Daniel Lawford

I took over from the last manager when he left with zero managerial training, only with the skills I had learned while being supervisor. I had a smooth transition with no issues whilst increasing daily sales and average sales cost, making the store a much more organized, streamlined, and efficient store. I also made sure all the SFBB files were in good order and organized if the day came when they were needed. In summary, I took over a store that was not well maintained and had begun turning it into a well-oiled shop, however, the company had entered administration and closed the store with imminent effect, letting myself and my colleagues go in the process.

Below are some pointers for other areas I covered whilst manager;

• Facilitated staff training, resulting in better customer service.
• Fostered a positive work environment with regular team-building activities.
• Maintained inventory control, and reduced stock shortages.
• Monitored health and safety measures for guaranteed compliance.
• Boosted department efficiency by streamlining operational processes.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction by promptly addressing issues and concerns.
• Maintained clean and organised workspace to ensure efficient service.
• Balanced till at end of day, maintaining accurate records.
• Managed queue effectively during peak hours for seamless checkout process.
• Used Point of Sale system efficiently, speeding up transactions.
• Handled high volumes of transactions during holiday seasons efficiently.
• Handled cash and card payments with precision, maintaining customer confidentiality and discretion throughout.
• Kept checkouts areas and general store clean and orderly.

I came to work here after returning from Brighton looking for some more management experience, I very quickly became number 2 in the store and was a well-trusted member of staff. I took up roles that were beyond my pay with nothing expected back just so I could learn more about what was needed from me.

Below are some pointers on some of the roles included;

• Managed daily operations to increase productivity.
• Promoted a safe work environment by enforcing strict adherence to safety regulations.
• Fostered a positive work culture to boost employee morale.
• Delegated tasks appropriately, achieved balanced workload among team members.
• Assisted in the recruitment process for hiring quality staff members.
• Trained new hires and set up mentoring relationships to drive team performance.

Due to being at university at this time, this was the only job I worked whilst in Brighton. This was my first role in management, which was a very busy and popular restaurant. I will always appreciate my time here as it quickly became a very fun environment to work in whilst also giving me a lot of knowledge to improve. However, due to back-of-house staffing issues, the store was closed and we were let go.

Below are some pointers on my roles at the company;

• Ensured smooth operations by effectively managing front-of-house duties.
• Improved customer satisfaction with prompt and courteous service.
• Delegated tasks to staff for efficient workflow management.
• Maintained cleanliness, resulting in a comfortable dining environment for patrons.
• Streamlined reservation process, enhancing customer convenience.
• Handled customer complaints, ensuring swift resolution and client retention.
• Conducted regular inventory checks for adequate stock maintenance.

My second stint here was a full-time position, a much more hands-on role than before. In addition to what I previously said, I also had minor roles in different departments, and major roles in the Christmas setup and Santa grotto ticket sales, which is one of the busiest in the country. I also became a trained first-aider, in a store with a much higher incident rate than other stores.

Below are some pointers on my position here,

• Ensured customer satisfaction by handling their transactions efficiently.
• Handled cash, debit and credit card payments for smooth transactions.
• Maintained clean and orderly till area to enhance customer experience.
• Assisted customers with queries, improving shopping experience.
• Managed till operations effectively during peak hours for seamless service.
• Processed refunds and returns with understanding and empathy to maintain customer loyalty.
• Provided exceptional customer service by quickly scanning items and bagging purchases.
• Verified age for restricted product sales, maintaining compliance with legal standards.
• Identified counterfeit notes and coins, preventing financial loss to company.
• Aggressively promoted store loyalty cards to increase sign-ups.
• Kept calm under pressure whilst dealing with long queues or difficult customers.

I left my previous job as they could not offer me full-time at that point. I was hired to be a receptionist and bar staff, however only a couple of weeks into the role that increased to almost every role in the hotel. However, this job was not for me so I left to pursue other areas.

Below are some pointers on my position here.

• Enhanced customer satisfaction by efficiently managing all front desk enquiries.
• Handled appointment scheduling to ensure smooth daily operations.
• Managed phone calls, resulting in effective communication flow within the company.
• Maintained an organised reception area for a professional business environment.

For my first job, I was hired by one of the top garden centers in the country to be a till assistant on the weekends, a very enjoyable experience in a very busy environment.

Below are some pointers in my role here;

• Managed till operations effectively during peak hours for seamless service.
• Ensured customer satisfaction by handling their transactions efficiently.
• Handled cash, debit and credit card payments for smooth transactions.
• Maintained clean and orderly till area to enhance customer experience.
• Assisted customers with queries, improving shopping experience.