ASSOCIATE RETAIL SPECIALISTS

How can one enjoy continued success in retailing?

Continued success in retailing is achieved by viewing each customer in the long run, not just one short sale. All policies and actions during each sale day should be centred on creating an enduring customer. The owners, managers and associates should be empowered to make decisions that are in the favour of the customer. If this is your long-term focus, you will create an environment where the customer would want to shop in your store over and over again.

Jean’s Bio

Ms. Jean Scott’s 35 years in the fields of merchandising and retailing began in a trend-setting optical boutique while attending high school. With a degree in marketing and an MBA in finance, her first retailing job was as a District Manager – handling nine stores – for America’s largest optical company in their New York City market.

Leaving the position after a successful turnaround, she then ran all optical retail operations for the largest privately-owned department store company in America, and subsequently became head of buying/merchandising for upscale E.B. Meyrowitz in New York City.

In 2003, the American optical industry honoured Ms. Scott’s contributions by naming her to a select group of its “Most Influential Women.” She was a founding board member of the Optical Women’s Association, where she has also served as Co-President.

Jean later moved to Asia to develop a collection of ground-up luxury sunwear boutiques in an integrated resort environment. The organisation’s first five locations opened within the Venetian and Four Seasons in Macau. The company regularly exceeded the sales per square foot levels of the properties and, prior to Jean’s departure from the company in 2009, were some of the best performing retailers on the Cotai Strip®. Presently, Jean is involved in the development of a new optical retail business that will operate numerous shops in Macau and Singapore, ranging from mid-range price points to ultimate luxury.

David’s Bio

With over 30 years in the optical industry, Mr. David Schubach has a diverse background in both the retailing and manufacturing segments. His passion for retailing most recently led him to Asia where, together with Ms. Jean Scott, championed the development of a multi-stores luxury sunwear retail organisation in an integrated resort retail environment in Macau. David’s expertise in Store Operations and Human Resource Management was instrumental in this company’s ability to gain quick success in the market: a team of well-trained staff combined with a dynamic retail concept have led to strong sales from the first day of operations.

David also possesses a strong background in retail store management. At Benson Optical in the United States, where he was a Regional Manager and subsequently, a Territorial Vice President, he held full operations responsibilities for 40 stores that employed 70 associates across 6 states. He built his initial foundation within the industry from 13 years spent with Standard Optical, a retailer with 14 traditional and superstore locations surrounding the Salt Lake City market. He also holds a degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing.