Hi, I’m
Mongezi Darlington Jeffrey Gcuze
Mdantsane
Summary
Results-driven Area Manager with strong expertise in retail operations, sales performance, stock management, and team leadership. Proven ability to drive regional profitability by improving store performance, customer experience, and operational standards across multiple locations. Skilled in analyzing key retail metrics such as conversion, ATV, UPT, and foot traffic to identify opportunities and implement strategic action plans.
Experienced in coaching store managers, developing high-performing teams, and ensuring compliance with merchandising, stock control, and health & safety standards (OHASA).
Adept at resolving operational challenges, optimizing inventory levels, and executing promotional strategies to maximize sales growth.
Recognized for strong leadership, analytical thinking, and operational excellence, with a consistent track record of improving underperforming stores and delivering results against targets.
Overview
22
years of professional experience
Work History
FOOTGEAR
Area Manager
08.2023 - Current
Job overview
- SALES:
- Sales Generation (accurately and timeously) – Monthly turnover min 4.2 Million
- Promotions: Execution and Implementation
- Merchandise management - Store to follow VM Standards
- Customer care (service experience, requests, queries and complaints
- Staff management (accurately and timeously) - Monthly schedules, Staffing etc.
- STOCK:
- Stock losses (accurately and timeously) - Implementing controls and measurements
- Asset management (accurately and timeously) – Controlling i.e. Air Conditioners usage etc.
- EXPENSE CONTROL:
- Controllable expenses (accurately and timeously) – Casuals, Electricity Usage, Telephone, Internet etc.
Siulo Ulutho Technologies
Area Manager
03.2018 - 08.2022
Job overview
- Core Competency Requirements:
- Strong planning and organizational skills
- Excellent communication and Interpersonal skills
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills
- High energy levels, work ethics, standards and integrity
- Reliable and ability to multitask
- Follow instructions and apply knowledge
- Meticulous, systematic and administratively orientated
- Conflict management, Self-motivated and ability to work independently
- Duties:
- Oversee weekly and monthly stock takes – do random spot checks/recons
- Manage and control Staff
- Ability to demonstrate effective management of conflict situation
- Ability to implement management decisions and ensure that all new systems are evaluated and implemented and maintained
- Compile unbiased and factual reporting (Store Checklists)
- Display discretion and loyalty
- Pro – Active response to identified problem areas
- Coordinating and assisting with opening of new stores
- Monitoring of managers and sales across all stores
- Overlooking 10 stores with 44 x staff members
- Monthly targets for the Region is R680 000.
- Check reporting of branches in respective areas & Report to General Manager
- Send consolidated report of Wednesday Meeting Report for branches in your area
- Weekly Area Manager Skype call with General Manager
- Weekly Reporting for store visits including Audit Checks (signed) and travel schedule
- Monthly check ins with Area Managers
- Stock Order Reporting for Branch managers Manager
- Branch Managers to submit stock order
- Send payroll document to HR
- Send probation documents of the newly appointed staff
CLEARDATA
Regional Manager
07.2014 - 02.2018
Job overview
- LOGISTICAL FUNCTION
- Management of the Offsite fleet, comprising four Mercedes Sprinters
- Coordinating and managing the Client Service Representatives (CSRs) on a daily basis. This includes ensuring all CSRs report to work, are properly attired, and complete their tasks within the time specified.
- Assigning specific duties to CSRs.
- Managing regional schedule, ensuring each client is serviced monthly, unless otherwise stated or requested.
- Ensuring operations team has sufficient resources available to fulfil service requirements.
- Monitoring of CSR driving performance through C-Track reporting and tracking function.
- Overseeing activities directly related to provision of shredding services.
- Manage the movement of goods in and out of production facilities.
- Ensure that bins (consoles and wheelies) are in good working condition and are
- ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION
- Recording of client data on the Cleardata databases, such as Veri-Shred.
- Providing support function to sales executives - assisting with quotations, service level Agreements and client queries
- Saving all ‘Record Keeping’ items accordingly, adhering to formats and deadlines stipulated by the National Operations Manager
- Uploading client document destruction certificates and ensuring all clients have access to these.
- Uploading monthly environmental reports.
- Accurate completion of weekly operational reports and submitting them as per deadline indicated.
- CLIENT LIAISON FUNCTION
- Dealing timeously with all client operational queries, requests and complaints through written and verbal communication
- Relay any client complaints to the National Operations Manager
- Ensuring any change in service is communicated to the relevant client.
- Request the generation of work orders where applicable
- MAINTENANCE FUNCTION
- Ensuring the periodic maintenance checks and services are performed on the Offsite fleet within the time specified.
- Ensure vehicle licenses are renewed timeously.
- Monitoring the cleanliness of the fleet, the warehouse and the uniform of client service representatives.
- Ensuring Cleardata secure consoles at client premises are clean at all times, neat and decals are in place and in a good condition
- Reporting all faults/issues with the fleet to the National Operations Manager for resolution.
South African Police Service
Administration Clerk (A.C)
01.2012 - 06.2014
Job overview
- Record brought forwards written in the dockets by the inspecting officer
- Charge arrested suspects on the system
- Capture Exhibits (SAPS 13 Property) on the system
- Capture details of witnesses whom statements were taken on the system.
- Capture all cases closed by the commanders.
- Capture all information/ documents filed under section B of the docket on the system.
- Keep record of dockets which are submitted or received to the Court for Court proceedings.
- Capture all cases returned from the court and Department of Justice.
- Manage the incoming and out-going correspondence of the unit.
- Manage confidential documents and correspondence.
- Administrate the brought forward file to co-ordinate target dates for correspondence.
Trading Post (Retail Food Retail)
Branch Manager
03.2009 - 12.2011
Job overview
- Administration Tasks
- Accounts-staff/ Customers
- Cash Office e.g. Daily sales, Weekly and Expenses
- Daily report e.g. Sales report, Price adjustment, Z-report, Void Reports.
- Price adjustments and price letters.
- Stock e.g. Vender return, Acknowledgement, Claims report.
- Monthly Statement.
- Store Audits Evaluation
- Stock Take
- Stock take procedures e.g. Prep, Allocation of Bin numbers, Store Planning
- Unit stock count
- Wall to wall count
- Stock take documentation
- Return to stock documentation
- Monthly
- Cheque payment return e.g. Entering payment by the shop
- Lay-bye e.g. Statistical summary report, stock holding, returns to stock
- Planning book e.g. Entering monthly expenses, Weekly lay-byes, daily sales BBC
- Price adjustment e.g. Price adjustment, Summary report.
- Electronic Mailing
- Read electronic mails
- Send E-mails
- Logistical Complaints e.g. Order enquires, Store Order, Order answers
- Receive and sending IBT’s
- Stock Count e.g. cell-phone, starter packs
- Delegation/s to the Staff, Daily Tasks for my Staff
- Maintaining Department lay-out
- Department lay-out
- Department housekeeping
- Visual Merchandising
- Mix and Match
- Stock Seize
- Stock assortment
- Stock replenishment
- Customer Service
- Maintain customer policies
- Handling customers complaints
- Customers care e.g. considering customers needs first
- Attending to customer requests e.g. IBT.
TRUWORTHS (Adderly Street)
Sales Assistant (Trainee Man)
01.2008 - 12.2009
Job overview
- Visual Merchandising
- Mix and Match
- Stock Size
- Stock assortment
- Stock replenishment
- Customer Service
- Maintain customer policies
- Handling customers complaints
- Customers care e.g. considering customers needs first
- Attending to customer requests e.g. IBT
PEP STORES (Town Centre)
Branch Manager
09.2004 - 12.2007
Job overview
- Administration Tasks
- Accounts-staff/ Customers
- Cash Office e.g. Daily sales, Weekly and Expenses
- Daily report e.g. Sales report, Price adjustment, Z-report, Void Reports.
- Price adjustments and price letters.
- Stock e.g. Vender return, Acknowledgement, Claims report.
- Monthly Statement.
- Store Audits Evaluation
- Stock Take
- Stock take procedures e.g. Prep, Allocation of Bin numbers, Store Planning
- Unit stock count
- Wall to wall count
- Stock take documentation
- Return to stock documentation
- Monthly
- Cheque payment return e.g. Entering payment by the shop
- Lay-bye e.g. Statistical summary report, stock holding, returns to stock
- Planning book e.g. Entering monthly expenses, Weekly lay-byes, daily sales
- Price adjustment e.g. Price adjustment, Summary report.
- Price Rolling.
