KARON M. PENNINGTON

**** ******** ****** . *** *******, LA . Cell 504-***-**** . lqh216@r.postjobfree.com

CAREER PROFILE

I am a high energy, creative and top performing manager with extensive experience in merchandising, strategic planning, team building, sales, marketing and total quality management. I am a dedicated and results driven performer who possesses the ability to build and motivate a team and ensure consistent customer satisfaction by utilizing problem solving skills critical to providing excellent customer service.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

JCPENNEY, New Orleans, Louisiana

District Merchandise Execution Manager

Managed 19 stores producing $240,000,000 annually. Held responsibility for monitoring sales, customer service, store environment and training teams on new company programs and initiatives to ensure consistent implementation. Acted as a liaison to corporate on new store openings, renovations, shop installations, fixture rollouts.

Worked with the management teams on regular store visits to identify opportunities in sales, store environment and customer service and developed action plans and timelines to ensure goals were achieved or exceeded.

Used analysis of sales, space allocation and productivity per square foot to make recommendations on how to better utilize space, create stronger presentation impact and increase sales.

Trained store management and support teams on new company initiatives and monitored results through sales, productivity and certification checklists.

Conducted a review of floor plans for all renovations and shop installations prior to construction to call out potential issues. Worked with general contractors during construction process to resolve all issues via punch lists and on site inspections to ensure completion of project to company standards including quality of work, décor, lighting and fixture placement.

Directed merchandise set for grand opening of three new stores, grand re-opening of eight renovations and multiple shop installations.

In a tough retail environment, exceeded sales plan for the District and produced the third highest sales volume in the Southeast Region.

THE LIMITED, Columbus, Ohio

Senior Visual Merchandising Manager

Led planning and coordinated execution of store merchandise sets and supervised production of the directional document sent to all stores communicating approved presentation direction. Hired and trained a staff of three and managed an annual budget of $200,000. Collaborated with corporate and field visual team to develop training programs to educate stores on effective merchandising and ensure consistency across all stores.

Merged the vision of the design team with the financial goals of the merchant team to create aesthetically sound, volume-driving store sets.

Produced a clear, concise document communicating company initiatives and detailed direction on all fixture and merchandise presentation changes with specific guidance for each volume group of stores.

Interfaced with all levels of management, working directly with the CEO, GMM and merchant team, regional visual managers and store associates to complete all store sets and produce directional document for stores on a very tight timeline.

Instrumental in trim design for seasonal windows and participated in design and installation direction of windows for all store sets.

Saved $50,000 annually on production of presentation document by negotiating printing costs and handling photography in house instead of contracting out.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

REGIONAL VISUAL MERCHANDISING MANAGER, Columbus, Ohio, Traveled with Regional Sales Manager to evaluate store presentation and ensure adherence to corporate visual standards. Developed training programs for store associates and district managers. Headed up all store openings in the region and used as a training seminar for store managers. Assisted the corporate visual team in setting prototype store sets used for the visual directive. Responsible for hiring, training and supervising two visual coordinators.

REGIONAL VISUAL COORDINATOR, New Orleans, Louisiana,

Responsible for supervising the execution of the visual directive for the top five stores in the region. Led training seminars to teach company presentation standards. Contributed new merchandising techniques to impact key volume items and increase sales. Participated in major seasonal sets and new store openings. Won visual contests resulting in going to President’s Club 5 times, including a trip to Italy in 1995.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA, Pensacola, Florida

B.A., Fine Art

GULF COAST JUNIOR COLLEGE, Panama City, Florida

A. A.

COMPUTER SKILLS

MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Bluebeam, Quark

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