Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Executive Profile
Timeline
Generic

Karla Starrett

District Manager
Los Angeles,CA

Summary


  • Professional sales leader equipped to drive growth and optimize performance. Proven ability to influence Retailers and drive consistent execution of optimal retail operational programs and services in a consultative approach, develop effective sales strategies and build strong relationships with clients. Focused on team collaboration and adapting to changing needs to achieve results.
  • Skilled in team management, market analysis, and strategic planning. Known for reliability, flexibility, and goal-oriented mindset.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
  • Strong PC skills to include Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook. Technology adaptive.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Store Director

AMERICAN FREIGHT
07.2023 - Current


  • Coached and developed a results-focused sales team of 15 through activity and effectiveness-based coaching. Increased profitability by 55% in the first year, achieving 130% of an aggressive sales target.
  • Provide focused strategic, organizational and operational support of other store directors to assess business needs, develop recommended solutions, recommend growth and store improvement opportunities, create action plans, and ensure adoption.
  • Streamlined inventory management processes for improved accuracy and timely replenishment of stock.
  • Responsible for Sales, Customer Service, Client Resolution, P&L, EBITDA, Payroll, Financial Acumen, Recruitment, Training and total store presentation.


Showroom Manager

PACIFIC SALES
10.2021 - 07.2023
  • Spearheaded the development and execution of business strategies, financial growth and nurture a high performing team of 23 to deliver $32M in sales
  • Drive success by leading and influencing leaders with regards to adoption of programs, initiatives, retrofits, relocations, expansions, branch locations, with a dedicated effort of ensuring execution and consistency.
  • Consult with management team to ensure fundamental business and retail techniques are adopted and executed, including gross margin, cash flow, expense management, return on investment, customer service, brand management, advertising, merchandise mix, plan-o-grams, labor force optimization, inventory management, etc.
  • Create and develop CRM quotes, customer follow up and sale completion
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.

Store Manager

AMERICAN FREIGHT
04.2019 - 10.2021
  • Coached and developed a results-focused sales team of 12 through activity and effectiveness-based coaching. Increased profitability by 35% in the first year, achieving 135% of an aggressive sales target.
  • Provide focused strategic, organizational and operational support of other store directors to assess business needs, develop recommended solutions, recommend growth and store improvement opportunities, create action plans, and ensure adoption.
  • Responsible for Sales, Customer Service, Client Resolution, P&L, EBITDA, Payroll, Financial Acumen, Recruitment, Training and total store presentation.
  • Managed inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures.

Store Manager

TRANSFORMCO
09.2018 - 04.2019
  • Execute and bring brand vision to life through effectively driving business priorities to achieve financial results
  • Partner cross-functionally through influence and building relationships across central functions to drive business
  • Strong influencing and relationship building skills with internal and externally with the vendor community
  • Lead associates in a large retail environment with sales volume exceeding $27m
  • Entrepreneur/Creative thinker driving business at the local level
  • Develop and share data specific to and in support of the implementation of programs and services appropriate to the store needs.
  • Customer Focused leader - developing strategies for elevated and differentiated services and experiences.
  • Achieved #1 on Retail Scorecard 2018 and 2019 (KPI's include sales, credit APO, payroll, protection agreement sales, member feedback and company loyalty program)
  • Manage overall store operations (expenses, merchandising standards, compliance, safety, security and workforce)

TERRITORY SALES MANAGER

SEARS HOLDINGS, INC/TRANSFORMCO.
08.2016 - 09.2018
  • Drive incremental sales and brand awareness of extended service plans on home appliances and home improvement products in national retail accounts across West region (CA, NV, AZ, UT)
  • Drove 1st year comp revenue growth $800K, ranking #1 on key performance indicators (KPIs) for fiscal 2016 and 2017. total portfolio $225M
  • #1 Performance Scorecard 2017 & 2018 (sales, customer service, P&L and EBIDTA)
  • Developed business strategies by conducting gap analysis, identifying and eliminating roadblocks to performance, supporting proper coaching methodology at each level of leadership and actively teaching selling and coaching process
  • Work with and coach Multi-Unit Sears Retailers on how to maximize retail appliance sales and profits, improve operational efficiencies, as well as enhance improvement, consistency and adoption of Sears Home Services sales, programs and initiatives
  • Focused strategic, organizational and operational support of Multi-Unit Retailers to assess business needs, develop recommended solutions, recommend growth and store improvement opportunities, create action plans, and ensure adoption of all Home Services products and initiatives.
  • Acts as the liaison between Retailer and Sears Corporate and serves as the Retailer advocate.
  • Drive Territory success by leading and influencing Sears, Sears Outlet, Sears Home Appliance and Sears Dealer store leaders with regards to adoption of programs, initiatives, retrofits, relocations, expansions, branch locations, with a dedicated effort of ensuring execution and consistency Territory wide.



