Courtney Buster
North Aurora,IL
Summary
Relationship-driven, performance-proven leader with 15+ years of experience building trust, coaching teams, and executing standardized playbooks across multi-location territories. Recognized for turning underperforming districts into top-tier performers using structured engagement, consistent follow-up, and education-based training that drives adoption of priority initiatives. Strong communicator with a Psychology background—skilled at understanding stakeholder needs, aligning expectations, and translating strategy into clear, repeatable actions.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Director
TARGET
North Aurora, IL
01.2023 - Current
- Built trust-based partnerships with district leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to align priorities and improve consistent execution across an 11-store district.
- Led a district turnaround by implementing a structured engagement + coaching model that improved performance from bottom 25% to the middle tier within 1 year.
- Improved execution/compliance performance by 35% and reduced errors 25% by facilitating education-focused workshops that trained leaders on standards, expectations, and practical execution.
- Drove a 3% comp sales lift across 75% of district stores by partnering with store leadership to remove barriers and ensure rapid follow-through (1-week resolution cycle).
- Strengthened customer outcomes by auditing “availability-to-experience” gaps (labeling accuracy, item max accuracy, high-impact inventory signals) and coaching teams to close them.
- Improved guest satisfaction 30% by transforming customer-facing processes and reinforcing communication behaviors that build confidence and loyalty.
- Improved operational compliance 10% through tighter inventory accuracy, shrink controls, and process adherence.
- Reduced store turnover 8% by cultivating an inclusive, accountability-driven coaching culture.
Store Manager
ALTAR’D STATE
Chicago, IL
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Opened and scaled a new Chicago location by coordinating partners and recruiting/building the team needed to deliver consistent, high-trust customer engagement.
- Built the store into a top 10 performer company-wide by establishing market proof and executing consistent standards from day one.
- Achieved #1 company shrink results with annual inventory loss of -0.01% by enforcing disciplined controls and reliable execution.
- Increased conversion 15.1% → 16.8% within one year by retraining engagement behaviors using trust-building questioning and tailored interaction.
- Maintained an average mystery shop score of 96% by redesigning training around repeatable communication skills and consistent practice.
Store Manager
GUESS
Orland Park, IL
01.2014 - 01.2018
- Turned a store 15% below comp to +6% comp by rebuilding the team and retraining staff on first-impression engagement and intentional selling.
- Improved conversion by rebuilding the customer journey and establishing intentional selling across every customer touchpoint.
- Transformed visual merchandising into a data-driven revenue strategy using fixture-level performance reporting and daily monitoring.
- Achieved perfect secret shop scores by embedding standards into daily behaviors through repeated practice and reinforcement.
- Received Highest Improvement Award for shrink after reducing annual inventory loss by over 65% (from -1.62% to -0.57%).
- Promoted associates through succession planning and onboarding that strengthened long-term execution capability.
Store Manager
JUICY COUTURE
Northbrook, IL
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Achieved 12–15% over Sales Plan by strengthening proactive outreach, styling appointments, and product knowledge to drive consistent customer engagement.
- Earned Lowest Shrink Results award by establishing inventory controls as a non-negotiable standard and training the team to maintain compliance.
- Led rollouts of new programs/systems while sustaining performance, demonstrating change leadership and disciplined execution.
- Created reporting frameworks that improved visibility into performance and strengthened consistent execution across the Midwest.
Store Manager & Other Positions
ABERCROMBIE KIDS
Northbrook, IL
01.2008 - 01.2014
- Served as a district-wide recruiting resource, building talent pipelines to maintain consistent relationship-driven selling standards.
- Promoted Managers in Training into full-time Assistant Manager roles by establishing clear onboarding expectations and execution standards at both store and district levels.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Augustana College
Skills
- Relationship-building and trust-based engagement
- Education/training that drives adoption
- Consultative communication & value translation
- Territory-like execution mindset (multi-site consistency coaching cadence)
- KPI tracking, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement
- Compliance/standards adherence
- Follow-up discipline and accountability
- Cross-functional stakeholder alignment
Timeline
Store Director
TARGET
01.2023 - Current
Store Manager
ALTAR’D STATE
01.2018 - 01.2021
Store Manager
GUESS
01.2014 - 01.2018
Store Manager
JUICY COUTURE
01.2012 - 01.2014
Store Manager & Other Positions
ABERCROMBIE KIDS
01.2008 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Augustana College