This document provides a summary of Elizabeth Pontoriero's experience and qualifications as a results-driven retail manager with over 20 years of experience managing profitable retail operations including liquor stores and bars. She has a proven track record of growing sales, implementing strategies, recruiting and motivating employees, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Her experience also includes roles as an owner/operator of a liquor store, merchandiser, and clerk in related retail industries.
1. ElizabethPontoriero
General Manager at Tampa Liquors
lizpontoriero@gmail.com
Summary
I am a results-driven and customer-centered retail manager with 20+ years of professional experience in all
facets of retail management. I have verifiable experience in the maintaining of profitable retail operations
with success in capitalizing on growth opportunities while implementing new marketing and merchandising
strategies. I am experienced in recruiting, training, and retaining a high caliber team and retail operations
personnel with the proven ability to motivate employees to achieve maximum result. My strong leadership
and team building skills are utilized as an effective communicator - promoting strong and proficient
employee teams driven by organizational goals. I am a dedicated, respected, and trusted manager who is a
quick learner and does not mind a challenge.
My background has provided me experience in communicating at all levels of the organization and serving as
a bridge between the business and team while maintaining business relationships. My proven track record in
identifying gaps in business processes has been critical in the streamlining of retail operations. I have
demonstrated leadership abilities and team skills as well as the ability to accomplish tasks under minimal
direction and supervision - providing efficient solutions that impact the bottom line. I am a motivated
individual with strong planning, organizational, and leadership skills.
I have strong analytical skills and expertise in translating the big picture into winning business strategies.
Recognized as an aggressive leader who is capable of creative effective visual displays via outstanding
merchandizing skills - providing strategy development/execution and tactical market plans. I have earned a
reputation of being a management leader by conceptualizing and generating new ideas, analyzing problems,
and developing solutions.
Experience
General Manager at Tampa Liquors
April 2005 - July 2015 (10 years 4 months)
• Ran daily operations for 3 bars and 4 different liquor stores located in North Tampa (Liquor Depot,
Pix Liquors & Lounge, VIP Liquors & Lounge, and City Liquors & Lounge).
• Managed all aspects of hiring, training, and supervising for a team of 45 employees.
• Merchandised selling of liquor store and promotion in bars while overseeing operations.
2. • Led in talent selection, training, coaching, motivating, and recognizing of productive staff.
• Addressed poor performance. Administered and followed up on corrective actions.
• Created a retail culture that ensured customer satisfaction was the focus of all activities.
• Took accountability for meeting compliance to audit requirements/inventory management.
• Handled A/P, necessary filings, revenue reviews, schedules, and all employee issues.
• Accurately put inventory into computers while checking in liquor, wine, and beer invoices.
• Transferred product from store to store and from warehouse to stores. Reset liquor, wine, and beer
shelves. Implemented store policies and procedures to hold the employees accountable, quickly addressed
all customer complaints and/or issues, and handled a wide range of security camera and maintenance
issues.
Clerk at Village Wine and Spirits
August 2004 - April 2005 (9 months)
• Was responsible for organizing weekly wine tastings, helping customers with wine and liquor purchases,
putting invoices into computer for inventory, and opening/closing the store.
• Used retail and merchandising experience for home wine tastings and food pairings.
• Ensured service, merchandising, and operational standards were met via company-defined processes.
Monitored and followed up on productivity goals for the store to ensure established goals are achieved.
Owner/Operator at West Trenton Fine Wines and Liquors
1989 - 2002 (13 years)
• As an Owner/Operator of a retail outlet selling beer, wine, and liquor, provided "hands-on" management
and implemented significant changes for the business to improve business.
• Managed sales and marketing while ensuring team participation and increasing sales - growing sales from
$520,000 to $2.6M yearly and increasing gross profits from 18% to 25%.
• Hired, trained, and supervised staff. Conducted entry/exit interviews. Led meetings and disseminated
information to assistant managers and employees. Coordinated inventories.
• Coached staff on new store programs as well as new employee orientation training.
• Developed customer relations by understanding client needs and leveraging knowledge.
• Reviewed records of items purchased, costs, deliveries, performance, and inventories.
• Sourced for suppliers and counter-checked details and completeness of purchase paper.
• Implemented a new advertising strategy for pricing/ scheduling of ads as done weekly.
• Hired and trained all new store employees, and Executed all seasonal promotions.
• Managed inventory and payroll, merchandising, building displays of liquor, wine, and beer.
• Merchandised products to increase impulse sales; managed displays to exceed goals.
• Organized annual wine tasting to benefit the 9/11 victims and the West Trenton volunteer Fire House.
Achieved merchandising objectives through the use of permanent and secondary displays as well as other
display vehicles established within the store's retail execution plan.
• Provided staff performance feedback and effective follow-up through training, mentoring, and application
of guidelines to staff to provide the highest level of customer service.
• Worked as merchandiser by creating displays and maintaining updated inventory sheets.
• Maintained strict operating standards and appearance of store by following procedures.
3. • Organized and maintained store records in compliance with policies and procedures.
Merchandiser at Nintendo of America
1988 - 1989 (1 year)
• Educated personnel on games, prepared information on new games and release dates, tracked inventory,
set up displays, and reset games according to Nintendo's sales strategy.
• Verified tasks were completed, and reviewed to ensure displays were merchandised.
• Built rapport with customers through effective communication and customer follow-up.
• Ensured that the store maintained excellent visual presentation while making a game-first statement.
Merchandiser at Ferolie Corporation
1985 - 1988 (3 years)
• Introduced new products to store manager and staff; set up displays to promote products.
• Communicated with accounts, and performed control of inventory by checking codes.
• Ensured flawless retail execution of merchandising plans by setting up appealing grocery store displays.
Report weekly activity, account expenses, competitive shelf and sales activity, account changes, product
promotions, and all administrative functions within territory.
• Led store accounts in merchandise selling to enhance sales and introduce products.
• Planned monthly budgets and implemented price changes and promotions. Assorted displays at 15 stores.
Monitored shipments to ensure new products arrived on time, and resolved problems related to new goods.
Skills & Expertise
Solid Operations Management Skills
Proficient in Employee Training
Maintains Effective Client Relationships
Extensive Inventory Management
Strong Retail Management Experience
Merchandising / Visual Displays