SYDNEY PETTUS
**** ********* **** ** • Nashville, TN 37221 • 410-***-**** • *************@*****.***
Upper level retail management position with industry leader where experience building and
OBJECTIVE:
managing successful, high performing retail teams will add value to organization. Open to
relocation.
SUMMARY: Over 15 successful years in luxury retail encompassing corporate, multi unit, and store management.
Result driven, self motivated, forward thinking retail executive has delivered sales increases in assigned
area of responsibility for each fiscal year of management career. Innovative, hands on, inspirational
leader of retail operations with a record of profit, people, and process improvements. Establishes best
practices and instills corporate vision. Experience producing results in turnaround assignments and
restructuring situations. Talent for designing and launching programs that drive profitable retail
traffic and year over year sales growth. Exhibits flexibility, enthusiasm, positive attitude, sense of
humor, and passion for winning.
KEY STRENGTHS:
• Provides focused leadership and coaching to build sales and productivity, maximize execution, and
deliver excellent results.
• Attracts top talent and effectively engages, develops, and retains strong teams with a keen attention to
succession planning.
• Leads, influences, and inspires a team through role modeling, establishing expectations and
accountability, and providing transparent feedback coupled with positive motivation and a culture of
collaboration.
• Creates a culture that establishes powerful brand authentic customer experiences and associate
interactions, building repeat business and brand loyalty through clientele initiatives.
• Possesses strong analytical skills, interpreting retail reports to create strategic direction and improve
metric results. Translates reports for training purposes to leverage opportunities and performance
through behavioral change.
• Provides passionate and confident results focused training, adapting style and materials for audiences
of varying size and experience.
SYDNEY PETTUS
7713 Riverview Bend Dr • Nashville, TN 37221 • 410-***-**** • *************@*****.***
EXPERIENCE:
11/2011 Present Fossil, Inc. Dallas, TX based Company
DISTRICT MANAGER
• Recruited as first District Manager to oversee an aligned district of clothing concept stores.
Responsible for 16 locations in 12 states with an annual volume of $28.3M. (Managed territories
include New England, Mid Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast.)
• Increased KPI performance in all measurable categories: Revenue Plan, Conversion, UPT, ADS,
payroll control, and shrink performance.
• Provide feedback and field perspective for visual and marketing team. Strategic business partner for
clothing merchant team.
• Support new store openings, direct field recruitment, guide employee development, and build strategy
for operational execution.
• Created SOP for floorset rollout, freight receiving, and stockroom organization, as well as training
materials for fitting room execution, fit sessions, stylist program, and multiple customer experience.
• Built and rolled out payroll tracking tool used by region to improve tracking and execution to payroll
% guidelines, targeting SPH and resulting in an overall improvement of payroll efficiency.
• Increased district clothing revenue by 28.9% through aligned strategy and vision, creation of common
objectives and initiatives focused on stylist behaviors, and establishment of category specialist program.
• Top performing Brand District for FY 2014 and YTD 2015. Achieving strong sales results against
negative comp traffic delta through attention to employee engagement and customer centric selling
model.
9/2009 11/2011 Under Armour Baltimore, MD –based Company
DISTRICT MANAGER
• Directed top and bottom line sales profitability, support store systems and operations, and manage
recruiting for district of as many as 32 Factory House stores in 18 states with annual volume of $91.7M.
(Managed territories including Mid Atlantic, South East, South Central and Midwest locations.)
• Finished Fiscal 2010 with a 6.4% increase to revenue stretch plan and 36.5% comp increase, including
increases in all KPIs. Fiscal 2011 was on +3.6% to revenue stretch plan and +25.2% comp increase
trend.
• Coordinated recruiting, training, and opening process for 14 new store locations.
• Create and maintain a culture of consistent communication, training, and accountability in customer
service, selling strategies, and presentation to ensure all stores are providing an authentic and
aspirational brand experience.
• Maintain a consistent culture of Individual Development to strengthen business acumen and
managerial courage in all levels of store management, building bench strength to support rapid fleet
growth.
• Craft innovative best practices and procedural content to improve in store operational execution and
sales generation.
