Gene Garvin
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
Luxury retail brand leader with 15+ years of driving high-volume performance through disciplined KPI management, elite clienteling strategies, and structured talent development. Proven ability to increase sales, optimize productivity, and cultivate customer relationships, while ensuring operational excellence and brand integrity.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Manager
Columbia Sportswear
Minneapolis, Minnesota
09.2025 - Current
- Directing high-volume store operations, aligning talent development, sales execution, and operational controls to drive profitability, and strengthen brand loyalty.
- Delivering consistent sales growth while upholding brand-aligned visual standards and inventory accuracy.
- Increased overall store percentage by 2% compared to last fiscal year.
- Streamlined back-of-house operations, including shipping/receiving, and inventory control.
- Visual Merchandising & Brand Standards: Executes seasonal floor sets and visual merchandising directives to ensure store's environment reflects Columbia's brand identity.
- Manages product placement to optimize sell-through of key seasonal apparel.
- Inventory Management: Oversees accurate inventory levels through cycle counts and audits, ensuring product availability alignes with demand forecasts and minimized stock discrepancies.
Store Manager
Michael Kors
Minneapolis, MN
09.2022 - 08.2025
- Empowers, develops, motivates, and works alongside Team to drive results through delivering an elevated customer experience.
- Recruits, hires, and retains best in class talent.
- Delivers operational excellence in all store processes - Microsoft, Workday, Dayforce, Nudge.
- Develops weekly strategic business plans while driving sales to reach store's financial expectations.
- Record of increased traffic and sales through community involvement; Hosting store events and clienteling to establish relationships with customers and community.
- Built client base utilizing CRM and data capture to maintain client relationships and drive additional client engagement.
- Ensures weekly Visual Merchandising Guide is executed per company directive.
Store Manager
Psycho Bunny
Minneapolis, MN
07.2021 - 09.2022
- Executed initiatives, promotional strategies and community events supporting a proactive selling culture, brand expansion and business objectives.
- Improved store sales, marketing and customer outreach.
- Created effective development plans to enhance individual performance.
- Conducted monthly one-on-one coaching to team for ongoing development and continuous support.
- Reported monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts with action plans to achieve and exceed store financial goals.
- Submitted weekly business recap to communicate store’s micro achievements and opportunities for growth.
- Conducted all operational tasks; payroll, scheduling, end of day sales reports.
- Maintained visual and merchandising directives through One Drive.
- Ensured a compelling shopping experience was maintained in compliance to brand expectations.
Store Manager
Johnston & Murphy
Minneapolis, MN
08.2019 - 07.2021
- Boosted sales by 30% vs LLY by cultivating customer engagement and delivering superior customer service.
- Developed sustainable relationships with customers by responding to customer concerns with friendly and knowledgeable service.
- Exceeding team goals by implementing customer service strategies, coaching Team those initiatives and leading by example.
- Improved store efficiency by implementing process improvements and resolving performance opportunities.
- Brand Ambassador for company on J&M website and social media platforms.
- Staffing and developing talent for all stores in Midwest region.
BUYER /Store Manager
VAN BOVEN CLOTHING
Ann Arbor, MI
01.2017 - 08.2019
- Managing spring and fall merchandise selections; Research, selection, negotiation and purchasing of merchandise from Vendors.
- Monitoring orders to ensure accurate amounts are received and delivery times are maintained.
- Quality checks of received merchandise.
- Ensuring inventory and cost of goods are reconciled.
- Overseeing replenishment of store merchandise; Created Excel spreadsheet that records monthly replenishing of all brands in store and customer special orders.
- Performing weekly audits of store sales to ensure proper amounts of merchandise are maintained.
- Overseeing monthly/seasonal window changes, and in store visual floor sets.
- Business Development; Outreach in the Ann Arbor and University of Michigan community.
- Conducting in store events connecting business leaders and Vendors to increase brand awareness and sales.
- Development of Van Boven website, customer database and email capture for increased customer engagement.
- Promotions advertised in local and online publications – Resulting in increased key brands gross sales by 30% versus last year.
STORE MANAGER
DESTINATION XL
Detroit, MI
07.2016 - 02.2017
- Lead proactive selling culture that improved store sales above previous year.
- Recruited and trained sales and sales support team.
- Performed monthly assessment of individual team members for store improvement.
- Executed store promotions, visual floor sets and inventory control.
- Maintained all store operations.
- Executed day to day action plans to drive sales and efficient store operations.
- Providing in-the-moment coaching on sales floor while modeling best practices during customer engagement.
- Communicated feedback to Regional Manager regarding sales, sales forecasting and team performance.
STORE MANAGER, Store Manager
SHINOLA DETROIT
Ann Arbor, MI
11.2015 - 07.2016
- In driving sales, visual marketing and daily operations.
- Recruited and trained sales team.
- Created and monitored weekly scheduling of sales team.
- Maintained weekly promotions, merchandise replenishment, and inventory control.
- Visual floor set and window design in accordance with company directives.
- Daily processing of merchandise shipments and inventory audits.
- Executed opening and closing procedures.
- Lead organization of sales floor.
- Monitored store funds, conducted register audits and ensured adherence to company policies and procedures.
ASSISTANT STORE MANAGER
STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY
Northridge, CA
09.2010 - 01.2012
- Maintained store operations; Customer engagement, driving sales and daily store supply orders.
- Ensured quality and safety control of all in-store foods and dairy products.
- Assisted Store Manager in staffing, scheduling, and team development.
- Performed weekly assessment of store and key business indicators to identify opportunities for store improvement.
- Trained leadership team to achieve broader areas of improvement.
- Performed district wide Qasa Self-Assessments for stores requiring assistance in meeting California food and safety regulations.
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER
GAP, INC
Canoga Park, CA
06.2007 - 08.2010
- Lead sales team in all areas of customer engagement; Created daily action plans based on Customer Experience Survey results.
- Communicated customer feedback to leadership team to improve overall customer experience.
- Documented Sales per Hour (SPH), Units per Transaction (UPT) and Conversion trends using hourly sales reads to maximize business opportunities.
- Implemented action plan to increase Gap credit card acquisitions and brand loyalty - Plan increased new accounts by more than 700 over previous year.
- Recruited and interviewed candidates to meet staffing expectations.
- Assisted General Manager with employee hiring and audit compliance.
- Worked with Visuals team providing support with store floor sets and windows.
Skills
- P&L ownership & business analysis
- KPI management: sales, conversion, ADT, and UPT
- Luxury clienteling & CRM proficient
- Talent recruitment & development
- Operational excellence & expense control
- Community engagement & event strategy
- Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel & Workday, proficient
References
REFERENCES
Available Upon Request
Timeline
Store Manager
Columbia Sportswear
09.2025 - Current
Store Manager
Michael Kors
09.2022 - 08.2025
Store Manager
Psycho Bunny
07.2021 - 09.2022
Store Manager
Johnston & Murphy
08.2019 - 07.2021
BUYER /Store Manager
VAN BOVEN CLOTHING
01.2017 - 08.2019
STORE MANAGER
DESTINATION XL
07.2016 - 02.2017
STORE MANAGER, Store Manager
SHINOLA DETROIT
11.2015 - 07.2016
ASSISTANT STORE MANAGER
STARBUCKS COFFEE COMPANY
09.2010 - 01.2012
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE MANAGER
GAP, INC
06.2007 - 08.2010