We love knowing who’s finding Bold.pro useful! Are you…?
(1 of 2)
Hi, I’m
Robin Sommers
South Bend,IN
Summary
United States Navy Veteran 1986-1991. Accomplished Retail Sales Manager, knowledgeable, and dedicated customer service professional with extensive experience in the horticulture industry. Visionary-thinking leader, with proven communication, and management skills in establishing rapport with clients. Motivated to maintain customer excellence, nurturing team environments, resulting in high employee retention rates, and contribute to the company success. Articulate, creative, energetic, and results-oriented with exemplary passion for developing relationships, cultivating partnerships and growing business culture. Focused, dependable and punctual individual with outstanding people management and data processing abilities. Available full-time, including weekends and holidays.
Overview
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Silverstone Gardens, LLCWatervliet, MI
Retail Sales Manager, Social Media & Events Coordinator, Lead Designer
03.2010 - 07.2022
Job overview
- High-traffic store manager responsible for recruiting top talent, pre-screening, interviewing and hiring of team members.
- Directed and mentored development of nine member service excellence team, resulting in superior company retention.
- Created and implemented company policies and retail garden center procedures.
- Report and provide oversight of budget, working with owner to drive fiscal responsibility and profitability.
- Exceeded yearly revenue goals on consistent basis, sometimes resulting in seasonal growth by over 20%.
- Reviewed store sales numbers, cost of inventory, operational expenses and inventory losses through Excel spreadsheets.
- Buyer, collaborated with industry brokers on new plant varieties, and hard goods as well as price negotiation.
- Stayed abreast of industry trends, design and vendor products via trade shows and publications, gaining extensive knowledge to recommend items aligned with customer needs.
- Implemented fun and creative area for kids to learn and grow, including Kid's Club program with workshops, classroom activities and special events.
- Developed marketing content such as promotional materials and advertisements for social media, strategizing visual campaigns by aligning consistent brand messaging.
- Applied loyal customer rewards program to boost profits, acquire and retain new customers.
- Responsible for training team members on POS register system procedures and cash handling.
- Monitored sales floor and visual merchandising displays for current season up to date, presentable condition.
- Lead designer on all visual merchandising displays.
- Key holder, open and closed store independently.
- Controlled shipments, inventory, purchasing and inspection to reduce workflow gaps.
- Executed, designed and implemented recipes for container gardens and services, resulting in new department revenue of $25,000 first season and growing.
- Coached sales associates in product specifications, sales incentives and selling techniques, significantly increasing customer satisfaction ratings.
- Managed day-to-day staffing and handled scheduling for all store employees.
- Oversaw employee performance, corrected problems and increased efficiency to maintain productivity targets.
- Evaluated and contributed to creative team ideas and translated into actionable project plans.
Total Lawn Care & LandscapingEau Claire, MI
Garden Designer
04.2004 - 03.2010
Job overview
- Established, self-taught artist and gardener with extensive horticulture knowledge who never stops learning, creating or sharing.
- Assisted with all elements of project management, design and build process with immediate landscape supervisor, from site surveying to hard landscaping and plant selection.
- Performed personalized consultations with clients to identify needs and resolve issues.
- Helped maintain profitability by sourcing cost effective raw materials.
- Design, plan, and install small scale residential and commercial gardens throughout Southwest, MI.
- Lead in upkeep of existing landscapes by pruning, weeding, and gardening.
- Increased pre-season contract bookings, resulting in solving budgetary constraints for client, and 3% increase off-season profitability.
Education
Mishawaka High SchoolMishawaka, IN
Diploma
06.1986
Skills
- Creative Leadership
- Detailed-Oriented and Results Driven
- Strong Service Mindset
- Customer Service Management
- Analytical Problem Solver
- Calm and Professional Under Pressure
- POS Systems and Operating Platforms
- Promoting Brand and Company Identity
- Computer Proficiency Microsoft Office, Google Drive
- Decision Making, Delegating
- Persuasive Negotiations
- Effective Customer Communication
Timeline
Retail Sales Manager, Social Media & Events Coordinator, Lead Designer
Silverstone Gardens, LLC
03.2010 - 07.2022
Garden Designer
Total Lawn Care & Landscaping
04.2004 - 03.2010
Mishawaka High School
Diploma