Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
StoreManager
Mike Ashwin

Mike Ashwin

Cardiff,Llanedeyrn

Summary

I am a seasoned retail specialist with an extensive 35-year career in the hardware industry. My core strengths lie in enhancing systems and controls, mitigating stock theft and losses, fostering sales growth and profitability, and effectively negotiating with suppliers. An integral aspect of my career is my unwavering commitment to nurturing the full potential of staff.

During my tenure as a retail consultant for Spar Buildit from 2017 to 2019, I achieved remarkable results, including a 42% increase in turnover and an enhancement of the average gross profit margin to 32%. My strategic approach led to the optimization of stock, reducing the number of lines from 32,000 to 11,000 to better align with actual inventory. Additionally, I successfully minimized stockholding from R10M to R5M through actions such as returning or discounting unsellable stock. By introducing new services such as glass cutting and an in-store handyman, I contributed to the transformation of a previously unprofitable store into a profitable one.

My comprehensive expertise spans retail management, systems implementation, staff training and development, brand building, marketing, human resources, budgeting, procurement, and loss prevention. I have a proven track record in elevating sales, profit margins, cash flow, and customer satisfaction.

I am now prepared to channel my wealth of experience and expertise to drive operational excellence for a retail organization, taking it to new heights of success.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Manager - Vehicle Buyer

WeBuy Cars
Cardiff
2021.07 - Current
  • Compiled detailed reports and made recommendations for cost reduction strategies.
  • Monitored and provided advice on risks and opportunities for business activities.
  • Adhered to safety, health and environmental policies and procedures to safeguard staff and clients' well-being.
  • Contributed to annual budget-building for streamlining purchase processes and increasing generated revenue.
  • Promoted positive team attitude and encouraged communication within team and customers.
  • Established internal relationships to identify areas for improvement driven by stakeholders' requirements.
  • Mentored and motivated new recruits to maintain high-quality standards and excellent productivity levels.
  • Followed market trends, competitor strategies and market suppliers for negotiating favourable contracts.
  • Prepared and raised purchase orders for new merchandise before stock-out.
  • Negotiated contracts and improved prices and terms with suppliers to make business savings.

Owner/Operator

Ashwin Consulting
Johannesburg, South Africa
2017.03 - 2021.05
  • Verified items billed against items received, and followed up with vendors to reconcile variances.
  • Reconciled all company accounts, including credit cards and expenses.
  • Monitored accounts payable and receivable statuses, keeping financial records up-to-date.
  • Managed payroll by tracking employee hours and entitlements.
  • Optimised daily operations to achieve maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
  • Improved business strategies, monitoring competitor activity to benchmark trends.
  • Addressed business critical challenges proactively.
  • Oversaw recruitment and training of key management staff.
  • Created thorough business plan to guide strategic decision-making and enhance business success.
  • Aligned business activities strategically to achieve growth targets.
  • Acted as central point of contact for change management.
  • Maintained strong working relationships with key stakeholders and company employees.
  • Compared sales performance with intended goals on short and long term basis.
  • Recruited and trained staff members to successfully manage store operations and generate sales.
  • Verified items billed against items received, following up with vendors to reconcile variances.
  • Introduced flexible work arrangements to improve employee satisfaction, resulting in 10% lower turnover.
  • Forecasted stock needs to reduce excess spending while maintaining effective product mix to meet customer demand.
  • Designed and implemented marketing and sales strategies that led to 30% revenue growth.

Regional Operations Manager

Supertrade Buildit Stores
Durban, Kwazulu Natal
2015.03 - 2017.02
  • Interviewed, hired and trained staff on best bar practices, maintaining highly efficient service teams.
  • Monitored and reviewed operational performance, aiding improved business strategy to maximise productivity.
  • Minimised discrepancies by effectively training employees on best practices, policies and procedures.
  • Aided senior leadership by recommending corrective actions and improvements to company operations.
  • Developed, recommended and implemented strategies to improve employee work quality and speed.
  • Served as key corporate representative, liaising with various stakeholders in support of operational excellence.
  • Reduced costs and improved operations by analysing processes and customer feedback.
  • Analysed financial data to track and achieve budget targets.
  • Strategically scheduled and managed 30+ staff members, maintaining high-performing business operations.
  • Reduced expenditures by implementing inventory control measures and improving organisational operations.
  • Cut company operating budgets through improved staffing, resourcing and inventory management.
  • Worked constructively with sales team generating new business opportunities and supporting company growth.
  • Performed strategic process improvements and updated methodologies to enhance operations.
  • Drove performance while managing and maintaining customer expectations, quality standards and SLAs.
  • Adhered to employee relations processes while recruiting, retaining and developing staff.
  • Increased department profitability by reducing operations costs.
  • Partnered with internal teams to develop new operating opportunities to enhance service delivery.
  • Noted employee absences and grievances, and improved team development and performance with right training.
  • Managed and motivated high-performing teams for successful KPI attainment.
  • Analysed operations data to identify process gaps and successfully implement change.

Regional operations manager

Freese Buildit Stores
Pinetown, Kwazulu Natal
2009.06 - 2015.02
  • Interviewed, hired and trained staff on best bar practices, maintaining highly efficient service teams.
  • Served as key corporate representative, liaising with various stakeholders in support of operational excellence.
  • Monitored and reviewed operational performance, aiding improved business strategy to maximise productivity.
  • Reduced costs and improved operations by analysing processes and customer feedback.
  • Analysed operations data to identify process gaps and successfully implement change.
  • Led overall direction, coordination and evaluation of department functions.
  • Partnered with internal teams to develop new operating opportunities to enhance service delivery.
  • Performed strategic process improvements and updated methodologies to enhance operations.
  • Reduced expenditures by implementing inventory control measures and improving organisational operations.
  • Increased department profitability by reducing operations costs.
  • Drove performance while managing and maintaining customer expectations, quality standards and SLAs.
  • Worked constructively with sales team generating new business opportunities and supporting company growth.
  • Implemented corrective actions after collecting and analysing customer and employee feedback.
  • Cut company operating budgets through improved staffing, resourcing and inventory management.
  • Adhered to employee relations processes while recruiting, retaining and developing staff.
  • Analysed financial data to track and achieve budget targets.
  • Minimised discrepancies by effectively training employees on best practices, policies and procedures.
  • Developed, recommended and implemented strategies to improve employee work quality and speed.
  • Managed and motivated high-performing teams for successful KPI attainment.

Education

A-Levels -

Saint Georges College
Zimbabwe
1975.01 - 1982.12

Skills

  • Procurement
  • Competitor analysis
  • Supply chain assistance
  • Strategic planning
  • Continuous process improvements
  • Merchandising operations
  • Retail management
  • Vendor negotiation
  • Trend assessment

Languages

English
Native

Timeline

Manager - Vehicle Buyer

WeBuy Cars
2021.07 - Current

Owner/Operator

Ashwin Consulting
2017.03 - 2021.05

Regional Operations Manager

Supertrade Buildit Stores
2015.03 - 2017.02

Regional operations manager

Freese Buildit Stores
2009.06 - 2015.02

A-Levels -

Saint Georges College
1975.01 - 1982.12

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