Store Manager

• Salary: Competitive + benefits + discretionary bonus

 

Store Manager – An Overview

At Begg Shoes we pride ourselves on 155 years of top-quality customer service, offering quality and value for money footwear. Store Managers work closely with the Begg family to maintain the excellent reputation of stores, throughout Scotland.

Begg Shoes has embraced the best of technology and eCommerce to remain relevant and successful in modern retail. The business has successfully integrated the e-commerce business into stores, allowing customers to enjoy a large and varied stock selection with free delivery, free click and collect alongside the warm welcome and expertise on offer from old fashioned retail.

The Store Manager role is supported by the Begg Family and Area Manager who works closely with every store on both training, and overcoming everyday challenges. As the leader of a small team, the store manager will lead from the front with excellent customer service, for customers in-store and online, shipping online sales directly from the store. This adds an extra dimension to the traditional retail manager role and directly supports the long-term success of the store.

Store each have their own history and have earned a longstanding and loyal customer base, with an excellent reputation in each town. A successful candidate will likely have a career experience in retail or hospitality management and have a passion for the high-quality product offering of the store. Candidates will demonstrate the desire to continually improve and develop your team and the shop environment for the benefit of customers, colleagues and the longstanding Begg Shoes brand.

Extensive training will be provided by our Area Manager, the Begg family to managers starting in the business. Managers are also supported by other store managers, who join a weekly call and regularly problem solve together in a very friendly business-wide network.

A successful candidate will achieve the Society of Shoe Fitters Professional Shoe Fitter status, funded by Begg Shoes. This qualification is considered the gold standard in the footwear industry and is essential in the service proposition we seek to provide for our customers.

‘Being a Store Manager at Begg Shoes comes with both challenges and opportunities. I love that every day is different, from helping our lovely customers find the right shoes, to working with and training a wonderful team, to unpacking and displaying fabulous new products as they arrive. Although I have worked at Begg Shoes for over 10 years, I’m still learning something new every day and kept on my toes!’ – Nikki Munro, Store Manager Union Street Inverness

The main objectives of the Store Manager role include the following:

• Motivate and train your shop team to achieve a high level of product knowledge, excellent customer service, and efficient working practices.
• Develop a professional and inspiring leadership style that aligns with your personality.
• Prioritise customer satisfaction by leading the team in creating enjoyable shopping experiences in-store and online.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness by working to improve key performance indicators such as sales and cost control.
• Facilitate professional development for the team through team meetings, training, and bi-annual appraisals.
• Plan the store rota for maximum customer interaction, taking into account staff holidays and busy periods.
• Ensure that store displays and merchandising are visually appealing to customers.
• Champion effective marketing efforts and campaigns in collaboration with the Marketing team.
• Work with other store managers to address and resolve challenges as they arise.
• Engage with Directors to identify opportunities for improvement and drive progress.

The main day-to-day duties of the Store Manager role are:

• Customer service, fitting and selling shoes – A strong desire to help customers, a cheerful disposition and a positive attitude are requirements for this role. Customer service is critical to the future success of our business.
• Stock control – ensuring accurate handling of new stock arrivals – direct from suppliers and inter-branch transfers. This will include pair checking, scanning of stock into our EPOS system and adding to our stockroom. Accuracy of stock demands an individual with an eye for detail and a reasonable degree of computer literacy.
• Effective Merchandising in-store is vital; planning, preparation and creation of outstanding displays, form positive lasting customer impressions.
• Cost control – minimise costs and maximise the efficiency of the store.
• Training & Development – developing & training your sales team in the store. Incl. informal training on the job, product training, staff meetings and organising external training where possible.
• