KAREN HALVORSEN

Head of Retail

** ******* *****, *********, *********, Cheshire, CW9 8WP

H: 016**-****** M: 078**-******

E: adjqu1@r.postjobfree.com

Head of Retail experienced leader achieving results through Area sales manager, responsible for Multiple Stores (18 stores) Full P&L, Budget & Reporting responsibility (t/o £8m) Proven management expertise (20 yrs. +) Adapts effectively to & manages change Enhances service & team performance

Professional Profile

Focused, results orientated and enthusiastic Head of Retail possessing a proven track record of managing multiple stores providing strong leadership skills, implementing internal change, developing large teams and ensuring store KPIs are met. Adopts a collaborative approach to internal and external relations, ensures compliance to internal processes and acts as an advocate of service excellence.

Responsible for writing and delivery of retail strategy to board for sign off.

Consistently delivered the best sales results achieving double digit growth in retail for 3 consecutive years whilst working for Portmeirion group.

Has extensive experience of staff and process restructure, store closure, implementing competency frameworks and managing team performance. Supports and encourages teams by using a coaching management style and is commercially astute, analytical and process driven.

Key Skills & Achievements

Proven commercial and operational management expertise within the retail sector.

Develops and implements new strategies, works in partnership with teams, managers and stakeholders.

Controls internal operational policies and procedures to ensure compliance across stores and teams.

Proven track record of developing staff and providing opportunities (appraisals and succession planning).

Awarded the “Employee of the month 2017”

Awarded the “Outstanding performance award (2014) and “Area Manager of the Year” 2006 / 07.

Achieved level 5 in Management and Leadership 2019

Maintains and encourages stable and loyal teams, identifies success and training requirements

Experience of store performance transformation and has turned 5 loss making stores into profit.

Commenced employment with Portmeirion group starting as Retail Development Manager for Wax Lyrical, promoted to Group Retail Sales and Development Manager and then Head of Retail within in the last 5 years.

Employment History

PORTMEIRION GROUP (Wax Lyrical, Spode, Royal Worcester, Pimpernel, Nambe) 2015-Present

Head of retail

Develop and deliver robust retail strategy that focuses on short, medium and long term goals which is regularly reviewed.

Responsible for setting retail sales budgets and all KPIs.

Ensuring retail stores deliver exceptional customer service experience in store by working closely with Area Sales Manager, delivering a seamless customer journey through training, developing and leading by example.

Preparing quality feedback on a regular basis on all retail KPIs to sales director and preparing feedback for board report.

Look for new store opportunities in line with retail strategy, present financial P&L and case to board of directors for sign off.

Encourage collaboration across all sectors of Portmeirion group, working together to form a high performance team, encouraging continuous improvement across all areas of retail.

Part of the senior leadership team for Portmeirion group.

Develop marketing calendar in line with key campaigns within Portmeirion group

Ensuring required margins are achieved.

Be an ambassador for the brand by building strong relationships with internal and external business partners to ensure best results, communicating, collaborating and sharing best practice to ensure best outcome in increasing sales.

Hold weekly sales meeting with Area sales manager to discuss performance, competitors, issues and resolutions, agree objective for coming week/Month.

Internally promoted from (Retail sales and development manager ( Wax lyrical) to Group Retail sales and Development Manager for Portmeirion and then promoted to Head of Retail for Portmeirion)

Employment History Continued

ANTLER LUGGAGE 2005 – 2015

Area Sales Manager

Primarily responsible for the effective management of up to 18 stores, ensuring performance meets agreed KPIs, budgets and taking full ownership of the area P&L (T/O 8m, up to 112 staff and operating margin 12%).

Actively participated in the group restructure which involved the closure of 30 stores, managed people expectations, change and new process implementation.

Ensured managers are regularly appraised, trained and developed providing succession planning opportunities for key staff to increase retention and loyalty.

Led team meetings, successfully implemented a new customer service and sales strategy, experience of procurement and negotiations with suppliers and 3rd party stakeholders.

Delivered the highest turnover within the area and managed the top 5 profit making stores within the company.

Significantly improved staff morale, performance and retention during challenging hour reduction schemes within stores.

Successfully rolled our new IT programmes and took ownership of new store launches.

Introduced new reporting processes to enhance service and to identify opportunities and risk.

Provided expert support to other areas within the business (especially during disciplinary proceedings).

Measured store performance in-line with KPIs and operational processes.

Ensured a consistent delivery of service excellence across the area.

Overview of Historic Employment

CARD WAREHOUSE Area Sales Manager 2004 - 2005

TULCHAN GROUP Area Sales Manager (Jumper Ltd) 1993 - 2004

(Internally promoted from Manager to Senior Manager and culminated in the role of Area Sales Manager)

British Shoe Corporation Manager 1982 – 1993

(Internally promoted and managed stores in Harrogate, Leeds, Liverpool and Wrexham)

Overdale Health Hotel Trainee Beauty Therapist 1980 – 1982

British Shoe Corporation Sales Assistant 1979 – 1980

Continued Personal Development & Other Information

Internal Workshops and Training

Level 5 Management leadership Teambuilding Train the Trainer Time Management Financial Management Managing Pressure Coaching and Counselling Health and Safety Fire Training HR Management – Legal Issues Marketing Customer Care Business Finance Staff Motivation

IT Skills

MS Office: Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Interests

Cooking Gardening Walking Swimming Reading

References

Available upon request

Contact this candidate