DIRECTOR, WEST COAST OPERATIONS

ACUSTOM APPAREL
01.2015 - 01.2016


  • Developed service group strategies and objectives to support LA/NY market
  • Monitor implementation of action plans to achieve business objectives resulting in 132% retail sales growth and 186% online sales growth from 2015 to 2016
  • Recruit, motivate and develop a professional management staff ensuring through mentoring and training.\
  • formulate and recommend manufacturing polices and programs to guide the organization to improve competition position and profitability
  • Highly collaborative with an ability to work cross functionally across a matrix

GENERAL MANAGER

ROCHESTER CLOTHING
01.2011 - 01.2015
  • Fully accountable for a growing, efficient and profitable men's specialty retail space
  • Ranked #1 in UPT, DPT, AUR in region and improved conversion rates 22%
  • Created successful marketing strategies, increasing made-to-measure business 20% in 2012, 25% in 2013 and 40% in 2014
  • Decreased shrink in 1st year 3%, while increasing sales $500K by reorganizing retail store
  • Grew loyalty business from 53% to 90% in region through client-focused follow up and feedback
  • Led behavior-based training program to LA Market as well as Houston, Atlanta and San Francisco Markets, resulting in made-to-measure sales increasing 25% in 2013 and 40% YOY in 2014

SALES MANAGER

BLOOMINGDALE'S
01.2008 - 01.2011
  • Managed $5.6M luxury retail businesses (men's and women's designer departments)
  • Planned and directed staff training and performance evaluations
  • Improved profits 30% in 1 year through restructure of staff and merchandise selection
  • Drove productivity levels up 37%, reduced shrink 25% and grew loyalty business from 65% to 96% through client book development, client follow up and utilizing CRM tools
  • Promoted 7 Store Selling Associates to Brand Manager positions

SALES MANAGER

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Managed $4.5M luxury women's contemporary businesses
  • Increased revenues 40% within 1st year as Sales Manager through sales staff management, recruitment and training
  • Sourced vendors and organized trunk shows, introducing designers to Beverly Hills clients and creating market interest
  • Facilitated training and onboarding new associates and managers as serving as Market Trainer for new CRM program

Education

Associate of Arts - Cosmetology

Marinello Beauty College
Los Angeles
09-1996

Business Management - Business Management

Wilma Boyd Career School
Pittsburgh, PA
06-1984

Skills

  • Sales leadership
  • Vendor relationship development
  • Brand awareness
  • Staff leadership
  • Business development
  • People management
  • Sales analysis
  • Root-cause analysis
  • Culture development
  • Process improvements
  • Program implementation
  • Sales strategies
  • Outstanding communication skills
  • Work Planning and Prioritization
  • Team building
  • Customer relations
  • Relationship building and management
  • Team leadership and coaching
  • Customer service management
  • Team leadership
  • Multitasking and organization
  • Problem-solving
  • Database management
  • Project management
  • Maximizing profitability
  • Sales coaching
  • Sales expertise
  • Team building and leadership
  • Training and mentoring
  • Documentation and reporting
  • Goals and performance
  • Strategic thinker
  • Leadership development
  • Account management
  • Strategic planning

Executive Profile

30 years experience in planning, organization development and general management. Proven track record in turning around several underachieving facilities. Ability to recognize operating deficiencies with continued success driving EBITDA growth exceeding objectives and increasing sales within multimillion-dollar organizations., EBITDA maximization, Organization Management, Business Development, Budget/Cost Containment, Strategic Planning, P&L Management, Customer Development and Retention, CRM Tools, Operation Management, Staffing and Management Development, Recruiting, Training and Leadership, Visual Merchandise

Timeline

Store Director

AMERICAN FREIGHT
07.2023 - Current

Showroom Manager

PACIFIC SALES
10.2021 - 07.2023

Store Manager

AMERICAN FREIGHT
04.2019 - 10.2021

Store Manager

TRANSFORMCO
09.2018 - 04.2019

TERRITORY SALES MANAGER

SEARS HOLDINGS, INC/TRANSFORMCO.
08.2016 - 09.2018

DIRECTOR, WEST COAST OPERATIONS

ACUSTOM APPAREL
01.2015 - 01.2016

GENERAL MANAGER

ROCHESTER CLOTHING
01.2011 - 01.2015

SALES MANAGER

BLOOMINGDALE'S
01.2008 - 01.2011

SALES MANAGER

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
01.2006 - 01.2008

Associate of Arts - Cosmetology

Marinello Beauty College

Business Management - Business Management

Wilma Boyd Career School

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Karla StarrettDistrict Manager