STEPHEN HOWARD RICHARDSON16 CHASE VIEW, ETTINGSHALL PARK, WOLVERHAMPTON, WV4 6QN

Telephone 01902 688438 (Home) 07711 343859 (Mobile)

A highly successful retail and business management professional with over 30 years’ experience in a variety of business and retails sectors.

I have a proven track record of achieving key performance indicators to ensure business development and increased turnover.

I believe success is only ever achieved by developing and training teams and recruiting the best people for the job.

Career History

SPECSAVERS2001 – Present date – Retail Director (Joint Franchisee)

Currently I am a joint Franchisee and Retail Director for a Specsavers franchise with a £1.2 million pound turnover with profits in excess of £100,000 per annum. Managing a team of 14 staff, I am responsible for the day to day management of the store including purchasing, merchandising, budgets, staff training and development, customer service, quality control and health and safety. Since I took over the franchise in 2001 I project managed the store through a move to bigger premises and a refurbishments to maximise its potential and grown its turnover year on year to take it from £450,000 to £1.2 million per annum.

CARPETRIGHT PLC1999-2001 – Regional sales manager

Managed and developed a team of over 200 staff, 20 of which were branch managers achieving in excess of £20 million turnover. During my time in this role, even though new to the industry, I increased the turnover by 11%. The regions I initially ran were Liverpool and North Wales. Following my success in these regions I was promoted to one of the company’s top performing regions in March 2000, where I increased sales by 7%, whilst maintaining an increase in profitability above company average.

POWERHOUSE ELECTRICAL RETAIL LIMITED1998-1999 Divisional sales manager

Following the departure of the sales director I was chosen to report direct to the board and continue his role until October 1998 enabling the company, without any loss in sales and profitability, to search for his successor.

I managed through 3 Area Managers a total of 74 stores, over 80 branch managers and 1,000 staff, and I achieved a turnover in excess of £55 million per annum during the financial year 1998/1999.

Through effective team building, progressed newly experienced field management into a strong divisional team able to exceed their targets in all key measurables, this being achieved in both High street and Out-Of-Town locations.

I was also responsible for producing divisional yearly budgets, developing key operational strategy, and ensuring its implementation. 1994-1998 Area Manager

Deputised for the Sales Director in executive meetings and company planning meetings during his absence.

I was responsible for the performance of three of the company’s regions; sales and profit were increased throughout all the stores.

As part of a company re-structure due to a Management Buy Out, I was chosen as one of only four Area Managers out of the 14 candidates to be part of a new field management team.

1992-1994 – Branch Manager

I was head hunted into the business to turn around a number of under-performing stores. I increased sales by 30% across the board.

In the Area Managers absence I took over his responsibilities; I was later promoted to this role.

THORNS EMI1990-1992-Area Manager

Managed a population of 23 stores, over 60 members of management and 600 staff, realised a turnover increase of 10% to £18 million during a time when the company had challenging staff morale issues.

ATLANTIS/THORNS EMI1987-1990

Ran the company’s top performing out-of-town retail store, both on sales and profitability.

During 1991, I managed a new store opening team that went on to open 25 new out-of-town sites.

Responsible for the recruitment, training and development of 5 new store managers.

Successfully completed an assessment style interview to be chosen to move into field management.

ATLANTIS/VALLANCES1975-1987-Trainee Manager

EDUCATION – 1968 - 1974

Ashleigh Comprehensive School, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

8 CSE Passes including, English, Maths and ScienceO Level English Language Pass

Professional Courses Attended

Customer service Health and Safety Business profit and loss Financial management Human Resources Management Spotlight self awareness Effective stock control Sales Floor Management Appraisal Development Presentation Skills Total Quality Management Quality Customer Care Programme Managing For Profit Advanced Management Training Coaching and Counselling Behavioural Skills Time Management Performance Management Leadership and Motivation

Reference available on request