Christopher Gwyn

Commercially astute, results driven, organized, hands on Senior Branch Manager. A tenacious achiever of targets with a 'management style' that positively leads, encourages and inspires teams to motivate them with a 'can do' attitude, to want to achieve great results and provide outstanding customer service.

Retail Branch Manager - Ramsdens Financial Ltd - Cardiff

(2022-06)

A high street retailer with over 170 stores, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for consumer credit activities. Offering a vast range of 'Premium Branded' Watches: Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Cartier & Jewellery plus provide traditional pawnbroking services, gold for cash & foreign currency.

• Lead & motivate small team to deliver operational success.
• Exceed all customers expectation, so they become ambassadors for Ramsdens.
• Monitor P&L for store and respond to operational figures.
• Oversee all HR activities.
• Ensure team complies to all the regulatory FCA policies & procedures, plus adhere to strict vulnerable customers & AML policies.
• Conduct monthly Individual Development Discussions for the team focusing on their areas to improve.
• Upsell and additional sell to maximise profitability with every business opportunity.
• Led team to surpass all KPI's & ensured standards are always maintained.
• Drove overall net profit of store by 25% year on year.
• Offered new flagship store on Queens Street within 12 weeks of commencing employment.

Senior Retail Branch/Area Manager - F. Hinds Ltd - Hereford

(2010-11 - 2022-06)

Responsible for £1 million plus turnover store. Leading teams of up to 16 directly & 45 indirectly. Accountable for all financial decisions & human resource activities including recruitment, holidays, sickness, overtime & discipline.

• Deliver first class customer service and operational excellence.
• Assist area managers to travel extensively throughout the M4/M5 corridor to provide leadership, train, recruit & develop under performing stores.
• Scrutinize P&L and give constructive feedback to team members to enhance sales further.
• Developed exceptional motivated teams which led to increased turnover year on year.
• Maintained stringent inventory controls & created rotas to meet business needs.
• Drove performance against set targets & company KPI's through the highest standards of customer care.
• Fully engaged teams individual performance via observations, coaching and reviews.
• Recruited, trained & developed several successful new managers via succession management.
• Resolved internal staff disputes with mediation techniques.
• Won company Christmas incentives consecutively for 6 years with prizes including Smart TVs, watches, cameras & tablets etc.

Director - Goldsmith - Christophers Jewellery with Flair - Cardiff

(2002-11 - 2010-11)

To establish, develop and project manage all commercial, marketing and operational aspects of a busy city centre manufacturing studio.

• Create the persona of providing outstanding customer service before the customer arrives.
• Establish clients' needs and precise requirements through initial bespoke design to finished item of jewellery.
• Develop brand identity of studio for surrounding area whilst promoting additional corporate brand identities.
• Produce and maintain accurate P&L statements; sales forecasts & weekly turnover records for Companies House.
• Founded, developed and managed successful Goldsmiths studio for eight years with consistent increases in Turnover; Profit and Stock levels despite turbulent economic conditions.
• Slashed overheads through negotiations with Landlords equating to £50k saving over 3 years.
• Scrutinised and negotiated various business contracts.
• Developed a varied clientele from couples wanting that special purchase to Financial Advisors; Solicitors; One of Nobility and a Client who worked for NATO in Belgium.
• Received rapid approval of WDA (Welsh Development Agency) government backed start up loan after scrutiny of business plan.