Gary Spells
Upper Marlboro,MD
Summary
Results-driven and dedicated leader with over 15 years of experience in operations and strategic management in consumer sales. Adept problem solver and critical thinker known for cultivating high-performing teams and driving operational excellence. Proven track record of building strong client relationships, spearheading project development and forecasting, managing budgets, and conducting data-driven and financial analyses for renowned national retail organizations. Consistently recognized for surpassing key performance metrics, including profit and loss, sales, customer satisfaction, and operational benchmarks, through the identification and pursuit of new business and marketing opportunities
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
District Fresh Merch Manager
Giant Food
2021.10 - Current
- Accountable for unwavering execution of all merchandising programs, a pivotal role contributing to the resounding success and operational effectiveness of a diverse portfolio comprising 17 stores
- Through meticulous oversight, these stores collectively achieved and consistently surpassed a remarkable $300 million in annual sales revenue
- Proficiently analyzed and recommended various pricing strategies at both the item and category levels, resulting in significant improvements in profitability and customer satisfaction
- Supported the sales organization in surpassing key performance indicators (KPIs) by 30%, driving revenue growth and overall sales effectiveness
- Utilizes in-depth knowledge of store operations to boost sales, identify and analyze issues, and determine root causes of problems affecting sales
- Communicates these issues effectively to higher levels of the organization
- Ensured the flawless implementation of targeted merchandising strategies, contributing to a 15% increase in sales and a 10% improvement in overall customer satisfaction
- Established a talent development program resulting in a 20% increase in employee retention and a 15% improvement in overall team performance
- Demonstrates a dynamic ability to adapt to changes in the work environment, remaining current with evolving work technologies and fostering a culture of continuous learning
- Skillfully directed and motivated high-performing sales teams across a diverse retail store network, which included field-based leadership and team members, resulting in a 5% increase in individual and team sales performance within six months
- Led initiatives that optimized inventory management, resulting in a 20% reduction in stockouts and a 15% improvement in inventory turnover
- Capitalized on identified opportunities, resulting in an 8% increase in product sales and a 12% boost in profit margins within targeted categories.
Store Director
Harris Teeter
2016.08 - 2021.09
- Spearheaded all facets of store operations, orchestrating a high-performing team of 100+ direct reports, and effectively managing a retail operation that achieved annual sales surpassing $35 million, culminating in an impressive annual profit exceeding $2 million
- Achieved a remarkable 18% increase in sales over a two-year period by conducting in-depth analyses of market trends, customer purchasing behaviors, and high-margin product identification
- Identified and promoted high-margin products, leading to a 20% boost in the average transaction value
- Successfully implemented a new merchandising plan and structure, resulting in a remarkable 55% reduction in key out-of-stock incidents within the first six months of adoption
- This initiative substantially improved overall store efficiency and significantly enhanced inventory turnover rates
- Accomplished an impressive 30% reduction in waste over a 5-year period by meticulously identifying key areas of loss and implementing targeted waste-reduction strategies
- Diligently monitored and analyzed business trends across all departments, leveraging data-driven insights to develop and execute comprehensive marketing plans
- Enhanced payroll management strategies, leading to a 30% reduction in labor costs while maintaining high staff morale and customer service quality
- Collaborates with supply chain, visual merchandising, and vendor management teams to ensure flawless execution of product launches, supply chain replenishment, and product life cycle management
- Responsible for developing and executing cohesive perishable and non-perishable strategies to accomplish short term and long-term goals.
Store Manager
Kmart
2009.09 - 2016.07
- Directed the day-to-day operations of sales and store efficiencies for a high-performing location that generated $15 million in annual sales
- Managed and motivated a dedicated team of 85+ associates
- Managed all store operational requirements, store scheduling, merchandise management and inventory and all contract approvals
- Marketed merchandise by studying competitor advertising, sales promotions, and display plans
- Provided disciplined leadership including setting clear expectations, providing training workshops and leading the team to meet performance requirements
- Maintained operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program, operations, and personnel policies and procedures
- Achieved financial objectives by preparing an annual budget and scheduling expenditures; analyzed variances and initiated corrective actions
- Increased employee retention by creating and fostering a positive work environment which increased employee morale
- Constructed and presented annual business updates for senior and executive leadership on upcoming sales, inventory and productivity initiatives driving category KPI growth and profitability
- Responsible for weekly sales call with District Team to ensure companies standards were met and followed.
Education
MBA - Business Administration And Management
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland05.2023
Master of Arts - Business Management
North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina05.2008
Skills
- Strategic Planning & Tactical Execution
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Business Development
- Staff Management
- Data Processing & Analysis
- Task Delegation
- Merchandise Management
- Negotiation
- Operations Management
- Project Management
- Workforce Management
- Staff Development
- Business Planning
- Financial Analysis
- Supply Chain Management
Timeline
District Fresh Merch Manager
Giant Food
2021.10 - Current
Store Director
Harris Teeter
2016.08 - 2021.09
Store Manager
Kmart
2009.09 - 2016.07
MBA - Business Administration And Management
University of Maryland
Master of Arts - Business Management
North Carolina Central University
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