Vijay Patel

• Site responsible person for all store operations, including HR compliance, facilities management, cash handling, customer relations.
• Lead a team of paid staff and volunteers to maximise store profitability while upholding a calm and collaborative work environment.
• Rota management, store analysis using EPOS systems to generate reports, to identify strengths and weaknesses of the store, to further drive sales.
• Improved income generation from gift aid, taking the store from 7% to 60% within 3 months by building donor trust and educating donors on the importance of gift aid if they were capable of signing up.
• Utilised stock level analysis to plan and tailor sale days and discount periods based on departmental overstock.
• Encouraged staff to undergo PAT testing certification to enable store to accept and sell donated electrical goods, further boosting sales potential within the store.
• Carried out customer surveys in store to ascertain customer needs.
• Implemented a donation log to track and analyse donation volume and quality, and how many of those donations were made by gift-aid signed up donors.
• Implemented processes learned from previous roles to streamline store operations, such as separating transfer donations to go to specific stores where they are likely to generate more income.
• Carried out appraisals with staff members to ensure ongoing development was on track.
• Trained staff in using World of Books as an income source.
• Utilised social media to drive footfall where possible by posting on multiple pages for Thame.
• Culled stock regularly, and refreshed window displays to keep the store exciting for customers.
• Implemented a discount system that helped customers easily identify price reductions.
• Conducted regular fire safety checks ensuring checklists were carried out and recorded, and anomalies were addressed prior to following checks.

• Relief manager for 8 stores (Summertown, Wallingford, Abingdon, Didcot, Henley, Carterton, Headington, Wantage).
• Learned each individual stores processes and how they differ, as well as an understanding of how stores with different demographics cater to their customers.
• Collaborated with store managers to ensure operations went unhindered, and undertook site responsibility when at different stores, either as a lone worker, or when working alongside staff and volunteers.
• Oversaw comprehensive stock management, including merchandise receipt, shelf replenishment, and shrinkage control.
• Acted as key holder, responsible for store opening and closing while ensuring security compliance.
• Maintained safe and organized store environment, adhering to health and safety regulations.
• Organized staff schedules and managed leave requests to ensure adequate coverage during peak hours.
• Led team of sales assistants, delegating tasks and establishing daily sales targets for improved performance.
• Communicated with nearby stores to maximise sales potential - where to send overstocked goods, and where to source stock, fixtures, and fittings when the store I was at required more.
• Utilised sales data to conduct department sales with managers when their store required clearance of overstocked goods.
• Learned processes for the sale of furniture including collection form donors, sales and scheduling, and home delivery with BoxMove.
• Carried out home collection of donations.
• Covered store absence at short notice to ensure sites didn't have to close due to management absence.

Oversaw comprehensive retail operations, including staffing, financial oversight, and technology integration.

• Managed supplier relationships, purchasing, invoicing, and account reconciliation processes.
• Implemented key performance indicators to assess business growth and revenue trends.
• Ensured compliance with health and safety regulations, achieving consistent 5/5 ratings.
• Led employee management through payroll administration, scheduling, training, and performance evaluations.
• Administered financial processes such as VAT registration and corporation tax compliance.
• Optimised costs across all business activities to enhance operational efficiency.
• Handled retail technology management, including EPOS systems and digital banking.