Carolin Armstrong
Red Deer,AB
Summary
Dynamic space planner and visual merchandiser with proven success at Peavey Mart, enhancing customer experiences and driving sales through effective space planning and team leadership. Expert in using space planning applications and data analysis, I have consistently optimized retail layouts, achieving a notable 20% sales increase through strategic merchandising initiatives.
Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.
Thorough team contributor with strong organizational capabilities. Experienced in handling numerous projects at once while ensuring accuracy. Effective at prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines.
Proactive and goal-oriented professional with excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Known for reliability and adaptability, with swift capacity to learn and apply new skills. Committed to leveraging these qualities to drive team success and contribute to organizational growth.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Space Planner/Visual Merchandiser/Store Set up Lead
Peavey Mart
02.2021 - 01.2025
- Create planograms that work on national level and strive to create the best fiscal results from these planograms as well as creating a superior customer shopping experience
- Work in a specific business unit supporting the designated departments within the unit
- Work in conjunction with a variety of roles in business units – Category Management, Category co-ordinators, Inventory management, District and store team members
- Work with a variety of software platforms including Office and JDA
- Store set up for new stores and re-lines
- Lead a team to set up new stores or reline stores – starting with fixture setting, floor plan and flow production, POG implementation and overall merchandising of store to Grand opening look
- Developed custom space planning solutions for clients with unique requirements or restrictions.
- Collaborated with architects and interior designers to create cohesive design concepts that incorporated space planning principles.
- Optimized retail spaces with effective product displays, improving customer flow and increasing sales.
- Updated existing CAD drawings to reflect current conditions accurately, allowing for more accurate future planning initiatives.
- Ensured client satisfaction with timely project delivery and effective communication throughout the planning process.
- Prepared comprehensive reports on space usage trends, providing actionable insights for management decisionmaking.
- Increased overall facility capacity by identifying underutilized spaces and recommending strategies for repurposing them effectively.
- Managed multiple concurrent space planning projects, ensuring on-time completion within budget constraints.
- Attended team meetings to resolve technical and project issues and review project schedules.
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to improve structure sustainability and design.
- Communicated with vendors and contractors to incorporate input into project designs.
- Managed aesthetically pleasing displays to showcase company products and increase sales.
- Monitored and replenished display inventory and restructured according to available stock.
- Enhanced overall store appearance by applying careful consideration to product and display locations.
- Supervised and trained team of merchandising associates, verifying accuracy and efficiency in work processes.
- Evaluated store performance and made recommendations for changes to optimize sales.
- Increased sales through strategic placement of high-margin products at eye level and in high-traffic areas.
- Led team in complete store redesign, which was met with positive customer feedback and noticeable uplift in sales.
- Worked with store managers to implement new displays, promotions and store layout changes.
- Revamped store layout to improve customer flow and overall shopping experience, resulting in better customer satisfaction ratings.
- Trained new staff on visual merchandising standards and practices, ensuring brand consistency across all departments.
- Analyzed sales data to identify trends and adjust visual merchandising plans accordingly, maximizing revenue potential.
- Collaborated with management to develop seasonal merchandising strategies for optimal customer engagement.
- Enhanced store sales by creating visually appealing and strategically placed product displays.
- Coordinated with suppliers to secure timely delivery of display materials, ensuring promotional campaigns launched as scheduled.
- Optimized inventory by creating visually appealing displays that also highlighted slow-moving items, thus reducing stock levels.
- Partnered with store personnel during remodels or relocations to ensure seamless transition of visual merchandising elements into new spaces.
- Trained and supervised junior team members in visual merchandising techniques for consistent brand presentation across the store.
- Organized store merchandise racks by size, style, and color.
- Arranged consistent shelves, bins, and racks at 94 locations by following established planograms.
- Developed merchandising strategy to efficiently move overstock.
- Proposed new ideas and concepts to enhance merchandise displays.
Assistant Store Manager
Peavey Mart
07.2020 - 02.2021
- Worked as part of the Management team supporting all aspects of running a successful business and trying to achieve and support all company goals and initiatives
- Strong leadership skills, time management, merchandising, training and coaching
- I also participated in helping and working on Store Set-up Team
- Managed cash registers efficiently, ensuring accurate transactions, balancing drawers daily, and minimizing discrepancies.
- Mentored new employees on company policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure their success within the organization.
- Enhanced store appearance for increased sales by maintaining cleanliness and implementing strategic merchandise displays.
- Managed opening and closing procedures and recommended changes to enhance efficiency of daily activities.
- Developed a loyal customer base through personalized interactions, increasing repeat business in-store visits.
- Supervised and evaluated staff to help improve skills, achieve daily objectives, and attain advancement.
- Processed payments for credit and debit cards and returned proper change for cash transactions.
- Maintained positive customer relationships by responding quickly to customer service inquiries.
- Verified inventory counts remained within monthly tolerance levels and compiled financial data in compliance with budget.
- Created and maintained safe and secure work environments for employees.
- Provided support to store manager in budgeting processes, helping maintain financial stability for the business.
- Resolved escalated customer issues effectively leading to improved customer satisfaction rates.
- Rotated merchandise and displays to feature new products and promotions.
- Improved store operations by establishing clear communication channels between team members and implementing efficient scheduling practices.
- Fostered a positive work culture by promoting teamwork and recognizing individual achievements among staff members regularly.
