(Kimberly) Elana Thomas
Blue Mountain
Summary
Dynamic retail professional with a strong background in team leadership and inventory management. Proven success in enhancing customer engagement and driving sales growth while training associates and overseeing daily store operations. Committed to fostering a positive work environment and implementing effective strategies for improvement.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Store Manager
Napa Auto Parts
12.2022 - Current
- Supervised 8 to 10 associates and trained new hires across various positions to enhance team effectiveness.
- Executed store opening and closing procedures to maintain operational efficiency.
- Money management, inventory maintenance, and all related daily, weekly and monthly reports required.
- Coordinated nightly receipt and processing of DC trucks, drop shipments, and UPS deliveries to ensure timely inventory management.
- Setting price changes, plannograms, and pulling class returns.
- Assisting in overseeing commercial department, implementing driver rules and regulations.
- Processing all cores, returns, damages, etc.
Store Manager
Auto Zone
Booneville
03.2021 - 12.2022
- Managed store operations, including opening, closing, daily deposits, and money management, ensuring smooth daily functions.
- Supervised team of 10 to 13 associates, fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Conducted hiring and training sessions for new associates to ensure effective onboarding.
- Inventory management and shrink prevention, and teaching associates the importance of both in everyone’s position.
- Executed price changes, plannograms, and required reports and projects on schedule.
- Ensured compliance with and provided training on all HR and Loss Prevention policies as well as Safety procedures.
Commercial Manager
Auto Zone
Ripley
03.2020 - 03.2021
- Developed sales strategies that increased customer engagement and loyalty through targeted initiatives.
- Managed customer relationships, achieving high satisfaction rates with services provided.
- Trained staff on best practices for customer service excellence.
- Managed supplier relationships, ensuring timely product availability and minimizing disruptions.
- Maintained an up-to-date database of current customers and potential leads.
Store Manager
Dollar General Corporation
Ingomar
05.2015 - 05.2017
- Successfully completed Corporate Training Class in Birmingham, AL, in October 2015.
- My first location was Ingomar MS. Our store was the 3rd best inventory performance in district.
- Coming in at slightly over $9000.00, being $20000.00 less than the projected allowed shrink numbers given by company.
- Second Location was New Albany, MS. Third week in location, through camera research, paperwork and discovery tools-identified a keyholder’s internal theft of over $10000.00 covering the prior 4 months before my arrival.
- Received Certificate of Shrink Improvement at the same location.
- Responsible for all store operation duties.
- Hiring and training new associates, communicating all new policies and regulations issued by company.
- Inventory management and maintenance, shrink prevention in a high shrink store.
- All tasks and duties needed to improve a broken store and make it clean, productive and successful.
- As well as working with each associate to make them successful as well.
APMM
01.2014 - 05.2015
- Jan 2014 til August 2014, tugger and fork lift operator in the receiving department.
- Assisting in inventory maintenance and production achievement.
- August 2014 til May 2015 at Pontotoc Library, data entry, customer service, cleaning, cataloging and maintenance as needed.
- All duties tasked by Library Director.
Bar Security
Woody’s Steakhouse and Lounge
10.2005 - 06.2014
- Enforcing establishment rules and policies, as well state and federal compliance laws.
- Preventing disturbances and disorderly behavior by patrons, physically removing from premises if needed.
- Patrolling grounds and maintaining a safe environment for customers and employees.
- Money management for paid events when needed and all other duties directed by owner.
Charles and Linda Hughes/Contract Labor
08.2009 - 11.2013
- Employed by Mr and Mrs Hughes on hourly salary to assist in remodeling residential and commercial properties purchased by the Hughes’.
- Weekly basic cleaning and maintenance.
- Installation of sheetrock, flooring, cabinets.
- Installation/construction of privacy fence, patio decks, stucco, underhouse installation panels.
- Painting of interior rooms and concrete porches.
- Required use of multiple materials and power tools.
Department Manager
Walmart Supercenter 153
04.1999 - 02.2008
- Responsible for maintaining instock at appropriate levels, controlling inventory, shrink prevention, price changes, mark downs, etc.
- Prepared seasonal features, orders and displays and presented 30,60, and 90 day plans monthly.
- Also served as stand in for receiving manager when he was out, this included receiving all shipments, scanning in direct deliveries, and training new associates on proper operation of compactor, baler, pallet truck, stockpicker, and forklift.
- First year as Dept. Mgr I brought shrink down from the previous year’s $16000.00 plus to only $125.00, making it the second best department inventory in the store.
Education
1 year technical certificate - Administrative Support Services
Northwest Community College
01-1993
Skills
- Leadership
- Communication
- Training
- Result oriented
- Motivated
- Ethical compass
- Respect
- Compassion
- Problem solving
- Solution building
- Staff training
- Store operations
- Inventory management
- Loss prevention
- Money management
- Customer relationship management
- Price change execution
- Scheduling coordination
- Team leadership
- Effective communication
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Conflict resolution
- Relationship building and management
- Assignment delegation
- Customer service and engagement
- Incident reports
- Regulatory compliance
- Team building and leadership
- Goals and performance
- Stock management
- Staff management
- Sales growth
- Store opening and closing
- Budgeting and cost control
- Problem-solving
- New hire training
- Motivational techniques
- Customer relations
- Performance evaluations
- Inventory control
- Employee scheduling
- Verbal and written communication
- Pricing and markdowns
- Shift scheduling
- Hiring and training
- Retail operations
- Staff supervision
- Strategic merchandising
- Employee coaching
- Customer service management
- Customer service
Timeline
Assistant Store Manager
Napa Auto Parts
12.2022 - Current
Store Manager
Auto Zone
03.2021 - 12.2022
Commercial Manager
Auto Zone
03.2020 - 03.2021
Store Manager
Dollar General Corporation
05.2015 - 05.2017
APMM
01.2014 - 05.2015
Charles and Linda Hughes/Contract Labor
08.2009 - 11.2013
Bar Security
Woody’s Steakhouse and Lounge
10.2005 - 06.2014
Department Manager
Walmart Supercenter 153
04.1999 - 02.2008
1 year technical certificate - Administrative Support Services
Northwest Community College