Experience

Kathe Wohlfahrt of America

• United States
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Store Manager - Seasonal

  • Oct 2011 - Present

  • Manage setup and merchandising of seasonal store at the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza.• Hiring and training of management team and staff.• Manage, schedule, and oversee staff of 30 seasonal employees. • Maximized sales and increased year-over-year growth through product knowledge, employee sales coaching, and interaction with customers – all while creating a pleasant shopping experience for a high volume of patrons.• Execution of accounting functions including: daily inventory reporting, register reconciliation, and bank deposits.• Directed/managed shutdown and pack-up of store at the end of the season. Preparation of remaining inventory for shipment back to corporate warehouse.

• Regional Manager - Seasonal

  • Oct 2016 - Dec 2017

  • Managed setup and merchandising of two seasonal stores at area Christkindlmarket's including: Daley Plaza – Chicago and Naper Settlement – Naperville.• Hiring and training of management team and staff for both Chicago and Naperville locations.• Manage, schedule, and oversee staff of 30 seasonal employees for Chicago location. • Oversight of management, training, and scheduling of staff of 35 seasonal employees for Naperville location.• Maximized sales and increased year-over-year growth at both locations through product knowledge, employee sales coaching, and interaction with customers – all while creating a pleasant shopping experience for a high volume of patrons.• Execution of accounting functions including: daily inventory reporting, register reconciliation, and bank deposits for Chicago location. Oversight of the same functions for Naperville location.• Directed/managed shutdown and pack-up of both Chicago and Naperville stores at the end of the season. Preparation of remaining inventory for shipment back to corporate warehouse.



Freelancer

• Great Chicago Area

• Visual Artist/Event Planner

  • Dec 1993 - Present

  • Design, display, and merchandising of retail stores, giftware showrooms, restaurants and corporate offices. Past experience includes: Alphabet Soup, Ann Sather’s Restaurant, Department 56, Enesco, Kris Kringle House, PolySystems, Inc., and Roman, Inc. • Successful planning and seamless execution of personalized activities for private and corporate events. • Work with YourOfficeWhisperer.com to create, shoot, edit, and produce custom videos for private and corporate events. • Design, display, and merchandising of retail stores, giftware showrooms, restaurants and corporate offices. Past experience includes: Alphabet Soup, Ann Sather’s Restaurant, Department 56, Enesco, Kris Kringle House, PolySystems, Inc., and Roman, Inc. • Successful planning and seamless execution of personalized activities for private and corporate events. • Work with YourOfficeWhisperer.com to create, shoot, edit, and produce custom videos for private and corporate events.



Halloween City

• United States
• Retail
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Assistant Manager - Seasonal

  • Sep 2012 - Nov 2017

  • Managed various stores in the Chicagoland area including: Naperville, Melrose Park, and Kildeer, IL. • Managed setup and merchandising of seasonal stores by category, theme, costume, and accessories. • Managed and directed staff of 20 seasonal employees in each store. • Maximized sales through product knowledge, employee sales coaching, and customer interaction – all while creating a pleasant shopping experience for all patrons. • Assisted with breakdown and pack-up of stores at the end of each season.



Meet the Oscars

• Chicago, IL

• Photographer/Greeter

  • Mar 2010 - Mar 2010

  • Created a welcoming and exciting Academy Award Hollywood experience for visitors. • Photographed guests with a genuine Oscar statue to create memory they'd never forget. • Created a welcoming and exciting Academy Award Hollywood experience for visitors. • Photographed guests with a genuine Oscar statue to create memory they'd never forget.



Alphabet Soup

• Oak Park, IL

• Retail Store Manager

  • Oct 1998 - Jul 2005

  • Increased overall sales, foot traffic, and consumer satisfaction through enticing window displays, personalized customer service, and customer database development. • Purchasing, merchandising, and visual display of 300 product lines of high-end gifts, collectibles, and furniture. • Maximized sales of Department 56 villages and Lunamoth ornaments through planning and coordination of two annual events; tasks included: display, marketing, direct mailings, and advertising. • Hiring and supervision of part-time and seasonal employees. • Performed daily accounting functions including: sales logs, register reconciliation, and bank deposits.



Hadesman & Associates

• Chicago, IL

• Showroom Manager

  • Dec 1991 - Dec 1993

  • Maximized showroom sales through oversight of local and road sales force. • Executed bookkeeping functions as well as purchasing. • Interaction with and service of existing customer base by providing advice and guidance on more than 50 collectible and giftware lines. • Merchandising of themed individual product lines. • Coordinated and managed gift and collectible showroom events. • Designed and prepared displayed for annual gift shows and buyers groups. • Maximized showroom sales through oversight of local and road sales force. • Executed bookkeeping functions as well as purchasing. • Interaction with and service of existing customer base by providing advice and guidance on more than 50 collectible and giftware lines. • Merchandising of themed individual product lines. • Coordinated and managed gift and collectible showroom events. • Designed and prepared displayed for annual gift shows and buyers groups.



Kurt S. Adler Inc.

• United States
• Wholesale Import and Export
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Showroom Manager

  • Sep 1990 - Oct 1991

  • Daily tasks included showroom sales and attending to customer's needs. • Gift show coordination for major accounts. • Assisted in planning of showroom and window display designs. • Daily tasks included showroom sales and attending to customer's needs. • Gift show coordination for major accounts. • Assisted in planning of showroom and window display designs.



Faroy, Inc.

• Chicago, IL

• Assistant Showroom Manager

  • Jul 1986 - Sep 1990

  • Daily tasks included showroom sales and attending to retailer's needs. • Assisted the road sales force. • Gift show coordination for major accounts. • Designing of showroom displays and merchandising. • Daily tasks included showroom sales and attending to retailer's needs. • Assisted the road sales force. • Gift show coordination for major accounts. • Designing of showroom displays and merchandising.