Lee McClain

Wilson was diagnosed with ALZ in 2019. I spent the first year scrambling to get our financial future in order while staying

within the guidelines of him qualifying for Medicaid. In the second year I was able to surround myself with an Elder Care Attorney, a Financial Guidance Advisor and an accountant. We planned for the best scenario for both Wilson and I moving forward. Even with the best laid plans we were not prepared for the steep decline Wilson encountered in January of 2024. I had to place him in a Skilled Nursing Facility in March 2024 and he passed in his sleep on June 2, 2024. I must now provide a living for myself and my dogs until I age into the Social Security system in a few years.

Throughout this journey I kept our business afloat until January 2024 when I had no option but to close it.

• Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts for cost savings while maintaining high-quality services.
• Maintained accurate financial records by reconciling accounts payable/receivable transactions regularly to ensure balanced budgets.
• Provided exceptional customer service when addressing client inquiries or concerns via phone calls or email correspondence.
• Maintained computer and physical filing systems.
• Coordinated special projects and managed schedules.
• Managed compliance to keep organization operating within legal and regulatory guidelines.

We continued as vendors in the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market after closing the retail store. We were a top seller for the Ballet which awarded us the front booth for several years.

• Improved store sales by implementing effective marketing strategies and attractive visual merchandising.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction through training staff on exceptional customer service practices and conflict resolution techniques.
• Increased average transaction value by upselling products, promoting add-ons, and cross-selling complementary items.
• Maintained a clean and organized store appearance to enhance the overall shopping experience for customers.
• Implemented new promotional campaigns that effectively drove foot traffic into the store during seasonal events or product launches.
• Developed strong vendor relationships to ensure timely delivery of products while negotiating favorable terms for payments or discounts on bulk purchases.
• Continuously assessed store layout to optimize product placement for enhanced visibility and impulse purchases from customers.