Detail Oriented Creative Self-Starter Possessing Strong Communication, Writing, and Sales Skills

Vitae:

Brand Leader, Jo Malone London, Dillard’s, Columbia, SC 6/13/2022 – Present

Recruited to open and manage the Luxury British Lifestyle brand of fragrances. Duties include:

Promoting and building the brand via clienteling, outsourcing, and eventing; meeting set goals; monitoring and

replenishing stock and testers; maintaining integrity and hygiene of the counter; adhering to company visual and

merchandising standards; attending ongoing virtual and in-store trainings.

Selling Specialist, Belk Columbiana, Columbia, SC 4/30/2019 – 6/12/2022

Managed and supported sales in Fine Fragrances & Fine Jewelry in both a full-time and on-call capacity.

Assistant Eyeglass Manager, America’s Best, Columbia, SC 8/27/2020 – 6/15/2021

Responsibilities: Oversee the flow of daily business; Manage, hire and coach staff; Process eyeglass and contact lens

orders; Repair and adjust eyeglasses; Diagnose customer issues with materials and prescriptions; Execute remakes and

warranties; Ship frames to and track order status with lab; Locate out of stock frames; Order supplies; Maintain

appearance and cleanliness of the store; Generate reports and prepare next day’s deposit; Open and close.

Sales Manager, Vulcan’s Forge Custom Jewelers, Kansas City, MO 11/2/2018 – 2/14/2019

Manage, hire and support sales staff to achieve set monthly goal. Act as liaison between customers and jewelers on

repairs and custom jobs. Improve overall appearance of the store. Present marketing strategies to grow customer base.

Troubleshoot, train, coach and lead by example.

Beauty Advisor, Advanced Technical Skin Care, Nordstrom, Overland Park, KS 08/01/2016 – 10/1/2018

Sales support and special events for: Philosophy, Erno Laszlo, Elizabeth Arden/Prevage, Osmotics, Mario Badescu, Kate

Somerville, Derma Doctor, Dr. Gross, Clairsonic, NuFace, Dry Bar, Living Proof and Aveda. Build clientele; replenish and

merchandise stock; maintain integrity and hygiene of the department; attend seasonal schools.

Business Manager, Philosophy, Nordstrom, Overland Park, KS 08/27/2015 – 8/01/2016

Provide outstanding customer service and grow client base employing Nordstrom “Personal Book”; strive to meet and

exceed last years’ sales results; create animation and plan events in tandem with product launches and department

promotions; replenish and merchandise stock; maintain integrity and hygiene of the counter; attend seasonal schools.

Beauty Advisor, Dior & Origins, Dillard’s, Overland Park, KS 05/13/2014 – 08/26/15

Grow business by recruiting, surprising and delighting the customer; identify her concerns, introduce and demonstrate

the product line; ask for and close the sale; follow-up, nurture customer loyalty and book appointments using the CAD

system; create, book and execute special events; strive to meet and exceed set goals; replenish stock; maintain integrity

and hygiene of the counter; attend ongoing store trainings and seasonal schools.

Style Consultant, White House/Black Market, Overland Park, KS 03/21/2013 – 11/2015

Connect with the customer to discover what she is looking for; make suggestions and start the fit with her choices

Along with additional pieces to create wardrobe options; work with fellow stylists to complete her look and make her feel

beautiful; close the sale, invite her into the rewards program and capture her email address; execute calling campaigns;

strive to meet sales metrics; maintain overall integrity of the store; attend monthly meetings to stay abreast of trends.

Sales Associate, Helzberg Diamonds, Overland Park & Leawood, KS 11/28/2011 – 1/29/2014

Greet, engage and qualify customers by employing Helzberg's “Eight Steps of Selling”: Work in tandem with fellow

associates to discover and overcome objections; educate customers on product line; employ tools provided by company;

turn over or close the sale; sell credit applications and life-time care plans; clean and inspect jewelry; take in repair orders;

follow-up with and book customers for special events; replenish stock and maintain overall integrity of the store; meet or

exceed sales, credit, life-time care plan and repair goals; attend company trainings.

Vendor Rep, Fragrances Elite, Dillard’s Inc., New Orleans, LA 2009 – 2011

Engaged customer on the aisle, determined their objectives, demonstrated product line and suggested options; closed

and turned the sale over to the associates; executed promotions; merchandised product line and maintained integrity of

the cases and counters.

Account Coordinator/Vendor Rep, L’Oreal, USA, Columbia, SC & Minneapolis, MN 1999 - 2009

Sales, merchandising, promotions and special events for Ralph Lauren/Giorgio Armani/ European Designer Fragrances

JB White/Belk, Columbia, SC; Marshall Field’s/Macy’s, Minneapolis, MN.

Account Executive, BeneFit Cosmetics, Columbia, SC & Minneapolis, MN 2001 - 2003

Promoted from Counter Manager (SC) to manage, hire, train and drive sales for Marshall Field’s & Sephora accounts

(MN) exceeding goals and increasing market share.

Writer/Producer/Talent, Image Works, Columbia, SC 1998 - 1999

Wrote, produced and appeared in commercial television spots for Ford/Mazda Dealership.

Account Coordinator, Calvin Klein Fragrances, Columbia, SC 1995 – 1998

Sales, merchandising, special events and marketing for JB White and Belk accounts.

Customer Support Representative, Carolina Living, Columbia, SC 1994 – 1997

Booking, telemarketing, ad sales, database management for relocation/retirement publication.

Publications Coordinator, Spoleto Festival, USA, Charleston, SC 1993 Season

Produced playbills and souvenir program via desktop publishing for world-class international

Arts festival.

Assistant Marketing Coordinator, AICPA, NYC 1990 - 1992

Produced direct-mail continuing education promotions for national membership of the

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND [1980 – 2020]

Administrative Assistant/Word Processor – Corporations and Non-Profits, NYC & Houston, TX

Telemarketer – American Ballet Theatre & Brooklyn Academy of Music Capital Campaigns, NY

Production Coordinator – Holt Rinehart & Winston, NYC

Circulation Assistant – ADWEEK, NYC

Adjunct Professor – Public Speaking, Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC

Theatre Instructor – South Carolina & Minnesota Public Schools

Insurance Agent – Colonial Life, Louisiana, Kansas & Missouri

Ad Sales – Kauffman Center & New Theatre Souvenir Show Books – Porch Swing Media, KC, MO

EDUCATION

MFA, Theatre - Florida State University /Asolo Conservatory, Sarasota, FL [Phi Kappa Phi]

BA, Liberal Arts & Theatre - St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Laurinburg, NC [Dean’s List]

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Actor’s Theatre of Louisville ~ Acting Apprenticeship

Saxx Bradbury Scholarship, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, England

Marketing, Baruch College, NYC

Sales Seminars, Careers for Women, NYC

Direct Mail/ Editing/Proofreading Workshops, NYC

Creative Writing, NYU

Grant Writing, Goodwill-Easter Seals, St. Paul, MN

AWARDS & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

2007 President’s Volunteer Service Award ~ Goodwill-Easter Seals, St. Paul, MN

BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) ~ Minnesota public school system [2003 – 2009]

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