Andrew Kerry

• I joined IGA Mullumbimby as a casual employee. At the time I was just looking to make some extra money, the online business that my wife and I were running was hacked and in those days it was more difficult to rebuild then it is today, so I needed to go back to work. The store was purchased in 2012 by a new owner and I was asked to be Assistant Store Manager due to my extensive retail experience to help set up processes and train a new Manager to run the store. I did this and as I enjoyed being back in retail, I stayed and ended up Managing the store. The store has grown every year that I have been there even with a Woolworths opening within 500 metres of our location. We have done this with a focus on Quality Fresh Foods, running over and above specials in Grocery, Dairy and Freezer, making us competitive and providing lots of customer interaction to keep our customers loyal.

My Duties here include;

• Managing daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean, safe environment for customers and employees.
• Managing inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures.
• Addressing customer complaints promptly and professionally, resolving issues to maintain positive relationships with customers.
• Managed store employees successfully in fast-paced environment through proactive communication and positive feedback.
• Hired, trained and mentored all new staff members.
• Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise and organized backroom to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation.
• Maximized sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts.
• Maximized sales and minimized shrinkage through excellent customer service and adherence to standard practices.
• Reconciled daily sales transactions to balance and log day-to-day revenue.
• Increased store profitability by implementing cost-saving measures and efficient inventory management strategies.
• Managed inventory levels to minimize waste and ensure product availability, supporting customer satisfaction and sales efficiency.
• Increased community engagement by participating in local events and sponsoring youth sports teams, raising store's profile.
• Optimized checkout process to reduce wait times, improving customer satisfaction scores.
• Negotiated with vendors to introduce new products that matched consumer trends, keeping store's offerings fresh and appealing.
• Oversaw daily operations to ensure compliance with health and safety standards, maintaining safe environment for both staff and customers.
• Analyzed sales data to identify trends and adjust inventory accordingly, preventing stockouts of popular items.
• Boosted overall store sales by implementing innovative marketing strategies and exceptional customer service standards.
• Schedule and rostering employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
• Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
• Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and drive-off.
• Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.

• I was initially hire by Franklins Big Fresh to help open the Gosford Big Fresh Store. I was working at Woolworth's Bondi Junction as the Store Manager at that time. I was then moved to Queensland where I assisted in the conversion of some Franklins Stores to Fresh and the opening of Big Fresh Capalaba and Franklins Fresh Mt Gravatt which was the first store to make a profit in its first month of trade. I was then asked to returned to Sydney to take over Big Fresh Marrickville which at the time was losing money. I managed to fix the losses and turn the store around in the last 12 months I was there it made just over three million dollars profit and we employed just over 400 people. I was then asked to open the New Franklins Big Fresh at Warringah Mall which I did.

While at Franklins, other then opening stores and hiring and training Teams from scratch my duties included;

• Fostering a positive work environment by cultivating strong relationships between team members through team-building activities and consistent recognition of individual achievements.
• Set effective store schedules based on forecasted customer levels, individual employee knowledge, and service requirements.
• Managed financial aspects of store operations, including budget planning, expense tracking, and accurate record-keeping to maintain fiscal responsibility.
• Optimized labor scheduling according to store needs while adhering to budget constraints, maximizing productivity without compromising service quality.
• Oversaw loss prevention efforts, minimizing shrinkage by implementing effective security measures and training staff on proper procedures.
• Ensured compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies by regularly reviewing store procedures and taking corrective measures when necessary.
• Maintained open lines of communication with corporate headquarters, sharing pertinent information about store performance and requesting support when needed.
• Upheld and communicated store programs and standards to employees for optimal quality, freshness, safety and cleanliness.
• Collaborated with other managers and held Goal Setting meetings to establish Weekly, Monthly and Yearly Goals.
• Organized special events such as seasonal sales promotions to drive foot traffic into the store and increase sales opportunities.
• Coordinated in-store events to increase foot traffic, partnering with local businesses and community organizations for mutual benefit.
• Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
• Managed daily operations to ensure smooth functioning of the store, maintaining a clean, safe environment for customers and employees.
• Managed store employees successfully in fast-paced environment through proactive communication and positive feedback.
• Maintained proper product levels and inventory controls for merchandise and organized backroom to facilitate effective ordering and stock rotation.
• Maximized sales by creating innovative visual merchandising displays and store layouts.
• Oversaw daily operations to ensure compliance with health and safety standards, maintaining safe environment for both staff and customers.
• Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
• Successfully handled customer complaints quickly and in a professional manner, resolving issues to maintain positive relationships with customers, then put measures in place to prevent further complaints
• Managed inventory control, cash control, and store opening and closing procedures.