Retail Management, District Manager

- RETAIL MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL -

Results-driven and motivated manager with strong qualifications acquired from progressive years in diverse areas of retail operations, marketing communications, PR, advertising, event planning, and management. Highly adept at identifying business opportunities and implementing successful plans to improve profit contributions and deliver quality products and services. Possess strong sense of style combined with in-depth knowledge of developing innovative visual merchandising designs; proficient in determining the impact of visual merchandising strategy to drive sales and increase profitability. Utilize strong creative and design background to develop functional projects from inception to implementation. Known as proactive and dedicated leader; able to direct and motivate diverse individuals to deliver peak performance and efficiency.

Key Strengths

- Team Building and Training

- Visual Merchandising and Communications

- Strategic Planning and Implementation

- Presentation Skills

- Analysis and Problem Resolutions

- Budget Control and P&L Management

- Intensive Networking

- Inventory Management, Fraud Detection and Security

Professional Experience

Ultra Diamonds - Manhattan, NY

STORE MANAGER 2008-PRESENT

- Develop and implement sales plan to maximize company profitability and achieve overall business goals

- Conduct monthly associate performance action plans; engage in numerous functions related to establishing monthly sales goals, monitoring and driving all sales related goals

- Organize and facilitate monthly sales trainings to increase work performance and efficiency

- Render primary leadership in overseeing successful repair and Layaway departments; held responsible for merchandising and inventory control

Key Accomplishments:

- Significantly increased operating profit margin by 15 % by monitoring &controlling P&L

- Successfully increased customer satisfaction from 85 % to 98 % and realized 100% on-time delivery of assigned projects through effective utilization of strong communication, customer service, and organizational skills

- Provided efficient performance in achieving monthly sales goals from first, second, and third levels (11 of 16)

- Improved Protection Plan Attachment Rate from 33 % to 70 %

- Recognized as District Credit Champion in 2008

Zales Corporation - Yonkers, NY

STORE MANAGER 2000-2007

- Utilized strong leadership skills in directing sales associates; performed evaluation of sales potential and ensured achievement of established sales goals

- Coordinated recruitment, hiring, and training of employees to enhance efficiency and boost productivity

- Oversaw and managed inventory, store security policy, and loss prevention; provided quality customer service and maintained utmost satisfaction

Key Accomplishments:

- Consistently exceeded sales goal by 10% or more annually

- Received 2006 Zales Diamond Z Award and achieved 5.51% over year plan, 15.71 percent comp

- Acquired 2004 Zales Carat Club membership by selling more than $ 60,000 1ct diamond

- Effectively served as Zales Elite Club Member in recognition for outstanding performance in the area of sales

- Obtained three Jewelers National Bank Award for preventing fraud loss

- Received 500 Club Award of Excellence and 2nd time winner of Inventory Control in 2006

Victor Velone Fine Jewelry - New York, NY

MARKETING MANAGER , QUALITY CONTROL AND BUYER 1998-2000

- Spearheaded project team consisting of 50 employees and consultants

- Designed and delivered to print marketing brochures, catalogs, corporate literature

- Worked collaboratively with designers to develop new product lines; effectively functioned as a buyer of gemstones

Key Accomplishments:

- Played a pivotal role in coordinating successful jewelry shows in Las Vegas, New York and Miami; ensured completion of project plans for all corporate events within time constraints

- Directed all functional areas of manufacturing and merchandising; served in operational capacity in the manufacturing plant and efficiently managed end to end operations

Other Experience

PROFESSOR / PR SPECIALIST - Istanbul University - Istanbul, Turkey 1993-1998

PR AND ADVERTISING SPECIALIST - Tofas-FIAT Auto SpA - Istanbul, Turkey 1990-1993

Education

MASTER OF ARTS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AND ADVERTISING - Istanbul University Communication Faculty - Istanbul, Turkey

Master Thesis: “Visual communication guidelines for organizing successful trade shows”

COURSEWORK TOWARD PHD IN MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

Istanbul University Communication Faculty - Istanbul, Turkey

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART

Mimar Sinan University - Istanbul, Turkey

Professional Training

Guilded Gemologist - Diamond Council of America - 2009

Certified Diamontologist - Diamond Council of America - 2007

Building Capability in People Training - 2006

DISC Dimensions of Behavior Training - 2006

FOCUS Franklin Covey Time Management Program - 2006

Leadership Development Program - 2006

Selection of Excellence Training (Associate Selection Program) - 2004

Professional Selling Skills Training - 2001

Entertainment Marketing Course - School of Continuing Education - New York University, New York, NY - 1999

Marketing Communication Course - School of Continuing Education - New York University, New York, NY - 1999

Professional Affiliation

Women’s Jewelry Association - Turkish Academic Business Network

Marketing and Communication Network - Turkish Business Network

Retail Industry Professionals - NLP Neurolinguistic Programming

Innovative Marketing, PR, Sales Innovators Group - Global Social Media Network

Activities

Planned and organized comprehensive PR and advertising campaigns for Corporations and Istanbul University

Involved in various volunteer fundraising activities, developed public health programs to raise awareness

Directed and supervised student body of more than 300 students

Corporate trainings and consulting

Accomplished and published author

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