Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
PERSONAL
Timeline
Generic
VAN "SCOTT" NICKENS

VAN "SCOTT" NICKENS

Cookeville,Tennessee

Summary

During my 42 years as a merchandiser and store manager I have acquired the operational, merchandising, and leadership skills to run a successful business while motivating and leading a large diverse staff to achieve and exceed goals. I understand the challenges that retail businesses face when adapting to changing sales climates. It has always been a priority of mine to be involved in my community so that I was able to plan and buy for the high volume stores I operated. Also I understand that a big part of maintaining an engaged staff is being a mentor, understanding and offering solutions to personnel issues. Because of this I have been successful with employee retention and promoting dozens of former staff to management positions over the years.

Overview

45
45
years of professional experience

Work History

Realtor

Weichert Realtors
03.2024 - Current
  • Opened the Cookeville Office
  • Notary Public
  • Complete Cash Closings
  • Strong communication skills
  • Highly organized
  • Flexible schedule
  • Detail Oriented
  • Self motivated
  • Friendly and outgoing

Personal Journey
10.2022 - 02.2024
  • I started a process to regain my health.
  • Diabetes, Weight Loss, HBP
  • During this lost 180 lbs.
  • Feel like I’m 30 again!

Store Manager

Big Lots Stores
01.2018 - 09.2022
  • Reported to the district manager regarding all store and staff issues.
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Promoted from Team Lead to ATLS
  • Managed staff of 30 sales associates, Total store sales volume annually was approximately 6 million dollars.
  • Total store profit annually was approximately 1.5 million dollars.
  • Worked extensively with outside vendors and Big Lots home office to tailor the merchandising mix in the total store on a daily basis.

Store Manager

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
12.2014 - 08.2017
  • Reported to the district manager regarding all store and staff issues.
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Promoted from Team Leader to Assistant Manager within 10 months.
  • Managed staff of 325 sales associates, 40 team leaders and 12 assistant managers.
  • Total store sales volume annually was approximately 130 million dollars.
  • Total store profit annually was approximately 20 million dollars.
  • Worked extensively with outside vendors and Walmart home office to tailor the merchandising mix in the total store on a daily basis.

Store Manager

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
12.1996 - 12.2014
  • Reported to the district manager regarding all store and staff issues.
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Promoted from Team Leader to Assistant Manager within 6 months.
  • Managed staff of 250 sales associates, 30 team leaders and 10 assistant managers.
  • Promoted 20 hourly associates to salaries management as well.
  • Sales volume in the store annually was approximately 100 million total store sales.
  • Also responsible for supervision of all asset protection issues in the total store as well.
  • Annual profit numbers is this store were approximately 6 million yearly.

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
05.1993 - 12.1996
  • Reported to the district manager regarding all store and staff issues.
  • Conducted store inventories once per yearly.
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Promoted from Team Leader to Assistant Manager within 8 months.
  • Managed staff of 180 sales associates, 20 team leaders and 8 assistant managers.
  • Total store sales volume 35 to million dollars annually.
  • Total store profit 3 to 4 million dollars annually.

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
01.1991 - 02.1993
  • Reported to the district manager regarding all store and staff issues.
  • Conducted store inventories once per yearly.
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Managed staff of 200 sales associates, 15 team leaders and 8 assistant managers.
  • I opened this store as a ground up new store in a new area for the company. Hired all of the associates and selected all the management team.
  • Total store volume 50 million dollars annually.
  • Total store profit 4 to 5 million annually.
  • Extensively worked daily in getting the Walmart name in the front the community and our customers being in a new territory.

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
02.1987 - 07.1991
  • Reported to the district manager regarding all store and staff issues.
  • Conducted store inventories once per quarter.
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Promoted from Team Leader to Assistant Manager within 8 months.
  • Managed staff of 50 sales associates, 8 team leaders and 4 assistant managers.
  • Total store sales volume 15 to 20 million dollars annually.
  • Total profit 1 to 2 million dollars.
  • First store to be store manager in with Walmart. Led the store through an extensive plan to lower the inventory and increase sales volume while lowering inventory shrinkage.

