Ian Etheridge
Collegedale
Summary
Professional in sales with strong focus on customer service and product knowledge. Proven ability to collaborate effectively with team members and adapt to changing needs. Skilled in driving sales, maintaining organized displays, and assisting customers. Reliable and results-driven, ensuring consistent achievement of sales targets and positive customer experiences.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Floor Associate
Fast Break Athletics
Chattanooga, TN
05.2024 - 07.2025
- Providing customers with service: I worked at a small running specialty store called Fast Break Athletics for several years and had several responsibilities. One of these responsibilities was fitting people with running shoes and giving them a good experience. A customer would come in and tell me about what kind of shoes they needed, what they liked, or didn’t like, injuries they have had in the past, and what activities they were planning on doing in the shoes. I had to then use this information to eliminate options and bring out several pairs of shoes and fit the customer with the shoes. Oftentimes, a gait analysis was done to see if the customer needed neutral or stability shoes. I had to give the customer a good experience so they would come back every few months for the next pair of shoes.
- Imagining new solutions: At Fast Break, there were many occasions when there simply didn’t seem to be a shoe that would work. Sometimes, someone had extremely narrow or wide feet. Some had severe swelling in their feet or even bunions that prohibited a proper fit. It was these times that I needed to create a new solution. Sometimes we would special order a shoe or even modify the shoe. One instance, I took the shoe that the customer tolerated the most and tried a different lacing style. When that didn’t work, I grabbed some specialty insoles. After much trial and error, we found that a ¾ insole was the best fit. I had the customer take the shoes for a short walk around the store and then a jog around the parking lot, and she came back and said they felt great. She came back several weeks later to buy another set in a different color because she liked them so much.
- Assisted customers with product selection and inquiries to enhance shopping experience.
- Maintained merchandise presentation standards through effective organization and replenishment.
Receptionist
Bourbon and Blades Barbershop
Cleveland, TN
01.2024 - 07.2024
- Coordinating schedules/times: I worked as a receptionist at a high-end barber shop and had to schedule appointments, check guests in and out, and manage much of the shop. The vast majority of my time was spent taking phone calls and figuring out what appointments would work for certain guests so they could see the barber that they wanted to see. I also had to call guests if they were late/no-showed. On rare occasions, emergencies happened, or the barbers had to call out, and I had to call their scheduled appointments and let them know they could either cancel or reschedule.
- Handling complaints: My time at the barbershop was mostly positive interactions, but there were a handful of times when I had to deal with upset or angry customers. On many occasions, when a barber had to cancel, the customer was rightly upset. Sometimes they would just call me and tell me to figure something out or give them a free haircut. Things like this were not my decision, and I usually had to tell them I needed to talk to my boss. More rarely, the angry customer could come to the store and demand answers, compensation, or a free haircut. Most times, I resolved these complaints by myself, and all parties were satisfied. Customers would also complain when they would get charges for a no call no show. I would have to handle these in a similar way.
- Managed appointment scheduling using salon management software efficiently.
- Greeted and welcomed clients, ensuring a positive first impression.
Entrepreneur
Window Cleaning and More
Chattanooga, TN
- Persuading others: One summer, my best friend and I started a window cleaning company. It started as a side hustle but quickly transitioned into a full-time job. The first several months were almost exclusively door-to-door sales at strip malls and businesses. We faced mostly noes, but we learned how to deliver a convincing pitch to persuade the potential client. We sold people on discounts and monthly cleanings. A lot of people thought they didn’t need window cleaning, but we would convince them otherwise. We would tell them the fact that cleaner windows will attract more customers since their business would have a better curb appeal. With cleaner windows, the natural light would be more prevalent as well as more energy efficient.
- Developed business plans to identify market opportunities and drive growth.
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and operational efficiency.
Back of House Team Member
Chick-fil-A
Ooltewah, TN
05.2021 - 01.2023
- Maintained cleanliness and organization in kitchen and storage areas.
- Assisted with food preparation tasks, ensuring adherence to safety standards.
- Operated kitchen equipment efficiently while following proper usage guidelines.
- Collaborated with team members to streamline food service processes.
Education
High School Diploma -
Cumberland Christian Acedemy
Chattanooga, TN05-2024
High School Diploma - Marketing
University of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN05-2028
Skills
- Goal oriented
- Customer service
- Store maintenance
- Cash handling
- Merchandise display
- Cleaning
- Promotional strategies
- Friendly and helpful
- Honest and dependable
Timeline
Sales Floor Associate
Fast Break Athletics
05.2024 - 07.2025
Receptionist
Bourbon and Blades Barbershop
01.2024 - 07.2024
Back of House Team Member
Chick-fil-A
05.2021 - 01.2023
Entrepreneur
Window Cleaning and More
High School Diploma -
Cumberland Christian Acedemy
High School Diploma - Marketing
University of Tennessee At Chattanooga