Justin Cagadas
Chicago
Summary
Results-oriented retail leader with expertise in specialty running, cycling, and lifestyle brands. Skilled in retail operations, experiential marketing, visual merchandising, and community engagement. Drives revenue growth through impactful brand activations and strategic local partnerships while fostering welcoming environments that enhance customer loyalty.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager
Heartbreak Hill Running Company
Chicago
07.2025 - Current
- Drive revenue and operational performance through merchandising strategy, inventory management, staffing optimization, and streamlined store operations.
- Contributed to a 20% increase in marathon weekend revenue through strategic scheduling and operational planning.
- Led a full store transformation for an adidas activation through visual merchandising and cross-functional coordination.
- Planned and executed community events, group runs, and in-store activations, fostering engagement and brand loyalty.
- Delivered expert-level product knowledge, enhancing personalized experiences for diverse runners.
Community & Sales Manager
Pas Normal Studios
San Francisco
10.2024 - 06.2025
- Executed community activations, including rides, events, and outreach programs, enhancing local engagement.
- Cultivated relationships with cycling clubs, advocacy groups, and community partners to foster collaboration.
- Drove social media growth through community-focused storytelling and event-driven content, increasing audience connection.
Assistant Store Manager
Topo Designs
San Francisco
09.2023 - 09.2024
- Led daily retail operations, enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience.
- Enhanced in-store presentation with strategic visual merchandising and trend-focused product placement.
- Facilitated inventory replenishment and product planning based on sales trends and customer feedback.
Clubhouse Assistant / Cafe Manager
Rapha
San Francisco
01.2023 - 02.2024
- Integrated cafe operations with retail experience, enhancing customer engagement and establishing a community hub.
- Cultivated hospitality-driven retail environment that fostered cycling culture and strengthened community ties.
- Promoted community growth through social media storytelling and organized events, increasing local participation.
Photo Retoucher / Image Specialist
The RealReal
San Francisco
09.2020 - 12.2021
- Managed high-volume photo editing workflows with Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Bridge to ensure timely delivery of polished images.
- Conducted image quality control to enhance visual consistency and collaborated with teams to streamline workflow processes.
- Edited high-quality images for luxury items to meet brand standards.
- Collaborated with photographers to ensure consistent image style and quality.
- Utilized Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for advanced photo retouching tasks.
Content Creator
Dandyhorse SF Bike Tours & Rental
San Francisco
10.2018 - 02.2019
- Produced branded content, including photography and graphics, to enhance website assets and align with brand messaging.
- Supported SEO strategy and conducted keyword research, resulting in measurable increases in web traffic.
- Created engaging content for social media platforms to promote bike tours and rentals.
- Developed informative blog posts highlighting local attractions and cycling tips.
- Collaborated with the marketing team to align content strategies with business goals.
Assistant Store Manager / Barista
Sightglass Coffee
San Francisco
02.2017 - 09.2018
- Supported inventory forecasting, ordering, and daily floor operations to maintain stock levels and optimize customer service.
- Trained and onboarded new hires on workflows and product knowledge to enhance customer experience and team efficiency.
- Assisted in training and mentoring new team members on store operations.
- Managed daily inventory levels and ensured product availability for customers.
- Coordinated staff schedules to optimize coverage during peak business hours.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts -
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Urbana-ChampaignSkills
- Sales Strategy
- Retail Operations
- Inventory Management
- Operational Planning
- Customer Experience
- Team Leadership
- Visual merchandising strategies
- Store Layout Design
- Brand Management
- Customer Engagement
- Community Engagement
- Inventory control
- Adobe Creative Suite
- WordPress
- Google Workspace
- Product knowledge
- Community engagement
Timeline
General Manager
Heartbreak Hill Running Company
07.2025 - Current
Community & Sales Manager
Pas Normal Studios
10.2024 - 06.2025
Assistant Store Manager
Topo Designs
09.2023 - 09.2024
Clubhouse Assistant / Cafe Manager
Rapha
01.2023 - 02.2024
Photo Retoucher / Image Specialist
The RealReal
09.2020 - 12.2021
Content Creator
Dandyhorse SF Bike Tours & Rental
10.2018 - 02.2019
Assistant Store Manager / Barista
Sightglass Coffee
02.2017 - 09.2018
Bachelor of Fine Arts -
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign