Leanne Ritchfield

• In 2017 we transitioned our business from a STIHL Dealer to a STIHL SHOP and moved premises.
• I was responsible for finding a new building and project managing the fit-out process: This included liaising with the builder, landlord, STIHL Business Development Manager and other trades people to completely gut the inside of the building, create a new showroom space with suspended ceiling, an office space, tearoom, bathroom and workshop spaces.
• The front of the building was re-clad and new signage erected
• Opening Day – I managed a Grand Opening Event – including marketing, BBQ with proceeds going to a local Sports Team, Radio Presence on the day, Blower Race and Face Painting for the Kids, a Treasure Chest Key & Lock Competition, where existing customers were sent a key that could open a prize in the treasure chest.
• Newspaper and Facebook Marketing of the Event
• Employing new Staff – Advertising, Interviewing and Short-listing candidates for Sales and Admin positions
• Training new staff
• Day to day marketing and advertising using Facebook, Newspaper, Radio, Billboard advertising, Bus Back Advertising, Digital Advertising, Mailchimp Newsletters, working in conjunction with other local businesses to target our market e.g running a joint Mother’s Day competition with Harrison's Country Garden World
• Won the Exceptional Marketing Award at STIHL National Dealer Conference in 2020
• Organised Events including In-store Ladies Chainsaw Training Days, marketing the event, organising the guest speaker, making the afternoon tea, arranging goody bags, sponsoring Breast Cancer NZ, arranging chairs and equipment stations including sharpening and maintenance, hands-on where the ladies put on safety gear and demoed the chainsaws
• Arranging a product stand at both the Local Mary Potter Hospice Strawberry Festival and Wellington Home & Garden Show
• Being part of Golf Tournament Events – Sponsoring a hole and prizes for the golfers at the Paraparaumu Golf Club
• Organising a Stihl Shop Trade Stand at the local Kapiti Women’s Expo, including marketing posters, props, flyers, giveaways, Mobile Eftpos Terminal and staff to man the stand
• Planning the Year Ahead by creating a Marketing Calendar and Budget
• Gaining product knowledge of our STIHL and Partner Range of products (Over 100 products)
• Selling these products to the customer
• Booking in jobs for the workshop
• Ensuring incoming Web sales are prepared for the customer in a timely manner
• Managing inventory ordering including analyzing sales reports and sales history to make accurate decisions on future ordering.
• Managing Sales Staff
• Ensuring price cards and promotions were current
• Creating quarterly promotional displays and marketing them
• Selling Eziswap Gas and managing the return of empty bottles and stocktaking
• Unpacking and arranging the assembly of new orders arriving in-store
• Managing the full store annual stock-take, parts and retail goods
• Day to day Cash Draw balancing
• Bank Reconciliation
• Preparing End of Year information
• Preparing the GST Report and paying IRD
• Budgets
• Checking financial reports to ensure the business is tracking to the budget and adjusting spending when required.
• Banking
• Ensuring suppliers are paid on time
• Chasing late payers and consulting with the debt collector if required
• Advertising, short-listing, and interviewing new staff for the business
• Creating job-descriptions, Employment Contracts, Letters of Offer, Inductions
• Managing Staff Rosters
• Arranging staff training including flights and accommodation
• Managing Performance Reviews
• Working with an HR Consultant when staff were not performing
• Responsible for checking all aspects of Dangerous Goods Compliance prior to the Inspector Visit including, Auditing the Dangerous Goods Cabinet and creating a Dangerous Goods Register, Building Site plan, identifying Hazards, Fire Extinguisher Compliance and Checks, Liaising with the DG Inspector, Ensuring the Accident Register was updated, Regular Evacuation Practices with Staff, Ensuring staff are 1st Aid Trained, Arranging Forklift Training
• Ensuring we meet at least 86/100 points on the Stihl Head Office Alignment Checklist, including Staff have attended training courses, the store signage, showroom, price-cards are current, Health and Safety, Marketing Plan and Budget, Business Plan etc
• Working with a Business Broker to set up an Ad and Information Memorandum to sell the business
• Providing financial reports to interested parties via the Broker
• When the business sold – informing all suppliers so new accounts could be drawn up, arranging a full stocktake, training the new owner on the computer software, product knowledge, sales and day to day running of the store
• Changing over ownership of assets including vehicles to the new owner
• Explaining the Marketing Calendar and Budget, including advertising on Facebook, Website and Branding Requirements
• Explaining stock ordering procedures and sales reports
• Training on Financials, Bank Rec and GST
• Strengthened company reputation by consistently meeting or exceeding customer expectations in terms of quality products/services offered.
• Managed financial operations to ensure fiscal responsibility, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
• Implemented efficient systems for inventory management.
• Developed a high-performing team through effective recruitment, training, and performance management.

