Angela Stratton
Arab,AL
Summary
Seasoned District Training Manager with a proven track record at Big Lots, specializing in enhancing employee performance through innovative training programs, mentoring, trust building and diversity inclusion. Skilled in strategic planning, recruiting and leadership development, I've significantly boosted team productivity and engagement. Expert in coaching and interpersonal communication, my initiatives have fostered a collaborative and efficient workplace environment.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
District Training Manager
Big Lots
03.2013 - 01.2025
- District coverage of 12-18 stores in the DMs absence.
- Evaluated stores progress and compliance levels, provided follow-up and constructive feedback, leading to improved job/sales/task compliance performance.
- Spearheaded the adoption of new training technologies, resulting in a more engaging learning experience for employees.
- Mentored junior trainers, providing guidance on best practices and professional development opportunities.
- Collaborated with upper management to identify training needs and develop appropriate solutions.
- Streamlined district training processes for increased efficiency and productivity.
- Managed new employee recruiting, orientation and developed customized training plans for individual employees, addressing specific skill gaps and promoting career growth.
- Facilitated communication between different departments, fostering collaboration on shared goals and objectives
- Communicated all learning and performance objectives, schedules, and training assessments to upper management.
- Trained staff during demonstrations, meetings, conferences, and workshops.
- Researched and obtained relevant course materials to achieve training objectives.
- Coordinated and prioritized required training and Development courses for exempt and non-exempt employees.
- Partnered with DM to select assigned instructors to conduct specific training programs.
- Drove departmental performance and achievement of service levels through focused team operational reviews, structured coaching, and managing to enterprise targets.
- Analyzed effectiveness of training programs at all levels and recommended updates.
- Managed exempt employee coaching, training, and performance improvement actions.
- Served as an ambassador for company values through exemplary leadership skills during both formal presentations as well as informal interactions among staff members.
Store Manager
Big Lots
05.2010 - 01.2025
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean, safe environment for customers and employees.
- Managed inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures.
- Addressed customer complaints promptly and professionally, resolving issues to maintain positive relationships with clientele.
- Managed store employees successfully in fast-paced environment through proactive communication and positive feedback.
- Assisted with hiring, training and mentoring new staff members.
- Improved customer satisfaction through staff training in customer service and product knowledge.
- Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise and organized backroom to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation.
- Mentored new hires during their onboarding process, ensuring they were well-equipped to excel in their roles from day one.
- Completed point of sale opening and closing procedures.
- Rotated merchandise and displays to feature new products and promotions.
- Maximized sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts.
- Conducted regular performance reviews for staff members, providing constructive feedback and opportunities for growth.
- Approved regular payroll submissions for employees.
- Coached sales associates in product specifications, sales incentives, and selling techniques, significantly increasing customer satisfaction ratings.
- Reconciled daily sales transactions to balance and log day-to-day revenue.
- Maximized sales and minimized shrinkage through excellent customer service and adherence to standard practices.
- Fostered a positive work environment by cultivating strong relationships between team members through team-building activities and consistent recognition of individual achievements.
- Set effective store schedules based on forecasted customer levels, individual employee knowledge, and service requirements.
- Managed financial aspects of store operations, including budget planning, expense tracking, and accurate record-keeping to maintain fiscal responsibility.
- Optimized labor scheduling according to store needs while adhering to budget constraints, maximizing productivity without compromising service quality.
- Oversaw loss prevention efforts, minimizing shrinkage by implementing effective security measures and training staff on proper procedures.
- Promoted team collaboration, performance, and efficiency by fostering healthy environments focused on mutual success.
- Increased store profitability by implementing cost-saving measures and efficient inventory management strategies.
- Ensured compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies by regularly reviewing store procedures and taking corrective measures when necessary.
- Maintained open lines of communication with corporate headquarters, sharing pertinent information about store performance and requesting support when needed.
- Upheld and communicated store programs and standards to employees for optimal quality, freshness, safety and cleanliness.
- Collaborated with other managers to develop company-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall performance across all locations.
- Organized special events such as seasonal sales promotions to drive foot traffic into the store and increase sales opportunities.
- Developed a successful employee retention plan, reducing staff turnover rates significantly.
- Implemented a loyalty program that boosted repeat business and increased overall sales revenue.
- Streamlined communication between staff and management, ensuring that all team members were informed of policy changes and promotions.
- Fostered culture of excellence and accountability among staff, resulting in higher employee morale and lower turnover rates.
- Improved store layout for better customer flow and product visibility, leading to increase in average purchase size.
- Enhanced team performance with comprehensive training programs, leading to improved customer service and operational efficiency.
- Optimized checkout process to reduce wait times, improving customer satisfaction scores.
- Implemented customer feedback system to address and quickly rectify any issues, thereby enhancing customer loyalty.
- Enhanced employee performance and satisfaction by establishing clear goals and providing regular feedback.
- Reduced employee turnover by creating supportive work environment and recognizing outstanding performance.
- Implemented loss prevention strategies, significantly reducing shrinkage.
- Coordinated in-store events to increase foot traffic, partnering with local businesses and community organizations for mutual benefit.
- Oversaw daily operations to ensure compliance with health and safety standards, maintaining safe environment for both staff and customers.
- Boosted overall store sales by implementing innovative marketing strategies and exceptional customer service standards.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and drive-off.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
Assistant Manager
Big Lots
05.2006 - 09.2009
- Contributed to a positive work environment with strong interpersonal skills and proactive teamwork attitude.
- Greeted guests in with friendliness and professionalism.
