Michelle Simmons
Mount Pleasant
Summary
Results-driven Merchandising Team Manager known for exceptional productivity and efficient task completion. Specialize in inventory management, visual merchandising, and team leadership. Excel in communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, ensuring seamless operations and positive team dynamics.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchandising Team Manager
Belk
Mount Pleasant
03.2025 - Current
- Developed and implemented merchandising strategies to maximize sales and profits.
- Coordinated product placement to enhance customer shopping experience.
- Managed merchandising team to ensure optimal inventory levels.
- Created and maintained product displays in-store to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Arranged items in favorable positions and areas of store to attract customers and optimize sales.
- Communicated and coordinated planogram execution with store management.
- Followed prepared sketches and planograms to arrange consistent shelves, racks and bins across various locations.
- Evaluated current processes for improving operational efficiency.
- Conducted department walkthroughs to assess and remedy factors such as cleanliness, inadequate stock levels and poor merchandising.
- Resolved customer complaints in a professional manner while maintaining brand integrity.
- Coached staff on strategies to enhance performance and improve customer relations.
- Trained, managed and motivated employees to promote professional skill development.
- Developed training programs for new team members on merchandising standards.
- Trained new staff on store policies, procedures, and product knowledge.
- Provided feedback on employee performance during evaluations.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Directed and supervised staff performance.
- Provided leadership, insight and mentoring to newly hired employees to supply knowledge of various company programs.
- Identified appropriate solutions to minimize issues and quickly solve problems.
- Used Point of Sale register system to complete transactions.
- Mentored newly hired staff in upselling techniques to improve sales.
- Researched out-of-stock items to find additional inventory in other store locations.
- Completed thorough opening, closing, and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.
- Evaluated store performance and incorporated feedback to implement improvement plans.
Area Manager
The Uniform Outlet
North Charleston
08.2022 - Current
- I am in charge of my Charleston Store at all times:
- Merchandising
- Hiring and training
- Loss prevention
- Ordering of product
- Inventory
- Along with my own store, I oversee the Columbia, SC location. I help my manager there make sure her store runs smoothly. I assist her in her ordering decisions for new product or if we need to take product away. I help her with training, reviews, and scheduling at times. I do quarterly visits and help her understand any decisions we need to make for her location.
Store Manager
The Uniform Outlet
North Charleston
07.2021 - Current
- I am in charge of the store at all times. I perform:
- Opening/closing duties
- Merchandising
- Scheduling
- Hiring and training
- Loss prevention
- Inventory
- Ordering of product
- Reviews and write ups
Store Manager
Versona
Erie
06.2020 - 05.2021
- Responsible for all activities and objectives of one store including: sales generation, effective customer service, shrinkage, Human Resources management, merchandising, administrative and expense management and store maintenance.
- Strictly followed all company policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
- All daily operations: opening and closing the store, hiring, training, etc.
Brand Operations Supervisor
Victoria's Secret
Erie
07.2019 - 06.2020
- Trains and coaches Merchandise and Recovery team members to meet productivity standards
- Coached staff on the sales floor to reinforce positive behavior and address performance issues
- Maintains brand integrity in all areas of visual display
- Executes and complies with presentation standards (including all floor set changes throughout the entire store, visual window displays, mannequins, weekly ad changes, etc.), adjusting visual presentation to consistently ensure brand appropriateness
- Delivered feedback to leadership on merchandise-handling concerns to enhance operational efficiency
- Conveyed customer feedback to leadership team to inform improvements in customer experience
- Managed floor coverage as the manager on duty to ensure adequate staffing.
- Supports and ensures execution of all shipment receiving and processing procedures
Merchandise Supervisor
Jcpenney
Erie
11.2014 - 07.2019
- Trains and coaches Merchandise, Recovery, and Fitting Room team members to meet productivity standards
- Provided actionable feedback to leadership on merchandise-handling concerns and opportunities
- Maintains brand integrity in all areas of visual display
- Coached staff on the sales floor to reward good behavior and redirect poor performance
- Maintained brand integrity across all visual displays to ensure alignment with brand standards
- Provides feedback to leadership regarding merchandise-handling concerns/opportunities
- Shares feedback from customers to leadership team to improve overall customer experience
- Shared customer feedback with leadership team to enhance overall customer experience
Financial Representative
Western and Southern Life
Erie
12.2012 - 10.2014
- Sold life and health insurance
- Interacted with clients on a personal and professional manner
- Collected payments
Visual Merchandising Expert
The Gap Inc
Erie
07.2008 - 05.2012
- Maintains brand integrity in all areas of visual display
- Executes and complies with presentation book standards, adjusting visual presentation to consistently ensure brand appropriateness
- Maps merchandise flow and product placement
- Delivered constructive feedback to leadership on merchandise-handling concerns to enhance operational efficiency
- Supports and ensures execution of all shipment receiving and processing procedures
- Executes markdowns in a timely and accurate manner
- Provides feedback to leadership regarding merchandise-handling concerns/opportunities
- Trains and coaches Brand Experience team members to meet productivity standards
- Executes development and training plans for Brand Experience team members
- Executed presentation book standards and adjusted visual displays to maintain brand integrity and appeal
- Assists in managing all store supplies including shipment supplies and fixtures, and communicates needs to manager
- Conveyed customer feedback to leadership to inform strategies for enhancing overall customer experience
- Shares feedback from customers to leadership team to improve overall customer experience
- Communicates and manages floor coverage as LOD
- Processes daily and monthly paperwork (bank deposits, closing and opening drawers, etc.).