- Streamlined inventory management with regular audits, accurate ordering, and efficient stock organization.
- Interviewed, hired, and trained staff associates and equipped to comply with company policies and procedures.
- Reconciled daily sales transactions to balance and log day-to-day revenue.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
Store Manager
Dollarama
07.2020 - 02.2021
- Managed high volume and high shrink store in Nanaimo, as well as opening a brand new store in Nanaimo, managing both stores at the same time
- Responsible for all hiring, training, store set up, merchandising standards
- Managed a successful store, with 20% increase, as well as re-merchandising both stores and adhering to all company policies and procedures
Store Manager
Suzannes & Jenny’s
01.2019 - 07.2020
- Store manager in a high fashion ladies boutique
- Lead a sales team to achieve company targets and goals, KPIs, Items Per Transactions
- All aspects of sales, merchandising, Loss Prevention, Inventory control, HR, coaching and training
Co-ordinator
Peavey Mart
08.2014 - 08.2015
- Co-ordinate between Senior operations team and Marketing/Buyers Department
- Responsible for creating, writing, developing, organizing, proof reading and implementing planogram and merchandising standards
- Worked closely with buyers department ensuring effective display and merchandising standards in supporting promotions and optimizing sales
- Responsible for the implementation of a Hillman planogram into all stores within the company in a 9 month project
- Managed all aspects of this implementation from conception to completion
Store Manager
Big Lots
01.2013 - 08.2014
- Managed a struggling store and turned it around in a 9 month period to make it into a successful store with positive sales results
- Responsible for hiring all new staff and management team
- Focused on Loss prevention, merchandising standards, excellent customer service and inventory control
Computer Department Manager
London Drugs
01.1988 - 02.2011
- I started my career with London Drugs in 1988 at the grand opening of their Nanaimo store
- I have held many positions with the company and each job was always in a promotional step forward in my career
- I started as the Pricing Co-ordinator with the company
- This job entailed the pricing accuracy and integrity of the POS, proper signage, shelf labels, and planograms
- I then moved to Sales Admin in the store, which looked after all sales audits, deposits, payroll, scheduling, store supplies, and any other administrative duties that were required
- I was our Central District and store trainer for 9yrs, while working in other positions in the store
- I have also worked as a receiver, merchandiser, customer service desk, returns, and worked as a sales associate in cosmetics, general floor, cameras, 1hr lab, and computers
- I eventually made my decision to pursue my management career in the high tech area of the store, and held the position of Computer Manager for the last 17 yrs
- I have successfully managed in our lower volume stores, and advanced up to managing our highest level stores
- I have been rewarded and recognized for achievements in Top Sales, Payroll, Benchmark, Profit and Contribution Benchmarks
- Developed effective communication channels between the computer department and other business units for seamless collaboration on projects.
- Managed cross-functional teams to ensure successful project completion within deadlines and budget constraints.
- Implemented innovative strategies for employee training and development, increasing overall team performance.
- Promoted a culture of continuous improvement through regular staff evaluations, feedback sessions, and professional development opportunities.
- Demonstrated familiarity with latest hardware, software and networking technology.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Assisted in organizing and overseeing assignments to drive operational excellence.
- Defined clear targets and objectives and communicated to other team members.
- Maintained professional demeanor by staying calm when addressing unhappy or angry customers.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Used industry expertise, customer service skills and analytical nature to resolve customer concerns and promote loyalty.
- Cultivated positive rapport with fellow employees to boost company morale and promote employee retention.
- Established performance goals for employees and provided feedback on methods for reaching those milestones.
- Set aggressive targets for employees to drive company success and strengthen motivation.
Assistant Manager
Winners/Home Sense
04.2000 - 09.2001
- Worked as part of the management team supporting all aspects of running a successful business and focused on achieving all company goals and initiatives
- Strong leadership skills, time management, merchandising, training and coaching
Skills
- Team Leadership
- Strong Organizational Abilities
- Data Analysis Skills
- Collaborative Team Management
- Skill Development
- Team Coaching Expertise
- Leadership Development
- Proficient in Office Applications
- Operating System Management
- Vendor Management
- Space Systems Programming
- Skilled in Using Space Planning Applications
- Effective Project Coordination
- Design and Planning for Sites
- Cross-Functional Team Engagement
- Effective Leadership
- Effective Team Collaboration
- Analytical Problem-Solving
- Efficient Scheduling Skills
- Effective Multitasking
- Effective Team Collaboration
- Strong Communication Skills
- Detail-Oriented Approach
- Adaptability
- Project management
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 100+ staff members.
- Set up and managed flagship stores
- Achieved awards and recognitions for Sales, Payroll, Profit & Contribution Benchmarks
Closing Statement
Thank you for taking the time to review my resume, and I look forward to discussing this opportunity with you.
Timeline
Space Planner/Visual Merchandiser/Store Set up Lead
Peavey Mart
02.2021 - 01.2025
Assistant Store Manager
Peavey Mart
07.2020 - 02.2021
Store Manager
Dollarama
07.2020 - 02.2021
Store Manager
Suzannes & Jenny’s
01.2019 - 07.2020
Co-ordinator
Peavey Mart
08.2014 - 08.2015
Store Manager
Big Lots
01.2013 - 08.2014
Assistant Manager
Winners/Home Sense
04.2000 - 09.2001
Computer Department Manager
London Drugs
01.1988 - 02.2011