Summary
Overview
Work History
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Darius Lester

Graham,NC

Summary

Experienced store manager with a strong focus on effective management of retail locations. Polished professional skilled in training employees in exceptional customer service etiquette and sales techniques. Gifted in overseeing all aspects of customer-facing and back-end operations, ensuring seamless and efficient processes.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience

Work History

Store Manager

LL Flooring
09.2021 - 09.2024
  • Lead all functional areas of the store, including delivering on sales goals, financial performance of the store, delivering on company initiatives, resource planning and hiring, inventory quality control, and maintaining compliance with company standards
  • Managed inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures
  • Enhanced resources and scheduling for successful day to day operations
  • Maximized sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts
  • Oversaw loss prevention efforts, minimizing shrinkage by implementing effective security measures and training staff on proper procedures
  • Promoted team collaboration, performance, and efficiency by fostering healthy environments focused on mutual success
  • Maintained open lines of communication with corporate headquarters, sharing pertinent information about store performance and requesting support when needed
  • Addressed customer complaints promptly and professionally, resolving issues to maintain positive relationships with clientele
  • Proactive selling including outbound sales calls to customers and pro contractors
  • Performed hiring, training and accountable for coaching, mentoring, leading, and developing a team that improved customer satisfaction through staff training in customer service and product knowledge
  • Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise and organized backroom to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation
  • Completed point of sale opening and closing procedures

Assistant Store Manager/Operations

Cole Haan
11.2019 - 09.2021
  • Responsible for store scheduling on a daily basis and weekly basis
  • Ensure the financial integrity of the store through strict adherence to cash handling, key control and adherence to company security practices and cash control procedures
  • Focus on implementing customer centric strategies based on Customer Satisfaction surveys
  • Ensure merchandise is set up and advertised in a stimulating and appealing manner to draw in customers into the store
  • Analyze store results, help identify areas of opportunity in collaboration with with leadership team to drive key performance indicators
  • Provide hands on support for all operational tasks, including working stock, cleaning, and other essential store functions

Department Head Consultative Sales

Home Depot
06.2019 - 11.2019
  • Coached and developed team of 5 sales associates to function as a high performing cold sales team
  • Help team drive to retain business accounts for contract accounts for new builders
  • Provided the team real-time fact based feedback on how to retain accounts based on the building market
  • Provided Store Manager with sales retention, sales leads, and product inventory

Assistant Store Manager

Sears Holdings Corporation
08.2017 - 03.2019
  • Personally supported, coached and developed 15+ team members across all brand departments by creating an environment where associates can be successful
  • Provided Store Manager with fact based, real time feedback on the product life cycle including assortment, pricing, inventory flow, marketing support, transition/exit strategies, in order to highlight opportunities for consumers
  • Executed customer focused strategies, policies and programs as measured by Customer Satisfaction Survey data and verbatim comments
  • Focused and invested time on customer facing activities including selling and operational support processes
  • Maintained the cash office and safe according to the store policy on a daily basis
  • Utilized the cash deposit report to key stores total daily deposits
  • Ensured that all voucher redemptions, cash receipts and reports are recorded and reconciled on a daily basis
  • Evaluated staff quarterly and replace staff as needed based on performance-based metrics
  • Opening and Closed the store as directed by store needs
  • Ensured store safety, inventory and merchandise protection

Softlines Manager

Sears Holdings Corporation
02.2015 - 08.2017
  • Ensured that 15+ associates are up-to-date on selling techniques, product knowledge, training and appropriate use of integrated retail tools to provide a WOW Member experience
  • Initiated performance management processes (performance reviews, performance improvement plans) with approval and in partnership with the Store Manager
  • Accurately documented associate observations and conducts regular coaching sessions
  • Responsible for keeping the department ready all day and ensuring the sales floor is easy to shop, in stock, clean, signed and organized for consumers
  • Sets plan-o-grams, end caps, bulk stacks, ad resets
  • Monitored the POS Checkout to check that checkout standards are achieved, that processing returns and exchanges are happening seamlessly and timely for all Members

Consultative Sales

Sears Holdings Corporation
05.2013 - 02.2015
  • Held ownership for enhancing the customer experience, assisting customers by utilizing approved consultative selling practices and guidelines to identify customer needs and provide appropriate solutions
  • Maintained current knowledge of merchandise lines, product features, benefits and availability, and, if applicable, delivery, installation and/or service options, to respond to customer needs
  • Maintained merchandise standards and Ready All-Day standards within Home Appliances, including replenishment and housekeeping; ad set up and take down and pad set up

Merchandising lead

Macy's
08.2007 - 04.2013
  • Analyzed merchandising reports to review business results and take appropriate action and benefit from business strengths and impact deficiencies
  • Used tools and analyze documents to forecast workload and allocate resources as needed
  • Directed merchandise receipt placement, replenishment and sales promotion set-up; partner with Executive team to plan and execute floor/fixture moves, merchandise placement and presentation
  • Coached, motivated and developed support team to reach their fullest potential and to increase productivity and efficiency
  • Recruited, hired and train 10+ talented, results-oriented support Associates
  • Maintained high customer readiness standards; deliver a clean and neat sales floor and stockroom

Skills

  • Leadership
  • Detailed-oriented
  • Project Management
  • Strong Customer Relations
  • Strong organizational leadership
  • Merchandising
  • Store operations
  • Cash Management
  • Forklift Operator Certification
  • CRM software proficiency
  • Lead generation techniques
  • Outstanding communication skills

Accomplishments

  • Recognized for million-dollar sales in a physical year.
  • Recognized for BEST in BLUE, achieving the highest number of sales a year with the Sears's store district.
  • Lead store from being number 12 in credit applications to being number 1 in the district the top 10 in the nation.

Timeline

Store Manager

LL Flooring
09.2021 - 09.2024

Assistant Store Manager/Operations

Cole Haan
11.2019 - 09.2021

Department Head Consultative Sales

Home Depot
06.2019 - 11.2019

Assistant Store Manager

Sears Holdings Corporation
08.2017 - 03.2019

Softlines Manager

Sears Holdings Corporation
02.2015 - 08.2017

Consultative Sales

Sears Holdings Corporation
05.2013 - 02.2015

Merchandising lead

Macy's
08.2007 - 04.2013

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Darius Lester