Gemma-Marie Handley
East Cowes,Isle of Wight
Summary
Following a successful career break to raise a family, I am eager to return to the workplace. I am a dedicated retail professional with expertise in customer service, visual merchandising, and stock rotation/replenishment. I have a proven ability to manage schedules efficiently and operate tills accurately, and am experienced in store opening and closing procedures. I am aiming to utilise my skills to enhance customer satisfaction in a new role.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Senior sales assistant
H&M
Coventry, West Midlands
2004.08 - 2007.11
- Deputy Floor Manager, and acted as Floor Manager cover when required (organising staff roles and distribution across the store, and authorising staff purchases).
- Good communication skills, both with staff and customers.
- Planning staff rotas and organising staff 'to do' jobs lists for the day.
- Working on a till (including floating and cashing-up tills), and also training others; making sure company policies are adhered to.
- Replenishing stock, whilst also maintaining store presentation standards (incorporating visual merchandising).
- Developed customer relationships by providing excellent service and understanding individual needs (including helping customers find products and recommending others).
- Tracked market trends to stay abreast of competitors' strategies.
- Handled customer complaints efficiently, turned negative experiences into positive ones.
- Collaborated with marketing team for successful product launches, and arranging displays to better present top priority products.
- Maintained high standards of cleanliness on shop floor, improved shopping experience for customers.
- Ensured compliance with health and safety regulations, maintained safe shopping environment.
- Adhered strictly to company policies whilst handling cash transactions.
Assistant Quality Control Supervisor
Abbey (Textiles) Limited - now closed
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
1997.07 - 1997.09
- Packing and organising stock to be shipped to stores.
- Managing a team to sort, pack and ship orders.
- Ensuring health and safety standards where met (checking products were scanned/X-rayed, to make sure no pins/broken sewing needles were shipped with clothing products, following manufacture).
- Managed documentation related to quality assurance.
- Coordinated recall efforts for flawed products swiftly and efficiently.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Fine Art
Coventry University
Coventry 2001.09 - 2004.06
Foundation Degree in Arts - Art & Design
Coventry University
Coventry 2000.09 - 2001.06
A-Levels - Art, English Literature, Psychology
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth 1998.09 - 2000.06
GCSEs - Art, English Literature, English Language, Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Textiles Technology
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
Bedworth, Warwickshire 1995.09 - 1998.06
Skills
- Customer Service
- Visual merchandising
- Stock rotation and replenishment
- Schedule management
- Till operation
- Store opening and closing
Timeline
Senior sales assistant
H&M
2004.08 - 2007.11
Bachelor of Arts - Fine Art
Coventry University
2001.09 - 2004.06
Foundation Degree in Arts - Art & Design
Coventry University
2000.09 - 2001.06
A-Levels - Art, English Literature, Psychology
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
1998.09 - 2000.06
Assistant Quality Control Supervisor
Abbey (Textiles) Limited - now closed
1997.07 - 1997.09
GCSEs - Art, English Literature, English Language, Maths, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Textiles Technology
Nicholas Chamberlaine School
1995.09 - 1998.06