- Answered incoming phone calls to process requests, transfer calls, or relay messages to appropriate personnel.
- Worked closely with management to provide effective assistance for specific aspects of business operations.
- Supervised day-to-day operations to meet performance, quality and service expectations.
- Maintained a clean, safe, and organized store environment to enhance the customer experience.
- Developed strong working relationships with staff, fostering a positive work environment.
- Monitored cash intake and deposit records, increasing accuracy, and reducing discrepancies.
- Oversaw daily cash reconciliations, ensuring accurate financial reporting and minimizing discrepancies.
- Improved customer satisfaction by addressing and resolving complaints promptly.
- Offered hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs, and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences.
- Completed regular inventory counts to verify stock levels, address discrepancies, and forecast future needs.
- Mentored junior staff members in their professional development by offering guidance/support in their assigned roles.
- Generated repeat business through exceptional customer service.
- Assisted in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding of new employees to maintain adequate staffing levels.
- Collaborated with the management team to develop strategic plans for business growth and improvement.
- Promoted teamwork within the workplace by encouraging collaboration among staff members on various project tasks.
- Enforced company policies consistently while handling disciplinary actions when necessary with fairness and respect.
- Increased sales through effective merchandising strategies and targeted promotions.
- Scheduled staff shifts to ensure proper coverage during peak shopping hours without exceeding labor budgets.
- Facilitated clear communication between employees and upper management through regular meetings and updates.
- Boosted employee morale by recognizing outstanding performance and celebrating team accomplishments.
- Conducted employee performance evaluations, providing constructive feedback for growth and development.
- Implemented staff training programs, enhancing product knowledge and improving customer service skills.
- Coordinated with vendors to ensure timely delivery of products and resolve any supply chain issues.
- Ensured compliance with all safety regulations by conducting regular inspections of equipment/operations within the store.
- Collaborated with management team to set sales targets and strategies, achieving consistent sales growth.
- Oversaw daily operations to maintain store cleanliness and organization.
- Coached new employees, ensuring smooth onboarding process and quicker adaptation to their roles.
- Implemented staff training programs to elevate service standards and knowledge.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided constructive feedback to employees.
- Implemented loss prevention strategies, significantly reducing shrinkage.
- Engaged with customers to gather feedback, using insights to improve service and product offerings.
- Led weekly team meetings to discuss goals and review performance, fostering culture of continuous improvement.
- Assisted in budget preparation, ensuring alignment with financial goals.
- Conducted performance evaluations, identifying areas for development and rewarding strong performance.
- Optimized scheduling to ensure adequate staffing during peak hours, improving service efficiency.
- Improved operational efficiency by adopting new technology for inventory management.
- Maintained compliance with health and safety regulations, ensuring safe environment for both staff and customers.
- Improved customer satisfaction by resolving complaints and inquiries promptly.
- Coordinated with vendors for timely inventory replenishment, ensuring product availability.
- Facilitated team-building activities, enhancing team cohesion and morale.
- Opened and closed location and monitored shift changes to uphold successful operations strategies and maximize business success.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Improved staffing during busy periods by creating employee schedules and monitoring call-outs.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Identified and communicated customer needs to supply chain capacity and quality teams.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
- Reduced waste and pursued revenue development strategies to keep department aligned with sales and profit targets.
- Developed detailed plans based on broad guidance and direction.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
- Streamlined and monitored quality programs to alleviate overdue compliance activities.
Co-Owner
S & S Upholstery
04.2001 - 05.2007
- Collaborated with co-owner on strategic planning initiatives for long-term business success.
- Improved customer satisfaction ratings by consistently delivering high-quality products and services.
- Oversaw financial management tasks, including budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow optimization.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with suppliers, resulting in reduced costs and improved product quality.
- Networked with other businesses and customers to increase sales opportunities and contacts.
Education
Bachelor Of Science - Retail And Consumer Science/Human Resources
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN05.1994
Skills
- Recruiting, hiring, training
- Coaching and mentoring
- Learning management systems
- Employee engagement
- Diversity and inclusion
- Compliance training
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Organizational skills
- Active listening
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Decision-making
- Detail-oriented
- Strategic thinker
- Relationship building
- Data entry
- Leadership development
- Self motivation
- Group trainings
- Analytical thinking
- Conflict resolution
- Professionalism
- Inventory stocking
- Employee relations
- Interpersonal communication
- Workload management
- Quality control
- Strategic planning
- Individual trainings
- Adaptability
- Remote employee training-Teams
- New hire training
- Leadership training
- Learning strategies
- Project management
- Workflow process improvement
- Orientation sessions
- Data analysis
- Productivity improvement
- Team direction
- Technology integration
- Emotional intelligence
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Performance management
- Daily schedule creation
- Cross-functional team development
- Performance sales and metrics driver
Certification
*zebra SMART Inventory-SME
*Reflexis Scheduling System-SME
*DTS/Backroom Optimization-SME
*District Training Manager
Philanthropy
*Chattanooga Area Food bank volunteer-
Helped sort and fill food product in bins. Checked in and assisted clients with their food pickup
*Nationwide Children's Hospital- District
Driver for POS donations
*Big Lots corporate Philanthropy grant research and selection process team.
Timeline
District Training Manager
Big Lots
03.2013 - 01.2025
Store Manager
Big Lots
05.2010 - 01.2025
Assistant Manager
Big Lots
05.2006 - 09.2009
Co-Owner
S & S Upholstery
04.2001 - 05.2007
Bachelor Of Science - Retail And Consumer Science/Human Resources
University of Tennessee