Outdoor

Volunteering at full life care and with the pacific crest trail association
rescue dogs
outdoor pursuits!

I handed off the store to my Assistant Manager in March to raise my son.  I accepted the positon of Visual Merchandiser and On Call Sales Specialist.  I creatively facilitate customer interaction with the product through the following responsibilities:  Floor Sets, Planograms, Seasonal Displays, Vendor Displays, Promotions and Sale Displays, Signage, Windows, and Mannequins.  I work weekends and before and after the store is open.  I also fill in as needed on the sales floor.

On Call Visual Merchandiser and Sales

Personnel
Recruiting, hiring, training and retaining store staff
Coaching and career development, conducting disciplinary actions, writing performance reviews
Writing staff schedule, managing time off requests
Writing yearly operation and capital expense budgets, maintaining payroll and other expenses to budget
Developing and implementing team rewards and benefits
Succession planning

Customer Service
In-Store, Phone, Email, and Social Media interaction with customers
Fulfilling the customers product and information needs through respectful interaction
Exceeding customer expectations with thorough communication and follow up via email and phone
Managing store credit, gift card, and Friends and Family customer databases, improving on processes already in place
Writing and implementing cross-departmental policies on warranties and returns, streamlining the customer experience
Tracking and reporting on warranties and returns to Product Development and QC departments
Empowering and supporting sales staff to handle customer issues without managerial approval
De-escalating upset customer situations with empathy, generosity, and humor as appropriate 

Finance and Buying
Writing and maintaining yearly operations and capital expenses budgets
Developing and delegating sub-budgets such as Event Marketing
Attending sales meetings and trade shows, Outdoor Retailer
Planning, placing, and reviewing seasonal merchandise buys of $600,000-$700,000
Reviewing shipments, paying invoices, maintaining relationships with vendors
Maintaining banking records and daily accounting reports, retaining files as required by law

Marketing
Working with Creative Director and Graphic Designers to create visual ads
Directing Social Media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, FourSquare, Google, Instagram
Supervising Store Events Coordinator
Sponsoring events: Seattle Bouldering Project, Vertical World, Green Drinks, Rock Fest, Paddle Fest
Tracking and Improving ROI on each initiative year over year
Creating and Sending marketing emails to lists of 2,000 to 25,000 addresses using Mail Chimp

Store Manager

I worked my way from SS1 to ASM over the course of 2.5 years.  I have done absolutely everything that could be done in the store and I have mastery of it.

Sales Specialist 1, 2, Assistant Store Manager

I began at REI as a PT Sales Specialist and was promoted after one year to FT.  I cross trained as a cashier and trained new employees in hard goods.  I worked as a seasonal temporary Returns Specialist in the Distribution Center, giving me a well-rounded introduction to work at a leader in the Outdoor Industry.

Part Time Sales Specialist, Full Time Sales Specialist, Returns Specialist

Find out detailed information about Lauren Kohl (O'Connell-Fujii),  in Seattle, WA

Lauren Kohl (O'Connell-Fujii): in Seattle, WA

Lauren Kohl (O'Connell-Fujii)

Bellevue Community College

Evergreen State College