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
09.1989 - 05.1991
  • Reported to the district manager regarding all store and staff issues.
  • Conducted store inventories once per yearly.
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Promoted from Team Leader to Assistant Manager within 12 months.
  • Managed staff of 150 sales associates, 15 team leaders and 8 assistant managers.
  • Total store volume 45 million dollars annually.
  • Total store profit 4 to 5 million dollars annually.
  • Led the store through expansion and remodel while maintaining a set of standards to make sure we kept the store in shopping conditions. Store maintained positive comps throughout the process.

Assistant Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
10.1985 - 02.1987
  • Conducted store inventories once per yearly.
  • Managed staff of 30 sales associates and 4 team leaders.
  • Scheduled and participated weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the areas I supervised.
  • Led inventory control issues within the store, started and led a new process of receiving freight on our trucks.
  • Areas of supervision sales volume 6 to 7 million dollars annually.
  • Areas of supervision profit 500k to 750k dollars annually.

Assistant Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
08.1984 - 09.1985
  • Scheduled and participated weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Conducted store inventories once per yearly
  • Helped to open a new ground store located in downtown Bristol, TN. Helped with all hiring of hourly associates as well as training.
  • Responsible for buying and stocking my areas of responsibility in the new store.
  • Led approximately 30 associates and promoted 1 during this time.
  • Total sales volume for my areas of responsibility was 450k to 550k annually.
  • Total profit for my areas of responsibility was 50k to 100k annually.

Assistant Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
01.1984 - 09.1984
  • Scheduled and led weekly store meetings for all employees.
  • Assigned employees to specific duties to best meet the needs of the store.
  • Conducted store inventories once per yearly.
  • Supervised approximately 30 associates.
  • Led all backroom and receiving processes.
  • Areas of responsibility sales volume was approximately 500K annually.
  • Areas of responsibility profit was 40k annually.

Hourly Associate

Walmart Stores, Inc.
10.1980 - 01.1984
  • Held several different positions with Walmart as an hourly associate:
  • Stockman
  • Sales Associate in Automotive and Sporting Goods
  • Department Manager over Candy, Stationery and Seasonal

Education

High School Diploma -

Mt. Juliet High School
Mt. Juliet, TN
01.1983

Skills

  • Budgeting
  • Excellent Merchandiser
  • Ability to discern and act upon sales trends
  • Strong Analytical Skills
  • Ability to know when changes must be made to reach the final objective
  • Great Communicator and Sales Strategist

Accomplishments

  • Over the years in the retail industry I have received many certifications as far as human resources, operations and merchandising.
  • The largest contributions I have been able to make is leading and directing people. This not only to benefit the stores I operated but, the person as well. The ability to learn and get to know people is a lost attribute. Being to know their strengths and weaknesses while being able to lead them through their daily routines and challenge them to do more to benefit their future.
  • My ability to work with vendors and communicate needs and trends is also a huge point in growing business and market share.
  • Finally, knowing the online business is our future in the retail business. The ability to have brick and mortar stores and online business is the retail future.

PERSONAL

Father to wonderful and successful sons, Byron and Brant, Enjoy being on the lake, Enjoy playing golf, Regularly attend church, Love living in East Tennessee

Timeline

Realtor

Weichert Realtors
03.2024 - Current

Personal Journey
10.2022 - 02.2024

Store Manager

Big Lots Stores
01.2018 - 09.2022

Store Manager

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
12.2014 - 08.2017

Store Manager

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
12.1996 - 12.2014

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
05.1993 - 12.1996

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
01.1991 - 02.1993

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
09.1989 - 05.1991

Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
02.1987 - 07.1991

Assistant Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
10.1985 - 02.1987

Assistant Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
08.1984 - 09.1985

Assistant Store Manager

Walmart Stores, Inc.
01.1984 - 09.1984

Hourly Associate

Walmart Stores, Inc.
10.1980 - 01.1984

High School Diploma -

Mt. Juliet High School

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