Darlene Lee
Slidell,LA
Summary
Highly driven General Manager successful at implementing strategic approaches to drive profitability and sales. Recognized for performance excellence in operations and customer care. Successful at motivating, training and developing team members to drive profitability in highly competitive environment.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Retail Business Owner
Self-employed
Slidell, LA
06.2020 - Current
- Wore clothing to represent brand and aesthetic of boutique.
- Advised customers on style and popular trends.
- Cultivated loyal customer base by providing excellent customer service.
- Managed daily operations of boutique store with $20,000 in annual sales.
- Directed special projects and daily operations.
- Kept records for production, inventory, income and expenses.
- Determined pricing for products or services based on costs and competition.
- Managed operations budgeting, accounts payable and accounts receivable and payroll.
- Promoted business on social media platforms to maximize brand identity and generate revenue.
- Set pricing structures according to market analytics and emerging trends.
- Conferred with customers to understand needs and finalize purchase orders.
- Resolved issues quickly through meticulous research and quick decision-making.
- Established favorable relationships with vendors and contractors, facilitating contract negotiation and development of marketing and sales strategies.
- Worked with vendors and supply distributors to negotiate bulk discounts.
- Calculated purchase subtotals, taxes and shipping costs for submission to customers.
- Created, managed or automated orders or invoices using order management or invoicing software.
- Calculated revenue, sales and expenses using financial accounting or spreadsheet software.
- Purchased new or used items from online or physical sources for resale via websites.
- Composed descriptions of merchandise for posting to online storefronts, auction sites and other shopping Web sites.
- Built successful online business from ground up, collecting capital, setting up online presence and managing customer interactions.
- Handled all aspects of business, including accounting, purchasing and web design.
- Composed images of products using video or still cameras, lighting equipment and editing software.
- Filled customer orders by packaging sold items and documentation for direct shipping and by transferring orders to manufacturers or third-party distributors.
- Delivered e-mail confirmation of completed transactions and shipment.
- Determined and set product prices.
- Received and processed payments from customers using electronic transaction services.
- Canceled orders based on customer requests or inventory or delivery problems.
- Uploaded photos, videos or images to online storefronts or other shopping websites.
- Corresponded with online customers via electronic mail, telephone or other electronic messaging.
- Resolved customer concerns and answered questions quickly to maximize satisfaction.
- Improved company's quality and productivity by streamlining systems and processes.
General Manager
Ulta Beauty
Slidell, United States
07.2017 - 10.2022
- Deployed solid budget control strategies to achieve revenue and profit targets
- Organized staff schedules to close gaps and maximize financial results.
- DIrected employee selection, retention and continuous improvement.
- Developed long-term business plan to guide strategic decision-making.
- Devised measurable KPIs to monitor performance and assess investment impact
- Implemented creative marketing plans to fuel repeat business.
- Implemented successful training program to upskill employees.
- Launched recognition program to boost employee morale and reduce staff turnover
- Tracked trends and aligned strategies to improve business operations.
- Held teams accountable to rules and regulations for safe, consistent service
- Evaluated opportunities for expansion and improvement to increase profits.
- Oversaw routine ordering and inventory practices to optimize customer experiences
- Led teams by example to deliver exceptional standard of work.
- Built strong, resilient team by identifying and onboarding highly qualified candidates for key positions
- Identified financial strengths and weaknesses by regularly reviewing KPIs and tracking sheets.
- Recruited, trained and empowered employees to achieve key performance indicators.
- Administered employee discipline through verbal and written warnings.
- Managed inventory levels and conducted corrective action planning to minimize long-term costs.
- Led employee evaluations with constructive feedback to boost performance.
- Conducted employee evaluations to provide adequate feedback and recognize quality performance.
- Built and maintained loyal, long-term customer relationships through effective account management.
- Delivered exceptional client experiences through hands-on leadership of associates and managers.
- Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
Sales Manager
Dillards Department Store
Slidell, LA
01.2016 - 07.2017
- Monitored team sales targets and addressed deficiencies.
- Mentored employees in management of complicated sales, complex issues and difficult customers.
- Greeted guests promptly with positive attitude and asked open-ended questions to better understand shopping needs.
- Connected with customers to provide assistance and collect feedback to optimize operations.
- Built talented and successful team that increased department sales.
- Maintained inventory accuracy by counting stock-on-hand and reconciling discrepancies.
- Handled high volume sales with cash, credit and gift card transactions, balancing cash draw at end of shift with 100% accuracy rate.
- Supervised receiving and stockroom activities to identify opportunities with inventory and prevent shrinkage.
- Increased store sales by cross-selling complementary items.
- Organized and updated schedules to optimize coverage for expected customer demands.
- Positively impacted product relevance through careful distribution, merchandising and display techniques.
- Led employee performance evaluations and rewarded top performers to retain quality personnel.
- Demonstrated knowledge of audit and compliance standards.
- Kept department on-target to meet sales and profit objectives by minimizing waste and pursuing revenue generation opportunities.
- Minimized financial discrepancies by accurately controlling monthly operations budget.
- Provided in-depth information on product features so customers could make educated buying decisions.
- Motivated higher sales through incentives, reward-based programs and positive reinforcement of good sales practices.
Retail Store Manager
Claire's Boutique
Gulfport, MS
03.2014 - 01.2016
- Built and maintained strong working relationships with team members.