Assistant Manager
Pier 1 Imports
Erie
06.2006 - 05.2008
- Assisted Store Manager in daily activities to enhance sales, customer service, and profitability
- Managed and made the schedule for a team of 12-20 employees
- Executed shipment receiving and processing procedures to ensure timely stock availability
- Transferred damaged and defective merchandise to designated areas
- Ensured store is a neat, clean and safe environment for all employees
- Communicated and managed floor coverage
- Performed stock transfers of damaged and defective merchandise, as well as charge sends
- Provided customer feedback to leadership team to enhance overall customer experience
- Maintained and set up all areas of visual display
- Processed daily and monthly paperwork (bank deposits, closing and opening drawers, etc.).
Logistics Sales Associate
Old Navy
Erie
11.2004 - 05.2007
- Drove sales and profitability through proper merchandising and overall presentation of specific departments of ownership
- Executed flexing of product to maximize business opportunities
- Executed product flexing to optimize business opportunities
- Communicated results and solutions to Assistant Store Manager to enhance overall performance
- Ensured departments up stock and back stock are organized and maintained according to company standards
- Led shipment process for new flow and replenishment weeks for departments of ownership
- Ensured placement of merchandise meets company presentation guidelines
- Exhibited behaviors to drive service standards: understood target customer in each area and recognized customer cues
- Ensured store is compliant with daily cleaning activities
- Assisted in opening new stores within the district by coordinating logistics and training staff
Sales Associate
The Limited
Erie
08.2004 - 11.2004
- Provided service to every customer in the store (suggestive selling, styling, etc.)
- Helped organize and implement all window displays and floor changes
- Processed shipment deliveries, customer sales, and phone sales
Assistant Manager
Pier 1 Imports
Myrtle Beach
10.2000 - 05.2004
- Assisted the Store Manager in all daily activities which include maximizing sales, customer service, profit, and in control when running other stores or on vacation
- Created weekly work schedules for a team of 15-30 employees to ensure adequate coverage and operational efficiency.
- Trained and coached all team members to meet company standards
- Performed stock transfers of damaged and defective merchandise and processed charge sends.
- Ensured store is a neat, clean and safe environment for all employees
- Communicated and managed floor coverage
- Performed stock transfers of damaged and defective merchandise, as well as charge sends
- Conveyed customer feedback to leadership team, contributing to enhancements in overall customer experience
- Mapped merchandise flow and product placement
- I was chosen to be the interim manager for a store in Alabama
- Helped in the opening of two brand new stores for the company. Organized and prepared the openings of each store in a week's time
Education
Bachelor - Marine Science
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SCDiploma - General Studies
Villa Maria Academy
Erie, PASkills
- Product merchandising
- Visual merchandising
- Merchandising
- Planogram execution
- Product placement
- Inventory management
- Inventory accounting
- Employee Orientation
- Sales forecasting
- Merchandise budgeting
- Pricing strategies
- Expense Management
- Store Management Experience
- Retail Management
- Operations Management
- Team Management
- Team leadership
- Management
- Leadership
- Performance Management
- Performance evaluation
- Staff training
- Recruiting
- Employee Orientation
- Interviewing
- Customer management
- Sales strategy
- Conflict resolution
- Problem solving
- Effective communication skills
- Operational efficiency
- Strong management skills
- Microsoft Windows efficiency
- Sales strategy
Assessments
Supervisory skills: Motivating & assessing employees, Proficient, 05/21, Motivating others to achieve objectives and identifying improvements or corrective actions
Personal Information
- Willing To Relocate: Anywhere
- Authorized To Work: US for any employer
Timeline
Merchandising Team Manager
Belk
03.2025 - Current
Area Manager
The Uniform Outlet
08.2022 - Current
Store Manager
The Uniform Outlet
07.2021 - Current
Store Manager
Versona
06.2020 - 05.2021
Brand Operations Supervisor
Victoria's Secret
07.2019 - 06.2020
Merchandise Supervisor
Jcpenney
11.2014 - 07.2019
Financial Representative
Western and Southern Life
12.2012 - 10.2014
Visual Merchandising Expert
The Gap Inc
07.2008 - 05.2012
Assistant Manager
Pier 1 Imports
06.2006 - 05.2008
Logistics Sales Associate
Old Navy
11.2004 - 05.2007
Sales Associate
The Limited
08.2004 - 11.2004
Assistant Manager
Pier 1 Imports
10.2000 - 05.2004
Bachelor - Marine Science
Coastal Carolina University
Diploma - General Studies
Villa Maria Academy