Sales Manager

LISA COWAN

773-***-**** • *************@*****.***

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Distinguished career in the retail and vision center industries with a notable record for growth in revenue, profit and customer base. Greatest achievements building top-producing business units throughout highly competitive markets. Credited with creating business development strategies that have achieved sustainable revenue growth in a turbulent economy. Cross-functional leadership expertise includes:

! Short/Long-Range Vision & Planning ! Surpassing Sales Budgets & Profit Goals

! Strategic Sales Planning & Execution ! Recruiting, Training & Leadership Development

! Exceptional Customer Service Levels ! Sales Incentives & Promotional Programs

! Competitive Market Positioning ! Merchandising & Inventory/Supply Chain PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

AMERICA’S BEST CONTACTS & EYEGLASSES, Chicago, Illinois 2/2012 to 9/2019 District Manager

Full profit and loss responsibility for a district of up to 21 full-service retail vision centers with $30 million in annual sales, including product sales, merchandising and optometrist services. Charged with transforming an under-performing district with major deficiencies in store leadership, budget variances and customer service. Accountable for all facets of sales development, loss prevention, staff development, payroll, customer service, new store openings and vendor relations.

• Executed key recruiting programs/events while coordinating hiring, scheduling, training and development for all store departments and orchestrating successful holiday staffing plans.

• Provided one-on-one training along with group instruction for managers and associates regarding selling behaviors, loss prevention, staff recruiting/interviewing and other topics.

• Coordinated the implementation of corporate marketing, advertising and merchandising strategies, as well as development of in-store activities to drive sales.

• Identified store-specific market trends, opportunities and competitive advantages, and designed strategies to maintain market share and competitive edge.

• Monitored stores for proper in-stock levels, customer service, visual merchandising, cross-selling of high-margin products and implementation of add-on sales promotion programs.

• Attained high levels of saleable merchandise by clearly defining goals and expectations of each store and holding employees accountable for their performance. Highlights:

Achieved $4 million in sales growth while averaging 110% comp sales and 107.5% comp controllable contribution by implementing accountability to audit and operational standards.

Spearheaded the development and launch of nine new stores and five store remodelings, including site selection, grand openings and daily operations to reach profitability.

Exceeded profit margin budgets by 1-2% each consecutive year by training store managers in P&L line items and controllable expenses, such as payroll and purchasing cycles.

Successfully launched the new Jenny McCarthy product line throughout the region, representing the company in celebrity digital advertisements.

Effectively groomed two store managers who earned advancement to area managers, along with an area manager who was promoted to district manager.

Hired a total of 12 general managers and 18 optometrists, and hired two area managers who later filled district manager openings.

Instituted customer-focused methodologies that grew customer satisfaction surveys by 17%. LISA COWAN

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LENSCRAFTERS, Chicago, Illinois 11/2002 to 1/2012

Regional Director of Operations

Accountable for all operations of 21 retail vision centers across a region with $52 million in annual sales. Scope of responsibility included all sales, margins, staffing, training, supply chain, visual merchandising, forecasting, loss prevention, vendor relations, cost controls, payroll/labor planning and eyewear laboratory operations. Built a consistent record of improving store-level profits and building top-performing leadership teams, along with inventory controls, quality standards, sales revenues and customer service.

• Developed value-added sales strategies and provided guidance to store managers in promoting high-gross eyewear, liquidating lesser ones and preventing permanent markdowns.

• Prepared and administered sales budgets, gross profit budgets, income budgets, expense budgets and payroll budgets for both individual stores and the entire region.

• Coordinated new product introductions, rotations and turnover; ordered items with high margins and strong sales expectations while cutting low performers.

• Collaborated with store managers to prepare efficient staff schedules, create promotional and marketing ideas, and develop sales plans.

Highlights:

Generated year-over-year sales growth and reduced employee turnover through frequent store visits, talent development and ongoing team-building campaigns.

Successfully achieved 103% sales to budget for the Chicago market, a benchmark that had not been reached in the previous five years.

Selected by corporate management to oversee a group of 53 stores throughout Illinois and Texas from 2009 to 2010 in a campaign to build collaborative optometrist relationships.

Developed the “Ready When Promised” program (a major change from the “Glasses in an Hour” program), with significant cost reductions and customer satisfaction improvements.

Spearheaded a major talent recruitment campaign that resulted in 28 new store managers, six regional directors and a corporate recruiter; also recruited 12 optometrists.

Championed a successful initiative to earn board certifications for 211 opticians throughout the Great Lakes Region, achieving a major boost in clinical credibility. EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

Professional Credentials:

> Certified Optician – American Board of Opticianry

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