ELIZABETH A. GAMEL

**** **** ***** ***** *****

www.linkedin.com/in/lizgamel

314-***-****

Chesterfield, Missouri 63005

aca38x@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Top performing retail executive with a proven track record of exceeding goals in a challenging

and ever-changing retail environment. Promoted consistently to stores progressing in volume

and complexity from $25M to $51M. Successful in building and motivating high performance

teams with 15 years’ experience leading four flagship stores for nationwide retailers. Highly

effective establishing partnerships internally and externally. Expertise includes:

Leadership & Team Development Impactful Product Presentation

Vendor & Merchant Partnerships Strategic Sales Planning

Inventory Analysis & Negotiation Budget & P/L Responsibilities

Strong Communication Skills Market & Customer Analysis

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

DILLARDS

2011 – Present

US department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas

Store Manager, Cleveland, OH

Manage sales,profit and gross margin in high potential store. Emphasis on Better Men's/

Women's,Cosmetics and Shoes. Manage staff of 12 & 150 associates.

o Recruited and hired 20 associates to drive 4th quarter business.

o Achieved 9% cosmetics increase for fall season 2011.

DEPARTMENT STORES, St. Louis, Missouri

2006 – 2010

MACYS

Premier retailer, headquartered in NY with sales of $23.5B, 850 stores in 45 states.

Store Manager

Led Executive Management team of 20 with 300 associates and store sales of $51M; reported

to District VP of Stores.

• Selected to lead Flagship store for Macy’s Department stores in recognition of previous

successes and experience.

• Increased store sales to plan by $2M and plus 3% to LY. Sales ranked in Top 10

performance of total Midwest Region.

• Led numerous “Give Back” in-store sales programs including “Thanks for Sharing”,

“Reading is Fundamental” and “Go Red for Women”. Acted as “Friends and Family”

Captain for St. Louis South District. Ranked #3 in Total Midwest Region.

o Achieved Macy’s Leadership Award for championing new initiatives in sales

presentation and customer service in the midst of a significant organizational

restructuring.

• Achieved Triple Crown Award (2009) delivering on three key goals in Sales, Customer

Service, and New Account solicitation. Repeated Triple Crown performance in spring 2010.

Accomplished by:

ELIZABETH A. GAMEL

P a g e 2

!

Successful execution of “My Macy” initiative driving growth in four Signature Store

o

businesses. Added $4M in sales in one year and became first $1M INC store St.

Louis.

Negotiated numerous store special events to drive sales, including special

o

appearances by Martha Stewart and Clinton Kelly (TLC Network Host).

Exceeded profit plan by 11% by driving daily ownership with entire team. Total

o

$13M in profit.

Drove new account performance to 10,652 accounts a plus of 726 over previous

o

year.

Raised customer service score +1.2 over target, to 83.7. Scored 90% on "Tell Us

o

What You Think" website. Ranked #1 in District.

COMPANY

MAY 1992 – 2006

A $15.6B retailer operating 491 department stores, 783 bridal and formalwear specialty stores nationwide. (May was

acquired by Federated Department Stores in 2005)

General Manager, Famous Barr- Chesterfield, Missouri (1998-2005)

Led Executive Management team of 15 with 200 associates in new prototype $44M store;

reported to Regional VP of Stores.

• Recognized by executive management as the region standard for product presentation.

• Identified, developed and promoted six candidates to store manager in three years.

• Coached and developed 12 entry level managers to senior positions including Assistant

Store Manager, Human Resources Manager, and Operations Managers.

• Selected by CEO in 2001 to host the Company Wide Store Director Conference as a result

of multiple store visual prototypes and exceptional presentation standards.

• Selected by the Director of Stores and Vice President of Merchandising to create impactful

presentations on “big sales drivers” and seasonal events as a prototype for other stores.

• Achieved Chairman’s Cup Award for excellence in Stores Customer Service Program.

General Manager, LS Ayers - Glendale, Indianapolis, Indiana (1995-1998)

Managed $38M store through merger with Famous Barr Company. Trained, coached and

developed staff of 12 on new store organization and priorities with store associate population of

150.

• Recognized for major success in identifying best talent and promoting eight people to Store

Managers, Division Store Managers, and Central Merchant positions.

• Significantly raised the presentation standards and improved Customer Service above

Target. Recognized by Director of Stores as a leader in improving overall stores

performance.

General Manager, Famous Barr - Joplin, Missouri (1992-1995)

• Increased sales from $17M to $22M in three years by focusing store effort on Sales and

Customer Service.

• Supervised a major re-model that expanded the store from 90,000 square feet to 150,000

square feet resulting in a 2-store location. Recognized as Store of the Year in 1994.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Drury University/Springfield, Missouri

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