- Electronic Mailing
- Read electronic mails
- Send E-mails
- Logistical Complaints e.g. Order enquires, Store Order, Order answers
- Receive and sending IBT’s
- Stock Count e.g. cell-phone, starter packs
- Delegation/s to the Staff, Daily Tasks for my Staff
- Maintaining Department lay-out
- Department lay-out
- Department housekeeping
- Visual Merchandising
- Mix and Match
- Stock assortment
- Stock replenishment
- Customer Service
- Maintain customer policies
- Handling customers complaints
- Customers care e.g. considering customers needs first
- Attending to customer requests e.g. IBT
- Stock Management
- Old Stock mark-down
- Oddments e.g. assortment is compulsory
- Right seasonal stock
- Damage stock e.g. if there is damaged stock then it should be marked down
- Availability of sizes e.g. check if there is almost every size available on the floor.
- Stock Density
- Stock density e.g. all arms must be fully packed at all times
- Space usage e.g. every hangers must be used in their appropriate sizes
- Surplus stock e.g. no stock is selling from the stockroom
- Stock Shortage e.g. must be acknowledged at all times.
- Life Skills
- Communication
- Leadership
- Good work ethics
- Listening Skill
- Negotiations skills
- Assertiveness skills
- Working under pressure
PEP STORES (Shoprite Centre)
Trainee Manager In-service
04.2004 - 06.2004
Job overview
- Management
- Understanding the retail principles
- Exposure to decision making
- Staff appraisal
- Staff training
- Stock Management
- Understanding Stock ranges and mix
- Ordering systems and replenishment
- Product Knowledge
- Quality Standards
- Shop/ House-Keeping
- Hygiene and Cleanliness
- Safety and security
- Manager dress code and staff
- Representation
- Logistics Management
- Suppliers/ Vendor relations
- Understanding logistics pipelines
- Order picking
- Financial Management
- Pricing system
- Profit system
- Budgeting system
- Financial Statement
- Administration
- Administration function e.g. order slip
- Record keeping e.g. Filing System
- Support structure company policy and Procedure
Education
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
National Diploma from Retail Business Management
University Overview
- 1st Year Personal Selling, Business Management, Financial Accounting, Retail Business Management, English (Communication).
- 2nd Year Business Management Research, Consumer Behaviour, Labour Relations, End-user Computer, Retail Business Management 2.
- 3rd Year Retail Business Management 3/ Purchasing Management/ Buyer, Shopping Centre Management, Logistics Management, Business Management.
- Computer Literacy: Excel, Ms Word, Power Point, Internet & E-mail
- Award Obtain: Certificate in Afrikaans, Business Economics, Economics, Soccer.
Vusisizwe Senior Secondary School
High School
University Overview
- Xhosa HG
- English HG
- Mathematics SG
- Economics SG
- Business Economics SG
- Accounting SG
Skills
- Clerical Skills- ability to deal with incoming/ out-going correspondence
- Planning and Organizing- ability to establish courses of action for self and others to ensure that work is complete
- Computer Literacy-ability to have basic knowledge of using a computer and the applicable software
- Communication- ability to clearly convey information and ideas to individuals or groups in a manner that helps them understand and retain the message
- Building Public Inhabitants (Customers) Loyalties- ability to effectively meeting customer needs, building productive customer relationships; taking responsibility for customer satisfaction and loyalty
Languages
Xhosa, Afrikaans and English
Timeline
Area Manager
FOOTGEAR
08.2023 - Current
Area Manager
Siulo Ulutho Technologies
03.2018 - 08.2022
Regional Manager
CLEARDATA
07.2014 - 02.2018
Administration Clerk (A.C)
South African Police Service
01.2012 - 06.2014
Branch Manager
Trading Post (Retail Food Retail)
03.2009 - 12.2011
Sales Assistant (Trainee Man)
TRUWORTHS (Adderly Street)
01.2008 - 12.2009
Branch Manager
PEP STORES (Town Centre)
09.2004 - 12.2007
Trainee Manager In-service
PEP STORES (Shoprite Centre)
04.2004 - 06.2004
Vusisizwe Senior Secondary School
High School
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
National Diploma from Retail Business Management
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION DOCUMENT
- Name: Mongezi Darlington Jeffrey
- Surname: Gcuze
- Home Address: 6502 Unit P, Mdantsane, East London, 5219
- Id Number: 8209145843081
- Gender: Male
- Marital Status: Single
- License: C1 (Code10)
- Contact Nr: 078 347 1941 / 078 1632292
- E-mail Add: mongezigcuze@gmail.com
- Dependents: 2