Robert C. Gartner

Hickory, North Carolina, ***** 828-***-****

adu629@r.postjobfree.com

adu629@r.postjobfree.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-gartner-006a1914/

Vice President, Operations and Sales

Senior sales leader recognized for promoting customer service, sales, profit results and talent development

Experienced executive with demonstrated success leading organizations through times of growth and restructuring. Extensive knowledge of retail and merchandising trends with a track record of leveraging this expertise to improve customer service, streamline operations, and build effective strategic plans. Strong leader, focused on building high-performance, results-driven teams.

Highlights of Expertise

Executive Leadership

Corporate Strategic Planning & Re-organization

P&L Management

Cost Control/Inventory Shrink

Growth of Store count/Real Estate assessment

Recruiting, Hiring, Training, Development

Business Consulting

Customer Buying and Trends

Customer Service including on-line

Omni-Channel Development

Career Experience

Sears Holding Corporation, Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Provide executive-level leadership for top 200 most profitable and high-volume stores.

VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGY AND INITIATIVES (January 2016 to January 2018)

Evaluate market trends and realign business model to meet current needs. Create new sales programs and initiatives to improve profitability in an evolving retail environment. Provide mentorship and leadership for executive team.

Improved revenue growth projections and increased profitability in digital merchandising sector.

Developed and implemented store closure strategy to meet company-wide sales and profit challenges.

Upgraded performance of Top 200 stores by restructuring marketing and inventory resources improving sales by 240 BPS and profitability by 470 BPS over balance of stores.

Re-directed marketing and distribution of inventory to most profitable stores while re-defining operational processes.

JRLA Consulting, Noblesville, Indiana

Offer expert-level consulting on trends in space and inventory, fashion, merchandising, purchasing, sales, and profitability for private equity, corporate investment, and retail companies.

RETAIL CONSULTANT (January 2014 to Present)

Provide expertise and insights for clients into effectiveness of their marketing and retail strategies and updates on developments across the retail/leadership/talentsector. Deliver targeted, brand-specific Hardline and Softline consulting on merchandise trends and customer perceptions.

Leverage deep retail industry experience to provide customized solutions to widespread challenges, including integrating online and brick-and-mortar retail programs and building and maintaining outstanding personnel staffing.

Respected as an expert in talent management, leadership, public speaking, merchandising, space allocation, data use, P&L utilization, Point of sale and Online integration with retail.

Consultant with the investment community regularly regarding predictions with merchandise and retail trend including Footwear, Outerwear, Apparel, Sporting Goods and all Outdoors.

Dicks Sporting Goods, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Spearheaded nationwide growth, realignment, and profitability initiatives while overseeing daily operations for all 645 stores.

VICE PRESIDENT, STORE OPERATIONS (July 2012 to January 2015)

Hired and trained National, Regional, and District leaders to drive company growth in concert with corporate objectives. Realized annual profit growth goals for three consecutive years.

Through strategic implementation of growth plans, increased number of stores to 645 and revenue from $5B to $7B. This led to Dick’s current position as #1 Sporting Goods retailer and elimination of key competitor

Drove increase comparable store sales +13%

Increase Probability of comp stores by +15%

Increased profitability by $7M through improved credit penetration over 250 BPS based on new private label credit card strategy.

Attained national and regional sales and profit goals during all years served meeting incentive performance bonuses.

Created the Omni-Channel sales process for all stores.

Sears Holding Corporation, Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Drove operations, sales, P&L results and customer service initiatives in the home appliance and operations sectors across all stores.

NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, HOME APPLIANCE SALES (January 2010 to February 2012)

Directed comprehensive focus on customer experience, including improving transactions and delivery, reducing customer service wait times, and implementing front line customer engagement devices. Led nationwide initiatives to improve closure rates through training for sales and vendor relations employees and digital lead capture and customer retention tools.

Implemented strategic initiatives based on trend analysis, customer service, and product quality that returned Kenmore to the number one ranking in the home appliance industry.

Introduced country’s first iPad point of sale transaction process.

Built new commission incentive based pay for associates and developed selling processes for all associates.

VICE PRESIDENT, FIELD OPERATIONS AND COMPLAINCE (January 2008 to January 2011)

Directly responsible to re-align company for organization cost savings and merger with KMART

Managed 29-member national team of operations directors and trainers across seven regions. Implemented numerous process improvements and strategic initiatives that resulted in decreased customer service times, reduced warehousing and inventory costs, and improved Human Capital Scorecard ratings.

Produced nine-point increase in customer satisfaction rates through strategic emphasis on improved processes, customer experience, associate standards, and hiring.

Decreased operating expenses through cost and loss controls, including reductions in inactive risk inventory, producing $9M reduction in write-offs, and discontinued non-assorted merchandise, yielding $41M decrease in non-productive trapped inventory.

Re-structured the entire field for Operational proficiency, including geography and travel.

Overhauled all Operational processes including Receiving, Replenishment, Signing, Merchandising Planagram processes, Shrink Strategies and Store Labor Planning.

Responsible for all Compliance, HR and Training organizations for stores.

Responsible for completed Essential and Sears Grand Stores, Top 200 stores and designation of “sell” or “closing” stores.

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, MIDWEST REGION (January 2005 to January 2008)

Led operations, including sales, profit, controllable costs, and customer experience results, across 133 full-line Sears retail stores garnering $6 B in annual revenue. Managed 14 District Directors, three Assistant District Directors, and seven Region staff members and provided appropriate developmental opportunities that led to several Directors promoted to Vice President.

Assessed and defined best practices in operations and customer experience that were then deployed nationally.

Recognized for success improving talent, creating performance-driven culture, and meeting key personal performance goals.

Top performing region for three years.

Developed 3 future Region Vice Presidents.

VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER (June 2004 to March 2005)

Directed operations, inventory management, merchandising, and marketing strategies for a 166-store hardware chain with $750M in annual revenue. Improved productivity and cost efficiencies at all stores through a restructured staffing and operations model. Created strategic merchandising plan that introduced home appliances into stores, improved sales, and increased profitability.

Adapted merchandising strategies to better fit customer preferences and patterns, which led to a change from $30M negative performance to more than $28M positive.

Improved margin rates from 27% to 31% by liquidating unproductive inventory.

Decreased inventory losses from 4.2% to 1.7% through a tenuous shrink reduction program that improved format.

*Additional experience as Regional Director, District Manager and Store Manager Positions from 1985 to 2004 available upon request

Education & Credentials

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History

Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio

Interned 2 years for Governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine

Recognition & Achievements

CEO Leadership Development Program

Executive Mentor for Senior Leadership Team

Western District of the Year

National Store of the Year – Store General Manager (Twice)

National District Business Manager of the Year

Intern for Michael DeWine, State Senator and Current Governor of Ohio, USA

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