catherine gallagher
Leeds,Yorkshire
Summary
Experienced retail professional with a strong track record of progression within the business, developing from Sales Advisor to Supervisor and into my current Sales Manager role. Confident in leading teams, supporting colleague development and managing day-to-day store operations, with experience taking responsibility for the store in the absence of senior management. Strong customer and commercial focus, with experience using Power BI and sales data to support performance and improve the customer experience. Experienced in managing performance against KPIs and achieving targets. Motivated to continue developing my leadership skills and take the next step in my career within the business.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales Manager
New Look Retailers
Leeds
12.2022 - Current
- Successfully lead the store in the absence of the Store Manager and Deputy Manager, taking ownership of day-to-day operations, team leadership, customer experience and commercial performance for a team of 40 colleagues.
- Work closely with Customer Care Supervisors to deliver and exceed KPIs, using coaching, clear team values and a focus on customer experience to improve conversion and sales performance, achieving +92% vs Club Target year to date.
- Use Power BI and commercial sales data to identify trends, opportunities and areas for improvement, working with the Store Manager and Visual Manager to make informed decisions that positively impact trade, contributing to +1% vs Sales Target year to date and +3.9% LFL Sales year to date.
- Work with the Store Manager to lead and develop a team of 8 Supervisors, providing coaching, feedback and ongoing support to maximise performance and build their capability to effectively lead and develop the wider Customer Care team.
- Create an inclusive, supportive and high-performing team environment, using reward and recognition to celebrate achievement, building trusted relationships and confidently addressing challenging behaviours and performance when required.
- Identify and support colleague development and progression opportunities, helping team members build confidence, capability and clear career pathways.
- Oversee recruitment, resourcing and staff rotas, recruiting up to 10 colleagues ahead of peak trading periods including summer and Christmas, while ensuring effective deployment to meet operational demands, managing availability, shift changes and standby coverage.
- Lead key trading events, including Sale launches, coordinating colleagues and ensuring the store is fully prepared to deliver strong commercial, operational and visual standards.
- Maintain high standards of operational compliance, health and safety, risk management and loss prevention, leading 3 stocktakes and working with the Store Manager and Loss Prevention Manager to implement actions to reduce stock loss.
- Respond to changing business needs and demands, adapting rotas, colleague deployment and team priorities at pace to ensure the store is appropriately resourced and customer needs are consistently met.
- Support the Store Manager and Visual team in delivering and maintaining high visual standards, ensuring a consistent and engaging customer journey throughout the store.
Supervisor
New Look Retailers
Leeds
01.2019 - 12.2022
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of a brand flag store, working cohesively with a large team to support store trade and responding to changing team demands and customer needs.
- Review Sales and KPIs daily to ensure targets are met, identifying opportunities to improve performance and upskill colleagues through coaching and feedback.
- Effectively delegate tasks across the wider team to increase productivity, share workload and ensure key tasks are completed.
- Support the recruitment and training of new colleagues, setting clear company expectations and providing ongoing feedback and coaching to support their development.
- Support the team with difficult sales and customer situations, using conflict management training to achieve the best possible outcome for the customer and the business.
- Engage and motivate the team through fun incentives and regular communication, ensuring key trading activity and priorities are clearly relayed to colleagues.
- Remain conscientious of stock loss in store, following company processes and supporting actions to reduce loss, alongside cash management and banking procedures.
- Built strong relationships with upper management, actively seeking opportunities to learn and develop knowledge of commercial, visual and operational processes within the store; while confidently supporting colleagues with people issues and signposting them to the necessary support.
Sales Advisor
New Look Retailers
Leeds
04.2018 - 01.2019
- Consistently achieved and exceeded weekly KPI targets, using strong product knowledge to make genuine recommendations and identify opportunities to upsell.
- Maintained a customer-first attitude, building strong rapport with customers and receiving positive feedback through customer feedback platforms.
- Sought opportunities for personal growth and development, building knowledge and confidence across different areas of the business.
- Trusted with cashing up responsibilities, demonstrating accuracy, reliability and attention to detail.
- Supported Department Specialists with deliveries, merchandising and maintaining department standards, regularly providing cover when colleagues were on annual leave or days off.
- Built strong relationships with colleagues and regularly supported other departments, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to help where needed.
- Processed deliveries efficiently and used effective time management to balance operational tasks with customer service and sales priorities.
- Remained vigilant to stock loss, analysing best sellers to support sales opportunities and ensure stock was replenished effectively.
Education
Bachelor (Hons) - Physical Education
Leeds Beckett University
Leeds01-2019
Diploma of Higher Education - Sports Development, Fitness and Coaching
Leeds City College
Leeds01-2017
GCSEs - English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Additional Science
Swallow Hill Community College
Leeds01-2014
A-Levels - Physical Education
Swallow Hill Community College
Leeds01-2014
A-Levels - Media
Swallow Hill Community College
Leeds01-2014
A-Levels - Performing Arts
Swallow Hill Community College
Leeds01-2014
A-Levels - Law
Swallow Hill Community College
Leeds01-2014
A-Levels - Technology and Computer Studies
Swallow Hill Community College
Leeds01-2014
Skills
- KPI & Sales Performance
- Power BI & Sales Data Analysis
- Customer Experience Focus
- Operational Compliance & Loss Prevention
- Visual Standards & Store Presentation
- Rotas & Payroll Management
- Recruitment & Coaching
- Performance Management
- Leadership & Team Management
Timeline
Sales Manager
New Look Retailers
12.2022 - Current
Supervisor
New Look Retailers
01.2019 - 12.2022
Sales Advisor
New Look Retailers
04.2018 - 01.2019
Bachelor (Hons) - Physical Education
Leeds Beckett University
Diploma of Higher Education - Sports Development, Fitness and Coaching
Leeds City College
GCSEs - English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Additional Science
Swallow Hill Community College
A-Levels - Physical Education
Swallow Hill Community College
A-Levels - Media
Swallow Hill Community College
A-Levels - Performing Arts
Swallow Hill Community College
A-Levels - Law
Swallow Hill Community College
A-Levels - Technology and Computer Studies
Swallow Hill Community College