Lee Richmond
Vancouver,BC CANADA
Summary
Proven leader with extensive experience at Kaboodles Toy Store, adept in small business operations and customer relations. Elevated brand visibility and nurtured key partnerships, achieving significant financial growth. Skilled in team collaboration and strategic marketing, and excelling in fostering employee engagement and driving revenue. Self-motivated professional successful in seizing viable opportunities for expansion and innovation in business. Background in increasing profits, reducing costs, and transforming customer service standards. Experienced in leading and supervising operational and sales teams.
Overview
50
50
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner/director
Kaboodles Toy Store (Kaboodles Holdings Inc.)
11.1980 - 11.2023
- Managed day-to-day business operations.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and efficiently by team members.
- Increased customer satisfaction by implementing efficient business processes and providing exceptional service.
- Managed financial aspects of the business, including budgeting, financial reporting, and tax preparation.
- Managed approximately 30 incoming calls, emails & faxes
- Hired trained, and managed a high-performing team of employees dedicated to achieving company goals.
- Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
- Implemented marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and attract new customers.
- Established a positive workplace culture that fostered employee engagement, collaboration, and loyalty.
- Negotiated contracts with suppliers for better pricing and terms, reducing overall costs for the business.
- Achieved financial growth with strategic planning, cost control measures, and targeted marketing efforts.
- Organized and attended trade shows and special events to showcase products, network with other businesses and attract new customers.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts, and costs.
- Evaluated industry competition regularly to maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
- Successfully navigated challenging economic conditions by making informed decisions that protected the business''s financial stability.
- Monitored market conditions to set accurate product pricing and take advantage of emerging trends.
- Mentored staff members on best practices in customer service and sales techniques, leading to increased performance levels.
- Expanded product offerings by researching market trends and identifying potential growth opportunities.
- Generated revenues yearly and effectively capitalized on industry growth.
- Optimized supply chain operations, negotiating with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
- Led negotiations for major contracts, securing favorable terms that significantly reduced costs.
- Elevated brand awareness with targeted marketing campaigns, leveraging social media and digital platforms.
- Ensured regulatory compliance by staying abreast of industry-related changes and implementing necessary policies or procedures as needed.
- Expanded business into new markets.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and drive-off.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Increased company revenue by streamlining processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
- Spearheaded successful product launches that resulted in increased brand visibility and customer acquisition.
- Expanded into new markets, conducting thorough market analysis and establishing key local partnerships.
- Optimized inventory management to minimize costs and ensure product availability.
- Achieved remarkable turnaround of underperforming divisions through strategic leadership and restructuring.
- Navigated company through periods of significant change, maintaining focus on long-term strategic goals.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
Preschool Head Supervisor
St James Day Care Centre & Acadia Park Preschool
09.1973 - 06.1980
- Mentored new supervisors joining the team, sharing valuable insights gained from extensive experience in order to facilitate their growth within the company rapidly.
- Led a team of supervisors in achieving company goals and maintaining high standards of work quality.
- Maintained accurate records of student attendance, performance, and progress to ensure transparency and effective communication with parents.
- Consulted with parents to build and maintain positive support networks and support continuing education strategies.
- Mentored junior teachers, sharing best practices and providing constructive feedback to improve their teaching techniques.
- Fostered a stimulating learning environment by maintaining well-organized and dynamic classroom spaces for daily use.
- Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Monitored students' academic, social, and emotional progress and recorded in individual files.
- Organized extracurricular activities that complemented curriculum while fostering teamwork and leadership skills among students.
- Enhanced parent-teacher communication by holding regular meetings, discussing student performance, concerns, and areas for improvement.
- Worked with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress and recommend appropriate learning plans.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Allowed for ample outdoor discovery time in schedule each day.
- Collaborated with colleagues on interdisciplinary projects, promoting holistic understanding of various subjects among students.
- Improved student engagement by incorporating technology and real-world examples into lesson plans.
- Sanitized toys and play equipment each day to maintain safety and cleanliness.
Education
No Degree - Early Childhood Care And Education
Capilano College
North Vancouver, BC06.1973
Skills
Customer Relations
Small business operations
Relationship Building
Verbal and written communication
Business launch
Consulting
Teamwork and Collaboration
Purchasing and planning
Business marketing
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Limited Working
gardening, cooking, wilderness
I am an avid home gardener focusing on design, flower and vegetable gardening.
I am a passionate cook, and love to entertain and try new ideas.
I spend several months a year in an off-grid cabin on the B.C. coast.
Timeline
Owner/director
Kaboodles Toy Store (Kaboodles Holdings Inc.)
11.1980 - 11.2023
Preschool Head Supervisor
St James Day Care Centre & Acadia Park Preschool
09.1973 - 06.1980
No Degree - Early Childhood Care And Education
Capilano College
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