David Villaverde
London
Summary
A thoughtful and people-focused professional with 29 years of experience in the retail industry, including over five years dedicated to learning and development. Passionate about helping teams grow their knowledge and confidence, creating training that’s practical, engaging, and aligned with business goals. Designed and delivered a range of learning solutions - both in-person and online - to support performance, boost employee engagement, and drive results. With a strong understanding of the day-to-day challenges in retail, Enjoy working closely with teams and leaders to build skills that make a real difference. Keen to continue developing in the knowledge space, especially through the use of new technologies and smarter ways of sharing expertise.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work history
Sales & Service Specialist
John Lewis & Partners
London
01.2025 - Current
- Enhanced sales performance through effective communication strategies.
- Delivered exceptional customer service and comprehensive product knowledge to improve shopping experience.
- Conducted regular training sessions to remain informed on latest industry trends.
- Provided engaging service and essential technical knowledge to local selling shop Partners.
- Collaborated with Service & Selling Coach team and shop Team Managers to foster performance-focused culture.
- Planned and executed shop Partner Induction for new staff using centralised materials and resources.
- Participated in various training events to address Partner role-specific training needs.
- Delivered technical training on devices, apps, and new learning platforms while offering feedback to Customer Assistants.
Product specialist
John Lewis & Partners
London
12.2019 - 01.2025
- Strengthened partner–supplier relationships and boosted sales conversion by coordinating product training sessions and live demonstrations during supplier visits.
- Designed and launched an internal website to improve communication and provide centralized training resources for team members.
- Empowered team members to take ownership of projects and tasks, aiding accountability and collaboration.
- Delivered hands-on training sessions, equipping team members with in-depth product and system knowledge to improve order fulfilment efficiency.
- Provided support and training across multiple software platforms, including Salesforce, Connex, ServiceNow, CSS, EPOS, Workday, Protect+ Portal, and Insight.
- Expanded product expertise by actively participating in supplier events and training programs.
- Analyzed and monitored sales data to guide strategic planning and decision-making.
- Collected and integrated customer feedback to enhance overall service quality and experience.
Sales Advisor
John Lewis PLC
London
09.1996 - 12.2019
- Providing a superior end-to-end customer experience by delivering exceptional customer service, addressing customer queries and handling customer complaints.
- Be aware of and provide effective support to deliver key
business and customer initiatives, events, specialist services,
and existing and new propositions, where required. - Reviewing sales targets: assisting with implementation and adherence to measures to achieve them.
- Supplier liaison.
- Monitoring, replenishing stock levels, and dealing with returns/ debits.
- Dept. Communicator for the department involved ensuring the team were up-to-date with Branch/Departmental information and changes.
- Received Partner of the Year 2016 award for driving the new sleep concept, generating substantial additional sales through complimentary accessories and inspiring other partners to deliver the same standard.
- Building relationships with local and central stakeholders.
Education
A-Levels - Spanish
St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College
LondonGCSEs - English, Maths, Science, French, Latin, Spanish Language & Literature, History of Music, Art.
Vicente Canada Blanch
LondonSkills
- Adaptable
- Product knowledge expertise
- Product sales and technique training
- Staff on-boarding
- Training material creation
- Training needs assessment
- Presentation and facilitation skills
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Target and KPI driven
- Client-Focused service delivery
- Multi-Channel retailing
Languages
English
Fluent
Spanish
Fluent
Affiliations
- Film, Travel, Socialising, Gardening, Home Improvement.
Timeline
Sales & Service Specialist
John Lewis & Partners
01.2025 - Current
Product specialist
John Lewis & Partners
12.2019 - 01.2025
Sales Advisor
John Lewis PLC
09.1996 - 12.2019
A-Levels - Spanish
St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College
GCSEs - English, Maths, Science, French, Latin, Spanish Language & Literature, History of Music, Art.
Vicente Canada Blanch
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