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Jason DeThomas
Retail Project Executive
Boston,United States
Summary
Accomplished retail project executive with more than 17 years successfully delivering optimized organizational processes driving global retail expansion. Experiences and competencies uniquely suited for development, design and revenue generation across physical retail programs and projects.
Core Competencies
Retail Development
- Develop new trade area business cases that regularly demonstrate an ROI above 10%
- Manage individual retail project budgets from $2M-$120M and consistently close 5-10% under budget
- Oversee retail expansion programs that increase market capitalization by delivering $1B in top line annual sales
Business Process Excellence
- Maximize timelines by reducing task durations resulting in additional revenue generation via earlier store openings
- Establish program/project governance and communication cadences to both identify and mitigate project risk effectively
- Build project documentation programs leveraging Kaizen to reduce the amount of RFIs between clients, vendors and GC’s by 50%
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Wayfair Store Projects
Wayfair
Boston, MA
03.2022 - 08.2022
Headed a cross-functional team (100+) through Wayfair’s initial expansion into physical retail
- Established timelines and scopes of work for initial two Wayfair stores (150,000 SF) as well as Retail Lab (90,000 SF)
- Programmed communication cadence and project file structure across physical retail organization
- Implemented budget controls and cost governance structure
- Established vendor relationships, via RFPs across architecture, general contracting, FF&E & food equipment
Associate Director of Expansion
IKEA Group
Conshohocken , PA
06.2019 - 02.2022
Directed the development, design, and implementation of new store and remodel projects for US
- Developed 4 new IKEA stores and opened one amidst pandemic
- Pioneered first IKEA Planning Studios (10,000 SF) and XS store formats (90,000 SF) within US market.
- Established food remodel program assessing all 52 US stores and delivered 10 new IKEA restaurants and bistro components
Senior Retail Project Manager
IKEA Group
Conshohocken, PA
12.2016 - 05.2019
Oversaw new store projects from ground-breaking and lease execution through store openings and project close-outs
- Delivered seven new stores (300,000+ SF) and one major remodel (60,000 SF)
- Consistently realized cost savings of 5-10% on all projects ($60-120M managed budgets)
- Reduced commercial implementation timeline for all US new store openings and remodels by 25%
- Developed and led new store opening (NSO) leadership team responsible for overseeing outside vendors
Senior Manager of Store Planning
IKEA Group
Conshohocken, PA
07.2011 - 11.2016
Delivered 30+ retail design packages for 300,000 SF stores while leading a cross-functional team (25+) of professionals
- Realized savings of $500,000/year in store planning costs by redesigning new store opening package (NSO)
- Formulated plan to leverage store co-workers to plan and implement major remodels saving 30% on centralized staff costs
- Evaluated and developed program for 25 stores to be grouped and remodeled resulting in project cost reductions of 15%
Visual Merchandising & Buildup Manager
IKEA Group
Burbank, CA
08.2005 - 06.2011
Managed teams of design professionals implementing new stores and major remodels throughout the US
- Executed 5 new store openings and 7 major remodels all achieving highest review scores prior to opening to customers.
- Created new store opening process documentation for projects within US
- Developed comprehensive process documentation for local store remodels within US
Education
Bachelor of Science - International Affairs & Management
Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA 09.1993 - 05.1997
Interests
Timeline
Head of Wayfair Store Projects
Wayfair
03.2022 - 08.2022
Associate Director of Expansion
IKEA Group
06.2019 - 02.2022
Senior Retail Project Manager
IKEA Group
12.2016 - 05.2019
Senior Manager of Store Planning
IKEA Group
07.2011 - 11.2016
Visual Merchandising & Buildup Manager
IKEA Group
08.2005 - 06.2011
Bachelor of Science - International Affairs & Management
Bridgewater State University
09.1993 - 05.1997
Quote
Each problem that I solved became a rule, which served afterwards to solve other problems.
Rene Descartes