9/2008 7/2009 Anthropologie Washington, DC
GENERAL MANAGER
• Managed global operations for $16M, 10K+ sq. ft. flagship location, including 12 managers and 110
associates.
• Drove 11% increase to sales plan and 4% comp increase YTD while managing payroll within budget.
• Consistently ranked in Company Top 10 in total volume, comp increase, payroll control, and shrink
management.
• Reduced annual inventory shrink percentage from 2.2% to 1.4% of net sales.
• Managed hiring, training, and coaching of entire store population with a focus on exceptional service and
efficiency.
5/2008-9/2008 David Yurman New York, NY
RETAIL OPERATIONS MANAGER, OUTLET DIVISION
• Supported operations, managed product flow, and directed recruiting for 3 stores with annual volume of
$9.5M.
• Increased YTD sales trend 14% within tenure. Increased store in-stock levels by 142%.
• Instituted new training programs for outlet store teams (clientelling, special orders, merchandise
presentation).
• Managed P&L for all locations, including price point analysis and strategy to achieve profitability targets
(GM%).
SYDNEY PETTUS
7713 Riverview Bend Dr • Nashville, TN 37221 • 410-***-**** • *************@*****.***
EXPERIENCE continued:
9/2002-4/2008 L’Occitane, Inc. New York, NY
2/2007-4/2008 SENIOR MANAGER OF RETAIL OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATION
• Directed retail operations for 170 stores ($106M volume): facilitated all corporate-to-field communication,
managed Retail Policy and Procedures, managed field budget and expenses, developed incentive programs,
directed new store openings, managed secret shop and ShopperTrak programs and bi-annual inventory
process.
• Planned and executed annual Store Manager Conference for 250 attendees.
• Developed new scheduling program with emphasis on productivity and SPH, resulting in total savings of
$300K payroll expense in first 6 months of use. Personally trained all Company field personnel on new
program.
OUTLET DIVISION DIRECTOR (concurrent with above position)
• Managed global strategy, P&L, and directed operations of company’s 6 Outlet stores with annual volume of
$13M.
• Achieved 4.8% comp increase for FY 2007-08. Increased YTD sales trend 26% within 6 months.
• Recruited and trained strong management teams, with a focus on accountability, employee development, and
succession planning. Prioritized retention, morale and team building through positive mentorship and
motivation.
• Created and implemented Outlet-specific training modules for coaching and development of sales force,
ensuring accountability and consistency throughout region.
• Ensured boutique image remained consistent with L’Occitane brand; created, trained, and implemented
Outlet-specific merchandising standards to maximize sell-through and flow.
• Forecasted and monitored merchandise quantities to ensure sufficient assortment. Managed pricing structure
to promote sales while achieving profitability targets (GM%).
• Created and managed marketing budget, outreach initiatives, and promotional tools to maximize sales
opportunities.
10/2005-2/2007 DISTRICT MANAGER, MID-ATLANTIC
• Directly supported operations of 22 luxury boutiques in 8 states with annual volume of $16M.
• Highest district volume and comp increase (+11% 2005-2006, +8% 2006-2007) in the company.
• Reduced payroll by 11.2% comp while maintaining all KPIs above company average by focusing on
increasing operational efficiency, individual sales accountability, and effective productivity-based manpower
deployment.
• Promoted 12 district associates to next level, including 3 to District Manager and 2 to corporate positions.
• Attracted, recruited, and hired top-flight managers and associates, providing global training, mentoring, and
supporting career development of as many as 22 direct reports and 180 indirect reports, including 3 area
managers.
9/2004-10/2005 DISTRICT MANAGER, OUTLET DIVISION
• Managed full-team recruiting, new store opening, and all retail functions for 6 boutiques with annual volume
of $12M.
• Instrumental in building a new outlet division for the company from the ground up.
9/2002-9/2004 STORE MANAGER various locations, up to $2.1M annual volume
8/2001-9/2002 Dillard’s Orlando, FL
BUSINESS MANAGER ELIZABETH ARDEN
• Increased sales revenue by 56% over previous year through strategic use of clientele initiatives and special
events.
• Recruited, trained, and motivated a team of Beauty Advisors to achieve personal and business goals.
• Closely managed P&L to achieve profitability and shrink targets.