Elijah Saint Blancard
Director of Merchandise · Madison River Outfitter
Charlotte, NC
In My Own Words
-Skilled Retail Operations and Sales professional with 10 years of experience in management positions
- Generated an addition 30% revenue year to date for the Charlotte Knights in 2019 season
- Created over $2 million in revenue in one selling season while working with Mountain 2 Sea
- Demonstrates a high level of commitment, motivation, and team-oriented mindset
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Highrise, Asana, Lightspeed, Retail Pro POS, and other retail-focused software
Work Experience
Director of Merchandise
Charlotte Knights2019 – Present
- Oversee the Knights retail and e-commerce operation at BB&T Ballpark in downtown Charlotte - Design and rearrange the store weekly to keep inventory looking fresh - Manage and motivate a quality part time staff, seasonal associates and game day staff - Develop new buying strategies while staying up to date on industry trends - Implant new marketing and promotional ideas to guarantee company growth - Require superior customer service throughout all retail outlets - Process and create financial and inventory reports to present to ownership - Locate new point of sale opportunities around the city
Territory Sales Manager
Mountain to Sea Marketing2018 – 2019
Mountain 2 Sea Marketing August 2018 - January 2019 Territory Sales Manager - Utilized all available resources to convert prospects into active clients - Managed existing accounts and provide excellent customer service between retailers and brands - Collaborated with the management team to improve marketing materials and expands the company's presence in the Southeastern territory - Represented brands such as Mountain Khaki, Buff, Marmot, Exofficio, Stanley, Gregory, and Eagle Creek - Attended outdoor industry trade shows to accumulate new leads and make productive contacts with existing clients - Stayed on top of industry trends to identify potential opportunities for company growth
Retail Operations Manager
Soccer Post2017 – 2018
- Develop business and marketing plans for the new Charlotte store location - Build relationships with brand vendors and club teams to ensure business stability - Extensive work with Lightspeed POS and Microsoft Office - Manage all marketing aspects including social media, grassroots, and traditional advertising - Acquire youth soccer club accounts to generate additional sales revenues for the company - Oversee complete day-to-day store operations - Hire, train, and manage all staff
Merchandising Manager
D.C. United2013 – 2017
- Assisted and supported Director of Merchandise in execution of retail strategies involving event sales, operations, customer service, and inventory management - Implemented merchandise presentations, space allotment, and point-of-purchase information for each merchandise channel - Forecasted and implemented buying strategies based on past and current season analytics - Created positive business partnerships and identified new sources of supply when needed - Marketed and sold merchandise at select team and sponsor-related events - Extensive work with Retail Pro and Microsoft Office - Maintained qualified temporary and part-time staff by recruiting, selecting, and training staff - Assisted in forecasting sound operational and financial plans associated with retail merchandise strategies - Teamed up with Fanatics in creating a successful e-commerce, drop-ship program, and fulfilling orders - Oversaw the merchandise operations of international matches and special events in addition to D.C. United
