Store Manager
Colour creations paint and hardware
Total years of experience :11 years, 11 Months
As the Store Manager, I held a diverse range of responsibilities crucial to the store's success and customer satisfaction. At the core of my role was ensuring exceptional customer service, leveraging my extensive knowledge of paint products to address inquiries and provide personalized recommendations. I took ownership of the store's overall appearance and performance, meticulously managing over-the-counter sales transactions and processing invoices for smooth operations.
In addition to overseeing inventory and stocking merchandise, I played a pivotal role in training new associates and supporting their ongoing development. I actively contributed to improvement projects, offering valuable input into merchandising decisions to ensure alignment with strategic objectives. Daily maintenance of the paint counter and aisles was essential, where I provided specialized colour matching expertise and product selection advice to customers.
Upholding the store's standards of service excellence, I promoted engagement through hands-on workshops and experiences with the staff. Staying updated on promotions and advertisements, I executed daily operational goals assigned by management and actively participated in processing new shipments while maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the receiving and back stock area.
Safety was a top priority, and I consistently monitored the use of store power equipment, coaching employees on safe behaviours and lifting techniques. Additionally, I excelled in responding to customer inquiries, providing information on procedures and policies, and encouraging customers to open accounts with the store.
My responsibilities extended beyond the store's confines, including delivering paint to VIP customers and conducting on-site analyses and consultations to fulfil their paint needs. This not only effectively converted sales but also fostered long-term customer relationships.
Throughout my tenure, I approached each responsibility with dedication and professionalism, contributing significantly to the overall success and reputation of the store within the community.
As the Director, I played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction and operational excellence of the company's dishwashing systems and kitchen hygiene services. With over two decades of experience, our primary focus was on delivering professional dishwashing solutions, kitchen equipment, and hygiene products. In this leadership position, I spearheaded efforts to ensure the efficacy of food safety equipment, managed vital resources, and oversaw the production of high-quality chemicals.
My key responsibilities encompassed strategic leadership, where I developed and implemented comprehensive strategies aligning company goals with food safety standards, customer satisfaction, and overall business growth. I took charge of the manufacturing process, ensuring strict adherence to quality standards and implementing robust quality assurance processes.
In terms of technical support and maintenance, I provided leadership to dedicated teams of technicians across multiple branches to ensure optimal operational performance of dishwashing and chemical dispensing systems. I crafted preventative servicing schedules to minimize downtime for customers and guaranteed parts and labour for all rental systems.
Emphasizing the importance of product knowledge and training, I stayed abreast of the latest advancements in dishwashing technology and kitchen equipment. I implemented training programs for staff, focusing on proper equipment use, hygiene practices, and compliance with food safety regulations.
Maintaining positive customer relations was a critical aspect of my role. I fostered strong relationships with clients by understanding their needs and delivering exceptional service. I acted as a liaison between the company and clients to address concerns promptly and ensure overall satisfaction.
I oversaw hygiene training and audit services, ensuring they complemented the objectives of the technical department. Continuously seeking improvement, I expanded these services in response to customer demand and evolving industry standards.
In managing the company's role as National Service Agents for Smeg Professional Dishwashing Systems, I ensured effective partnerships and explored opportunities for collaboration with other leading brands in the industry.
An essential focus was on providing cost-efficient solutions to clients. I developed strategies to help clients avoid overspending on detergents and maintenance costs, offering expert advice on cost-effective solutions without compromising quality.
Throughout my tenure, I demonstrated a commitment to maintaining high standards of hygiene and customer satisfaction while effectively leading and motivating cross-functional teams.
In my role as the Technical Manager at Food Safety, I led the charge in ensuring operational efficiency and technical excellence for the company's dishwashing systems and kitchen hygiene services. With a hands-on approach, I directed a team of technicians across multiple branches, overseeing the seamless operation and maintenance of major dishwasher brands like Smeg, Elettrobar, DIHR, Comenda, Hobart, Vulcan and others. My primary focus was on optimizing system functionality, minimizing downtime, securing parts and labour guarantees for all rental systems, and performing repairs and maintenance directly at client sites to ensure a reliable and uninterrupted service experience.
At the core of my responsibilities lay the meticulous oversight of chemical manufacturing at our facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town. I implemented stringent quality assurance processes with the help of our chemical engineer, ensuring adherence to industry standards and the production of top-quality chemicals. Additionally, I led technical support and training initiatives, empowering our team with the latest knowledge in dishwashing technology and kitchen equipment. This strategic approach not only enhanced the technical team's capabilities but also facilitated superior support to customers, emphasizing proper equipment usage, hygiene practices, and regulatory compliance.
As a liaison between the technical department and our valued clients, I nurtured positive relationships and promptly addressed concerns and mechanical breakdowns of any nature specific to the equipment we supplied to ensure exceptional customer satisfaction. Collaborating closely with the hygiene training department, I aligned technical support efforts with broader organizational objectives, driving continuous improvement and service expansion based on evolving customer needs and industry trends.
Furthermore, I managed strategic partnerships, including our role as National Service Agents for Smeg Professional Dishwashing Systems, and explored collaborations with other industry leaders to enhance our technical capabilities and service offerings. Emphasizing cost efficiency and optimization, I devised strategies to help clients mitigate overspending on detergents and maintenance costs while maintaining quality standards. This approach contributed not only to customer satisfaction but also to the company's financial performance.
My tenure as Technical Manager at Food Safety was characterized by a comprehensive approach to technical management, quality assurance, customer relations, and on-site repair and maintenance services for dishwashing systems and kitchen hygiene solutions.
I assumed a range of responsibilities pivotal to the successful implementation and maintenance of electrical systems within batching and weighing plants. This encompassed electrical instrumentation designs, panel building, manufacturing, and full system installation and commissioning, with a strong focus on automation, instrumentation, and electrical control to ensure optimal functionality and efficiency in batching plants more specifically the weighing of goods within the automation loop.
I played a key role in collaborating with engineering teams to seamlessly integrate electrical components into batching plant systems, maintaining a keen eye on compliance with industry standards and optimizing material handling and production processes. This extended to close collaboration with mechanical teams to guarantee the smooth integration of electrical components with mechanical systems within batching plants, offering technical support for the installation and alignment of mechanical equipment to contribute to project success.
Additionally, I took a hands-on approach to load cell installations and calibrations, ensuring accurate and reliable weight measurements crucial to the production processes. This involved addressing any electrical issues affecting load cells promptly through routine maintenance and troubleshooting.
In response to service calls and breakdowns, I efficiently conducted troubleshooting and repairs, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of electrical systems. Simultaneously, I conducted regular calibrations and performed preventive maintenance tasks to uphold the reliability of these systems.
Furthermore, my role included actively contributing to the customization of each project, collaborating closely with project teams to tailor solutions to meet specific and detailed requirements within the batching plant production process. This approach enhanced the overall business model, ensuring that electrical components aligned seamlessly with diverse project needs.
My role as an Electrical Technician was characterized by a comprehensive set of responsibilities, encompassing electrical and mechanical integration, automation, calibration, and customization of solutions. This holistic approach contributed significantly to the success of batching plant projects across various industries ranging from the mining industry to the food industry.
The institute I schooled at is a renowned technical school, my subjects included, Technical drawings, Science, Electrical engineering, Math and Languages.