Good day to you,

When seeking a new career opportunity back in 2008, one of my best options at that time was a sales management position in a retail environment. Even though I have thrived in that setting, it is time for a change.

Public buying patterns have evolved tremendously. More comparison shopping online has led to fewer customers in the showrooms therefore fewer sales, and lower profit margins on the sales we do make. Retail hours have been increased to include my working most nights and most weekends to potentially capture more sales. A healthy work/life balance has been traded away for the potential of increased profit.

That is why I am seeking a new position, and why I am willing to consider a non-management position. I desire the opportunity to further develop my gifts and abilities in an office environment with a more traditional daytime schedule.

Serving the needs of the client and providing gracious, customer-focused service has been at the heart of all of my consultative sales and sales management positions in the past.

An upbeat and positive person, I excel at articulate verbal interaction with my customers or clients, putting them at ease during the process of identifying their needs, and often exhibit creativity and a “yes we can” attitude while devising innovative solutions to meet those needs.

I am quite comfortable relating to people, drawing from skills developed during:

* 9 years of highly consultative, solution-based retail sales in the bedding industry

* 7 years of leading and creating and organizing and training as the driving force and director of the church music and worship ministries in three different, very diverse church settings

* 5 years Outside and Inside B2B sales with various organizations as a marketer and promoter

* 12 years of public speaking and presentation experience as a professional singer and actor

* 5 years of experience as a college student leadership trainer and resource person

Very effective when working on my own, I also thrive when engaged in a team setting, exploring and designing solutions collaboratively to solve our customer’s problems or needs.

Let’s talk soon. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Richard

Richard T. Gaylord

ac5gwh@r.postjobfree.com 267-***-****

*

**

***

Richard T. Gaylord - Resume

Education:

Bachelors Degree

* University of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, OH

Post graduate education:

* Duquesne University, The Cleveland Institute of Music, Vocal Academy of Lucca in Italy

Sales Training:

* Systematic and extensive sales training through both SLEEPY’S University and Mattress FIRM University

Skills:

* Public Speaking, at ease with group presentations

* Consultative selling

* Patient, Customer focused service to Clients

* Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Publisher, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), MS Office

Adobe PageMaker, WORKDAY, Finale / PrintMusic, CRM platforms SIESTA and MAX

* Extensive desk-top publishing experience

* Proficient in Internet research

Employment History:

Showroom Sales Manager -- Retail / Consultative Sales / Management / Customer Service

Mattress FIRM, previously with SLEEPY'S, Lansdale, PA

MARCH 2009 – Present

SLEEPY'S was purchased in the summer of 2016 by MATTRESS FIRM

Highly consultative, customer service oriented selling of complete sleep systems, presenting multiple product lines from eight different mattress and adjustable base manufacturers

* Closed 85% of sales opportunities in 2017, and to date in 2018

* Added $100 to $400 in additional sales per customer of value added essentials (such as bed frames, pillows, mattress protectors), generating 20% - 50% additional revenue per sale in 2017 and early 2018

* Rated 4.7 – 5 stars in Customer reviews on Google and YELP for sales and customer service in the Lansdale and Blue Bell Mattress FIRM showrooms

* Consistently ranked in top % of Sales Managers in the sales metrics for our area

-

Accounts Receivable Consultant / Sales Representative – Inside and Outside Sales / B2B sales

Transworld Systems, Inc., Blue Bell, PA

August 2008 to November 2008

Highly consultative face to face AR consultations with CEO’s, CFO’s and other key decision makers and their subordinates, strategically offering TSI solutions for their past due and delinquent accounts

* Personally led instructional, on site AR analysis with C level executives and key decision makers as part of a systematic and structured sales presentation

* Closed six out of ten sales presentations in first 4 months

* Exceeded client’s expectations by choosing to install and explain TSI solutions in their offices while they were seated at their own computers.

