responsible for analysis of department metrics and action plans to directly impact sales figures
- Curate relationships with vendors and orchestrate temporary "pop-up" shops to stimulate business during slow periods
- Accountable for structuring department displays based on product ownership and sell-through.
Men's Personal Stylist
Nordstrom
01.2013 - 07.2014
- Contributed $650,000 total volume in sales in year 2013; increasing 200% from 2012
- Developed, increased, and maintained strong customer database of over 40 loyal clients
- Outfitted customers with complete looks by effectively emphasizing current styles and fits
- Participated in weekly training clinics hosted by contemporary brands in order to expand product knowledge.
Men's Sportswear Assistant Manager
Nordstrom
08.2011 - 01.2013
- Successfully developed and managed the men's department team that averaged 3.5 million dollars annually
- Developed the sales team by providing adequate training in order to meet and exceed sales goals
- Analyzed store volume to pinpoint areas of growth opportunity for department and team
- Organized complete looks as well as participated in the 2012 anniversary fashion show for 300+ employees
- Other responsibilities outside of operations include: men's visual trimming, merchandising, setting displays, dress forms, and mannequins.
Sales Associate
Nordstrom
03.2010 - 08.2011
- Personally averaged $400,000 in sales annually achieving recognition of "Top Tier" 4th quarter of 2010 and first quarter of 2011
- Ranked #1 in sales, units per transaction, and sales per hour in 2011
- Utilized elevated level of sales and service to maximize sales performance to meet and exceed sales goals.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business -
Bowling Green University
Bowling Green, OH05.2001
Skills
- ADP: Utilized to create and update schedules, Brand payouts, and tax reporting
- Excel: Created documents to track invoices, receipts, weekly sales reports for 27 Brands, and bi-weekly Brand payouts
- Clover POS Systems: Utilized for sales reporting, inventory input/removal, business analysis
- Quickbooks: Invoices and cash flow
- Contract Negotiations
- Training and coaching
- Problem Resolution
- Management Team Building
- Inventory Tracking and Management
- Staff Supervision
- Workflow Planning
Timeline
General Manager
City Goods
11.2022 - Current
Product Presentation Manager & Sales Assistant Store Manager
NIKE
11.2019 - 11.2020
Product Presentation Manager
NIKE
03.2017 - 11.2019
Product Presentation Manager
NIKE
12.2014 - 03.2017
Men's Department Assistant and Interim Manager
Nordstrom
07.2014 - 12.2014
Men's Personal Stylist
Nordstrom
01.2013 - 07.2014
Men's Sportswear Assistant Manager
Nordstrom
08.2011 - 01.2013
Sales Associate
Nordstrom
03.2010 - 08.2011
Bachelor of Science in Business -
Bowling Green University