• Managed the office side of husband’s business, which has two aspects, one selling lawn mowers and other motorised garden equipment and providing a repair service for these products
• Managed Accounts Receivable (Invoicing), debt collection and Accounts Payable
• Conducted marketing and investigated marketing methods including: Designed new flyers and developed new business cards
• Organised advertising on the radio and in the local newspaper
• Instigated a review of separating out the two aspects of the business into different parts of the premises and revamping the showroom of new goods to increase professionalism and business turnover
• Managed employment issues such as performance reviews and employment contracts
• Instigated and managed the transition of all office accounts from a manual paper-based system to a computerised system using MYOB accounting software
• Developed a business plan and analysed business spend and costs of overheads and staff to enable more efficient cashflow management
• Arranged new signwriting on the company vehicle, which significantly increased business enquiries and revenue
• Changed banks to enable better management of accounts payable via Internet banking & reduced fees
• Instigated a review of insurance requirements by an independent assessor
• Researched new target markets to find opportunities to increase sales
• Conducted an OSH assessment and implemented new OSH procedures for the business in line with Health and Safety legislation standards and requirements
• Implemented a more efficient filing system for the business

• Planned and managed seminars/conferences for local Government bodies throughout New Zealand with the aim of furthering attendee’s personal development
• Organised venues, catering, equipment, sound and entertainment for conferences and seminars
• Followed-up speaker’s presentations and ensured powerpoint datashows ran smoothly on the day
• Took registrations and sent confirmations
• Facilitated the events on the day to ensure everything ran smoothly
• Sent invoices and followed up on outstanding payments
• Created and complied conference packs for delegates of each conference
• Learned the Greentree financial database and In-design Desktop Publishing and design package
• Managed a new contract to organise all aspects of six risk management seminars for groups of 30 attendees for Ingenium Engineers Ltd
• Designed a brand-new brochure for a community plan conference
• Conducted market research and quality assurance by analysing conference evaluation forms and compiling feedback and created graphs and referred feedback to manager

• Company Overview: The Motor Trade Association has 45,000 members nationwide
• Responsible for organising the MTA Regional Conferences
• Planned, organised and facilitated four Regional Conferences with 75 people at each, for three years running in Auckland, Taupo, Hanmer Springs and Queenstown
• Consulted with Branch Presidents to decide on conference locations & sponsorship for conference theming
• Conducted cost benefit analyses and comparisons of suitable venues and managed account payment
• Managed registrations and payments by delegates and organised accommodation for them
• Arranged travel and accommodation for the guest speaker from Perth and MTA Managers
• Co-ordinated conference presentations, facilitated registration, name tags, info & events on the day
• Selected menu and beverages for conference and special dietary needs and arranged equipment
• Arranged room theming and entertainment for the night, with a Wild West theme in Taupo, a bucking bull and knife throwing, and all delegates in costumes with spot prizes for best costumes
• Assisted the Conference Co-ordinator in the final days running up to MTA National Conference in Australia, organised delegate packs, name tags and other conference paraphernalia
• Created marketing teasers in the NZ Radiator Magazine to let members know about regional conferences
• Designed the invitation brochures and consulted with printers to organise printing of them
• Conducted a direct marketing mailout of brochures to the 4,500 members
• Designed a form for people who wanted to purchase the Speakers book and took orders for the book
• Designed a feedback questionnaire and analysed member feedback with graphs and made recommendations for conference improvements to the Board of Directors for future events.

• Company Overview: Research Company
• Responsible for managing the word processing workload of eight researchers, prioritising, delegating and meeting deadlines while supervising a receptionist and junior word processing operator
• Supervised workload of the junior word processing operator and receptionist
• Took minutes, typed up letters, research reports, research group dictations and created mail merges
• Conducted desktop publishing of display questionnaires and presentations with tables and graphics
• Managed travel arrangements, courier work, relief reception, invoices, photocopying and filing
• Interviewed and made decisions in the hiring of a new receptionist and junior word processing staff member
• Trained new administration staff and training researchers in word processing.

• Company Overview: Research Company
• Responsible for managing word processing workload of 8 researchers, prioritising and meeting deadlines
• Took minutes and typed up letters, research reports and dictated research groups
• Conducted desktop publishing of display questionnaires and presentations with graphics
• Managed travel arrangements, courier work, relief reception, photocopying and filing
• Achieved recognition and promoted to Senior Word Processing Operator after from successfully taking on board our Senior Word Processors workload when she left
• Research Company

• Company Overview: Property Consultants & Registered Valuers
• Providing word processing and administrative support to a team of registered valuers
• Typed dictated valuation reports, invoices and letters, photocopying, and answered incoming calls
• Property Consultants & Registered Valuers

NZ Certificate in Office Systems

National Certificate in Business Studies

Business Centre & Communication

Introductory Accounting

Audio Transcription

Word Processing: Levels 1-3

Typewriting: Levels 1-5

Shorthand

NCB140 Business Communication

NCB150 Computer Concepts

NCB131 Office Functions

Whitireia Business Communication 100/101