* Equipped and empowered key end-users by carefully training them in how to access and utilize the various features of the TSI systems

* Expanded awareness of TSI by 100% in the local business community through participation in LeTip and BNI

-

Managing Director of Church Music; -- Management / Recruiting / Training / Public Presentation August 2000 - September 2007

Three Different Churches consecutively:

- Bakerstown Presbyterian, Philadelphia, PA, 1100 members

- Centerville Community Church, Centerville, OH, 450 members

- Hilltown Baptist, Hilltown Township, PA, 550 members

Managed and facilitated the music and technical ministries for three different church congregations as a full-time, people loving, ministry focused Executive level staff member:

* Expanded the use of presentation software, Power-point slides and video presentations, resulting in 50% increase in congregation participation during the services

* Fostered 300% growth in the size of the Technical Ministry Teams in just three years

* Designed, authored, edited, desktop published and distributed informative newsletters 3 times per month, furthering both team awareness and enthusiasm for our ministry programs and objectives

* Increased productivity and ministry effectiveness through the careful supervision of two paid staff

* Coordinated 30-70 volunteers each week to creatively fulfill all weekly production goals and deadlines

* 100% gain in the “brand awareness” in the community of the church’s various ministry offerings by the biannual presentations of large scale music/drama/arts concert programs

* Successfully operated at or below annual designated budgets for seven years in a row

* Designed, and then led from up front, two stylistically different worship services each week:

-- Skillfully Conducted Church choirs at each service, also led hymns and songs from the mic

-- Served as the Front man / lead singer / worship leader for a contemporary rock and roll style band ensemble for the contemporary services

-- Meticulously selected all music to fit the theme of the day, rehearsed each ensemble and equipped them to lead the congregation in meaningful worship

-

Marketing and Development Associate -- Marketing / Fund Raising / Grant Writing

The Singing Angels, Cleveland, OH

August 1998 to May 1999

Developed and implemented a successful marketing strategy for the Children’s Chorus

* Expanded corporate donor base and increased donations by 35% in six months, providing new corporate sponsorships with new funds to help cover operating expenses and student scholarships

* Increased ticket sales and concert revenues by 50% in the first year, and expanded the market and brand awareness of the Singing Angels, by negotiating the use of a larger and more prestigious downtown Cleveland performing venue

* Personally redesigned the promotional posters and flyers, increasing Brand awareness by 25%; -- Implemented a direct mail campaign

* Instigated the research, and helped draft grant applications for the first time in the history of the organization, to actively seek private and corporate grant funding

-

Artistic & Marketing Director -- Marketing / B2B Sales / Trade Show Promotion

RoseTrent & Friends Entertainment, Cleveland, OH

January 1990 to September 2000 (This was my own talent management organization)

Conducted all aspects of marketing and sales for several different entertainment acts:

* Boosted revenues by 15% annually from April 1992 to August 2000

-- Utilized a combination of inside/ outside sales, the design and placement of print media ads, radio and local television promotions, and direct mail campaigns

* Negotiated and closed the sale of 200+ entertainment contracts with presenters from performing arts venues located throughout the US

* Increased student awareness and appreciation of the Arts in the public schools

-- Presented 50+ educational music programs in elementary schools in OH, WI, PA, NY, WV

* Dazzled attendees at both regional and national Trade Shows for Arts Presenters;

-- Increased brand awareness and laid the groundwork for 15% of future bookings annually

-- Designed the display graphics, supervised the marketing plan and worked the exhibits at both the national and regional shows

* Personally designed and desktop published all promotional materials for the company

-- Posters, flyers, direct mailings, media kits, press packets

-

Professional Singer / Actor -- Public Presentation / Public Speaking / Promotion

Cleveland Opera, Ohio Arts Council, Freelance Vocal Artist throughout US

July 1988 to September 2000

Thrilled audiences both regionally and nationally as a professional singer and actor

* Opera Singer, Music Theater Actor and an Associate Performing Artist with the Cleveland Opera from 1987-1997

* Selected as a featured performer for the highly competitive Fee Support Performing/Touring Artist Roster, promoted through the Ohio Arts Council from 1992 through August 2000

* Dynamic instructor and featured vocalist in hundreds of educational music programs,

-- Performed for more than 125,000 elementary students in OH, WI, PA, NY and West VA

-

College Campus Staff Worker, Leadership Trainer -- Fund Raising / Training / Public Speaking

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cleveland, OH

January 1983 – June 1987

Recruited, trained and supervised twenty different student leadership teams

-- At Oberlin College, Baldwin-Wallace College and Case Western Reserve University

* 50% increase in 4.5 years in overall Student group participation under my leadership

-

Contact this candidate