- Managed daily operations by completing purchasing, inventory control, merchandising and product distribution tasks.
- Hired and trained positive, enthusiastic employees to boost talents of retail team.
- Supervised cash drawer balances and deposits of store receipts.
- Maintained inventory accuracy by counting stock-on-hand and reconciling discrepancies.
- Connected with customers to provide assistance and collect feedback to optimize operations.
- Organized new stock for floor placement.
- Supervised receiving and stockroom activities to identify opportunities with inventory and prevent shrinkage.
- Coached and mentored employees by offering constructive feedback and taking interest in long-term career growth.
- Increased store sales by cross-selling complementary items.
- Mentored employees in management of complicated sales, complex issues and difficult customers.
- Organized and updated schedules to optimize coverage for expected customer demands.
- Prevented store losses using awareness and attention to detail to detect gaps for corrective action.
- Executed merchandising strategies to support store sales growth.
- Improved profitability by executing daily, weekly and monthly floor plan changes.
- Prepared and submitted nightly bank deposits.
- Prepared employee performance appraisals, providing actionable feedback.
- Evaluated store performance and incorporated feedback to implement improvement plans.
- Boosted company sales by developing and implementing strategic marketing approaches.
- Led employee performance evaluations and rewarded top performers to retain quality personnel.
- Created engaging merchandise presentations to motivate impulse purchases.
Assistant Store Manager
Charlotte Russe
New Orleans, LA
01.2010 - 03.2014
- Answered customer questions and addressed problems and complaints in person and via phone.
- Handled complaints from customers by empathetically listening, recording details and offering solutions.
- Completed frequent walk-throughs and directed team members to correct issues impacting store appearance or professionalism.
- Supervised cashiers in processing credit, debit and cash payments to streamline sales.
- Handled scheduling for store shifts to achieve adequate staffing.
- Delegated assignments based on team strengths to optimize floor coverage and service levels.
- Maintained inventory by checking merchandise to determine levels.
- Coached and developed store associates through formal and informal interactions.
- Oversaw aspects of maintenance, inventory and daily activity management.
- Assisted in continuous development of effective store associates to achieve desired sales and results.
- Checked monthly sales and performance reports to support operational planning and strategic decision-making.
- Directed or coordinated financial or budget activities to fund operations and maximize investments.
- Forecasted customer demand to set prices or credit terms for goods or services.
- Created effective business plans to focus strategic decisions on long-term objectives.
- Monitored progress by establishing plans, budgets and measuring results.
- Implemented campaigns and promotions to help with developing goods and services.
- Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
- Coordinated and directed activities of businesses or departments concerning production, pricing and sales.
- Implemented successful business strategies to increase revenue and target new markets.
- Formed and sustained strategic relationships with clients.
- Improved productivity initiatives, managing budgets and accounts, coordinating itinerary and scheduling appointments.
- Appraised inventory levels on frequent basis, ordering new merchandise to keep quantities well-stocked.
- Reviewed financial statements and sales or activity reports to measure productivity or goal achievement.
- Used strong issue resolution and communication skills to cultivate and strengthen lasting client relationships.
- Monitored inventory levels and placed new orders for merchandise to keep supply well-stocked.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Prepared staff work schedules and assigned team members to specific duties.
- Oversaw coaching and guidance of store employees to foster advancement in work operations.
- Interviewed and vetted job applicants to make effective hiring decisions and fill vacancies with strong team members.
- Provided mentorship for employees to generate sales, promote effective upselling and cross-sell to improve retail productivity.
- Used excellent verbal skills to engage customers in conversation and effectively determine needs and requirements.
- Completed thorough opening, closing and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Led teams in planning, implementation and execution of merchandising and operating initiatives to streamline business effectiveness.
- Reviewed inventory and sales records to prepare reports for management and budget departments.
Education
Associate - Science
Virginia College
Biloxi, MS05.2012
Some College (No Degree) -
University of South Alabama
Mobile, ALSkills
- Business administration
- Employee training
- Risk management
- Budget coordination
- Loss prevention
- Professional Summary
- Gifted manager with excellent team building and leadership abilities honed over
- 12-year industry career Delivers high-quality service and consistent business
- Results with resourceful management of routine and complex challenges
- Achieves short- and long-term objectives with successful strategic planning and
- Performance optimization
- Operations Management
- Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Customer Service
- Recruitment
- Staff Training
- Team Player
- Leader
- Business Administration
- Administrative Skills
- Motivation
- Departmental Operations Management
- Relationship Building
- Problem Resolution
- Deadline-Oriented
- Client Relations
- Time and Resource Optimization
- Training and Development
- Budget Forecasts
- Salary Structure/Compensation Analysis
- Team Building and Motivation
- Interpersonal Skills
- Team Leadership
- Performance Evaluations
- Change Implementation
- Data Review
Timeline
Retail Business Owner
Self-employed
06.2020 - Current
General Manager
Ulta Beauty
07.2017 - 10.2022
Sales Manager
Dillards Department Store
01.2016 - 07.2017
Retail Store Manager
Claire's Boutique
03.2014 - 01.2016
Assistant Store Manager
Charlotte Russe
01.2010 - 03.2014
Associate - Science
Virginia College
Some College (No Degree) -
University of South Alabama
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