James Vacey
Wading River,New York
Summary
Dynamic Store Manager with a proven track record at Southold Ace Hardware, excelling in customer service and inventory management. Enhanced sales through innovative merchandising and effective team leadership, achieving significant improvements in customer satisfaction and employee retention. Skilled in training and mentoring staff, fostering a positive work environment that drives performance.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Manager
Southold Ace Hardware
Southold, NY
04.2011 - Current
- Supervised daily store operations to ensure efficient workflow and customer satisfaction.
- Trained and mentored staff on best practices for customer service and product knowledge.
- Implemented inventory management systems to optimize stock levels and reduce waste.
- Analyzed sales data to identify trends, enhancing product assortment and promotional strategies.
- Developed employee schedules to align with peak business hours, improving labor efficiency.
- Coordinated merchandising efforts to create visually appealing displays that drove sales growth.
- Resolved customer inquiries and complaints promptly, fostering positive shopping experiences.
- Collaborated with suppliers to negotiate favorable terms, ensuring timely product availability.
- Managed daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean, safe environment for customers and employees.
- Managed inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures.
- Addressed customer complaints promptly and professionally, resolving issues to maintain positive relationships with clientele.
- Managed store employees successfully in fast-paced environment through proactive communication and positive feedback.
- Assisted with hiring, training and mentoring new staff members.
- Improved customer satisfaction through staff training in customer service and product knowledge.
- Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise and organized backroom to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation.
- Completed point of sale opening and closing procedures.
- Mentored new hires during their onboarding process, ensuring they were well-equipped to excel in their roles from day one.
- Rotated merchandise and displays to feature new products and promotions.
- Maximized sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts.
- Maximized sales and minimized shrinkage through excellent customer service and adherence to standard practices.
- Reconciled daily sales transactions to balance and log day-to-day revenue.
- Fostered a positive work environment by cultivating strong relationships between team members through team-building activities and consistent recognition of individual achievements.
- Set effective store schedules based on forecasted customer levels, individual employee knowledge, and service requirements.
- Supervised guests at front counter, answering questions regarding products.
- Oversaw loss prevention efforts, minimizing shrinkage by implementing effective security measures and training staff on proper procedures.
- Upheld and communicated store programs and standards to employees for optimal quality, freshness, safety and cleanliness.
- Collaborated with other managers to develop company-wide initiatives aimed at improving overall performance across all locations.
- Organized special events such as seasonal sales promotions to drive foot traffic into the store and increase sales opportunities.
- Developed a successful employee retention plan, reducing staff turnover rates significantly.
- Improved store layout for better customer flow and product visibility, leading to increase in average purchase size.
- Fostered culture of excellence and accountability among staff, resulting in higher employee morale and lower turnover rates.
- Streamlined communication between staff and management, ensuring that all team members were informed of policy changes and promotions.
- Improved efficiency and accuracy of inventory management by implementing new stock control system.
- Managed inventory levels to minimize waste and ensure product availability, supporting customer satisfaction and sales efficiency.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and drive-off.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
Assistant Marketing Manager
Bay Street Theatre
Sag Harbor, NY
03.2012 - 10.2012
- Developed and implemented marketing strategies to enhance audience engagement and increase ticket sales.
- Managed social media campaigns, optimizing content for various platforms to improve brand visibility.
- Collaborated with creative teams to produce promotional materials that align with organizational goals.
- Analyzed market trends and audience feedback to inform future marketing initiatives and programming decisions.
- Coordinated outreach events, fostering partnerships with local businesses to expand community involvement.
Blog Editor
Fishbat Media
Patchogue, NY
01.2010 - 03.2012
- Edited and curated blog content to align with brand voice and audience engagement strategies.
- Collaborated with writers to enhance article quality through constructive feedback and editorial guidance.
- Managed editorial calendar, ensuring timely publication of content across multiple platforms.
- Developed SEO strategies to improve search engine rankings and increase organic traffic to the blog.
- Coordinated cross-departmental projects to integrate marketing initiatives with blog content strategy.
- Optimized blog posts for search engines by conducting keyword research and incorporating SEO best practices.
- Collaborated with writers to improve article structure, language, and clarity for better reader engagement.
Assistant Manager
Water Mill Lumber
Water Mill, NY
06.2003 - 09.2010
- Assisted the Yard Manager with staffing problems and scheduling
- Completed customer orders for delivery and pickup
- Maintained a safe work environment
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring compliance with company policies and industry regulations.
- Managed vendor relationships to optimize supply chain performance and cost-effectiveness.
- Maintained a clean, safe, and organized store environment to enhance the customer experience.
- Offered hands-on assistance to customers, assessing needs, and maintaining current knowledge of consumer preferences.
- Completed regular inventory counts to verify stock levels, address discrepancies, and forecast future needs.
Education
Bachelor of Science - English Language And Literature
Dowling College
Oakdale, NY05.2012
Skills
Customer service
Problem-solving
Customer relations
Multitasking and organization
Store operations
Customer service management
Training and mentoring
Store opening and closing
Team leadership
Friendly and positive
Outstanding communication skills
Inventory management
Store merchandising
Cash management
Retail inventory management
Shift scheduling
Employee training
Inventory control
Recruitment and hiring
POS systems
Goals and performance
Team building and leadership
Recruiting and hiring
Operations management
Leadership development
Supply ordering
Store displays
Policies and procedures
Staff supervision
Staff management
Employee scheduling
Opening and closing procedures
Retail sales techniques
Product merchandising
Loss prevention
Bank and safe deposits
Pricing strategies
Flexible schedule
Vendor management
Delegating work
Project management
Employee terminations
Timeline
Assistant Marketing Manager
Bay Street Theatre
03.2012 - 10.2012
Store Manager
Southold Ace Hardware
04.2011 - Current
Blog Editor
Fishbat Media
01.2010 - 03.2012
Assistant Manager
Water Mill Lumber
06.2003 - 09.2010
Bachelor of Science - English Language And Literature
Dowling College