Jimmy Kavan
Richmond,CA
Summary
High-energy Store Manager bringing extensive experience leading and motivating diverse teams in the outdoor retail industry. Set and enforced consistent standards to maintain staff satisfaction and meet performance targets. Dynamic relationship-builder with organized nature and sound judgment focused on maximizing team efficiency. Thrives on creating authentic connections with customers and colleagues. Collaborative leader and big picture thinker with superb analytical skills. Extraordinary work ethic and excellent problem solving skills. Strong District leader with the ability to work cross functionally. Embodies a calm, courteous, understanding, and positive communication style. Ability to think critically and lead during extremely challenging situations.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Store Manager
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
01.2016 - Current
- Managed $20 million in annual revenue and 80 staff members in 2023. #3 in Bay Area district and #13 companywide.
- Increased sales from $18MM to $21MM from 2018 to 2024.
- Boosted storewide cooperative membership sales and conversion to record highs.
- Ensured REI Co-op brand vision, seasonal strategies, and visual merchandising plans were executed to highest quality possible.
- Collaborated daily with 6 Retail Sales Managers in order to understand department trends, identify areas of opportunity, provide guidance, and ensure management team is aware of priorities and knows how to execute.
- Motivated and led team through extremely difficult situations, working throughout entire pandemic.
- Created hiring strategy to build diverse team after major workforce reduction.
- Fostered diverse, equitable, safe, productive and fulfilling environment where everyone can grow and do their best work.
- Communicated with team on ongoing basis to assess and support decisions regarding workload prioritization and helped team to adjust priorities accordingly.
- Created network of peers outside store, and pro-actively reached out for advice, recommendations, ideas, sharing best practices and helping others to be successful.
- Communicated proactively and maintained positive attitude through changes, new initiatives, and new processes to store team, gaining buy-in and accelerating store’s progress.
- Tracked and recorded feedback, coaching, and performance conversations, in order to foster employee's growth or correct behaviors and ensured management team did same.
- Investigated, de-escalated, and resolved employee concerns and addressed them in timely manner, working with HR partners when necessary.
- Integrated learning and development into daily conversations by sharing, teaching, and involving team in daily, weekly and monthly activities of store.
- Identified strengths and opportunities within management team, proactively identified leaders with potential for growth, and created plan of action to develop to next level.
- Monitored business by analyzing reports, identifying trends and areas of opportunity, and took action to address underperforming business areas.
- Managed payroll to meet demands of business while staying within budget guidelines of co-op.
- Adhered to inventory practices and maintained acceptable level of inventory loss.
- Had strong understanding of REI policies and procedures and ensured they were upheld.
- Ensured strict adherence to all health and safety policies and standards in line with REI Co-op and local ordinances and held team accountable for same.
- Analyzed customer behaviors, feedback, and financial benchmarks to influence product assortment and service offerings to meet diverse and evolving customer needs.
- Demonstrated customer service expectations to ensure consistent customer experience and held others accountable for same.
- Quickly assessed and diffused difficult customer interactions and expected same of team, empowering and developing people to resolve customer issues.
- Did what is right for customers while still adhering to co-op safety and service guidelines and empowered team to do same.
- Innovated customer experience and inspired and developed team to do same.
- Built partnerships within local community.
- Maintained awareness and communicated issues with building maintenance, asset protection, and safety.
- Worked autonomously with little or no guidance from Director.
Store Manager
Recreational Equipment Inc.
11.2012 - 12.2015
- Managed $3 million in annual sales and 35 employees.
- Increased sales volume to achieve highest gain in Bay Area district, #7 in company.
- Boosted average customer transaction to achieve highest gain in Bay Area district, #5 in company.
- Maintained engaged and happy team by fostering fun culture and positive work environment.
- Created culture of excellent customer service through training, coaching, feedback and development.
- Inspired Assistant Managers to become more effective leaders through empowerment and ownership.
- Achieved exceptional results for controllable expense management through successful budgetary planning.
- Established high expectations for team through effective communication and positive interaction.
- Recognized and rewarded good selling behaviors and developed employees.
- Motivated store team to win 3 of 4 district wide sales driven contests.
- Grew outdoor school programs by motivating staff to build excitement amongst customers.
- Nominated for 2013 REI Leadership Award
Assistant Store Manager
Recreational Equipment Inc.
10.2005 - 12.2012
- Recruited, hired, scheduled, trained and developed team members and managers.
- Mentored top staff and sales manager talent which led to endorsements for promotions.
- Supervised and motivated managers and sales staff to provide excellent customer service.
- Developed payroll strategies and systems, and trained managers to utilize them for enhanced business planning.
- Drove good communication and collaboration across all departments.
- Planned and executed special promotions, outreach events and product launches.
- Conducted sales analyses based on historical information and worked with product management team to ensure adequate inventory in order to generate maximum sales.
- Managed overall store operations including facilities maintenance and improvement, banking, shipping/receiving, and bike shop.
- Developed team to execute REI’s core visual standards and enhanced store layout, which improved customer engagement and drove additional sales.
- Developed an expert knowledge of global outdoor consumer & how to outfit them.
- Gained expertise in outdoor product lines including outerwear, footwear, hard goods, and action sports including climbing, camping, cycling and snow sports.
- Boosted storewide cooperative membership sales and conversion to record highs.
- Inspired and motivated employees by leading daily meetings to set expectations and goals for shift.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Business & Economics (Spanish Minor)
University of North Texas
Denton, TXSkills
- Team Leadership & Direction
- Customer Service Management
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Project Management
- Interpersonal Communication
- Building Diverse Teams
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Revenue & Profit Maximization
- Business Development & Growth
- Recruitment & Training
- Brand Awareness & Recognition
- Finance & Accounting Oversight
Professional Profile
Https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmykavan
Timeline
Store Manager
Recreational Equipment, Inc.
01.2016 - Current
Store Manager
Recreational Equipment Inc.
11.2012 - 12.2015
Assistant Store Manager
Recreational Equipment Inc.
10.2005 - 12.2012
Bachelor of Arts - International Business & Economics (Spanish Minor)
University of North Texas
Similar Profiles
Sarah BurgessSarah Burgess
RETAIL SALES SPECIALIST at RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, INC.RETAIL SALES SPECIALIST at RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, INC.
Faris MegahedFaris Megahed
Sales specialist at Recreational Equipment, Inc.Sales specialist at Recreational Equipment, Inc.
Rachel TrappRachel Trapp
Retail Sales Specialist at Recreational Equipment, Inc.Retail Sales Specialist at Recreational Equipment, Inc.
Ravi NeupaneRavi Neupane
Senior Accountant (Fulltime) at Goodwill of San Francisco BaySenior Accountant (Fulltime) at Goodwill of San Francisco Bay
Edgar FloresEdgar Flores
Packing Associate at Impossible Foods Inc.Packing Associate at Impossible Foods Inc.