Gene Coughlin
Freehold
Summary
Retail executive with over 25 years of experience in retail management and multi-unit operations. Demonstrated success in enhancing customer service, implementing omni-channel strategies, and driving marketing initiatives. Strong operational skills lead to increased sales and profitability for multimillion-dollar businesses. Recognized for exceptional communication abilities, visual merchandising expertise, and effective team leadership in dynamic retail environments.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Retail District Supervisor
Advantage Solutions
Central/South Jersey
01.2024 - Current
- The Retail District Supervisor (RS) leads a team of colleagues to increase sales results and merchandising with proven experience to motivate associates.
- The Retail District Supervisor is responsible for achieving and maintaining all client and customer standards by overseeing and directing the activities of Retail Sales Associates within an assigned territory.
- The RSR works closely with company management, supports specialists and direct reports; Store Managers, clients, and other retail personnel to ensure retail business objectives are met.
- Build synergy with trade and client. Use progressive concepts to grow Advantage Solutions' vision, mission, business, procedures, and reputation as an industry leader.
- Obtain, analyze, filter, and relay needed information.
- Conduct development days and store audits to coach and develop associates to execute all retail objectives.
- Increase in-store visibility of client products and promotions through planning, improved selling techniques, and display space and placement.
- Maintain client objectives by ensuring products are fully stocked, correctly signed and all other display conditions are met.
- Oversee call coverage and frequency coverage through proper scheduling.
- Consistently monitor and actively regulate expenses concerning position and team budget standards.
Omni Operations Manager
Macy’s Inc.
Freehold, Eatontown
04.2019 - 01.2024
- The OMNI Operations Manager (OOM) drives sales and profit results by leading and developing strategies for OMNI initiatives.
- The OMNI Operations Manager leads a team of colleagues who are responsible for all activities from receipt of the product to ensure the product is floor-ready for customer purchase to the final disposition of the product.
- These activities include product movement logistics, back-of-house processes, and fulfillment.
- The OOM drives product fulfillment by ensuring customer SLA’s (Service Level Agreements) are met for order readiness and shipment from stores.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Improve sales and profit results by leading and developing strategies and planning/executing workload on product movement logistics, fulfillment, and back-of-house activities.
- Drive Customer Experience KPI, such as Omni Customer Experience score and Omni demand metrics.
- Manage merchandise flow, incoming receipts, and reverse logistics activities to accurately plan staffing/schedules; drive Supply Chain initiatives in-store.
- Provide strategic support for the growing OMNI business.
- Ensure adequate staffing and weekend compliance to ensure completion of fulfillment work and SLAs for Fulfillment, BOPS (Buy Online, Pick Up in Store), and BOSS (Buy Online, Ship to Store) are met.
- Direct and organize the receiving and processing of all merchandise receipts; drive leadership to maintain back-of-house standards.
- Coordinate and lead the inventory management strategy in collaboration with Supply Chain to support the end-of-year inventory process.
- Support Asset Protection initiatives from audit to merchandise protection standards.
- Communicate and collaborate with Support Operations on Omni workload.
- Collaborate with Style Merchandise Execution Captain and Customer Experience Manager on merchandise placement execution and style.
- Collaborate with Style Merchandise Execution Manager to oversee the management of the RFID program.
- Analyze reports to review business results and develop appropriate strategies to capitalize on business strengths and impact deficiencies.
- Interview, hire, train, direct, manage, coach, develop, coordinate, evaluate, and discipline direct and indirect reports; establish a strategy for work; provide insight and decision support; direct and manage a team to meet or exceed performance and behavioral expectations; address complaints from and resolve problems with colleagues.
- Utilize the check-in process as a tool for Colleague talent development, promotion, and advancement.
Assistant Store Manager
Macy’s Inc.
Quakerbridge, Menlo Park, Short Hills
08.2016 - 04.2019
- Managed daily store operations, including staff scheduling and inventory oversight.
- Trained and mentored new team members on retail procedures and customer service standards.
- Ensured compliance with company policies and maintained high customer service expectations.
- Resolved customer inquiries to uphold positive shopping experiences and loyalty.
- Collaborated with management on sales strategies to enhance revenue growth.
- Conducted regular performance reviews to assess progress and establish development goals.
- Identified operational inefficiencies and implemented solutions to streamline processes.
- Organized weekly meetings with department heads to evaluate objectives and initiatives.
District Merchant
Macy’s Inc.
New Jersey Central/North
05.2009 - 07.2016
- Managed product assortments for Men's store to optimize customer shopping experience.
- Analyzed sales data to identify trends and recommend changes for increased profitability.
- Compiling weekly activity summaries for senior leadership to support decision-making.
- Facilitated cross-departmental communication to streamline operations and enhance sales efforts.
- Created performance reports detailing sales goals, inventory levels, and customer feedback.
- Regularly updated store managers on promotions and new product introductions.
- Assisted in developing merchandising strategies, focusing on product selection and pricing.
- Conducted district store visits to monitor operations and evaluate customer service quality.
Merchandise Team Manager – Men’s/Kids
Macy’s Inc.
Menlo Park, Edison, New Jersey
11.1997 - 04.2009
- Directed merchandise teams in daily inventory management and stock organization.
- Trained staff on visual merchandising standards to enhance product placements.
- Coordinated promotional displays to drive sales and improve customer engagement.
- Monitored sales trends to optimize stock levels and product assortment.
- Collaborated with vendors to ensure timely deliveries and maintain relationships.
- Conducted regular meetings with team members to communicate updates and gather feedback.
- Assisted customers with product selection and troubleshooting during ordering processes.
Education
High School -
Raritan High School
Hazlet, New JerseyAutomotive Technology - High Honors
Monmouth County Vocational School
Skills
- Microsoft Office Applications
- Sales management
- Inventory management
- Omnichannel strategies
- Customer engagement
- Team leadership
- Effective communication
- Retail operations
- Store operations
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Retail District Supervisor
Advantage Solutions
01.2024 - Current
Omni Operations Manager
Macy’s Inc.
04.2019 - 01.2024
Assistant Store Manager
Macy’s Inc.
08.2016 - 04.2019
District Merchant
Macy’s Inc.
05.2009 - 07.2016
Merchandise Team Manager – Men’s/Kids
Macy’s Inc.
11.1997 - 04.2009
High School -
Raritan High School
Automotive Technology - High Honors
Monmouth County Vocational School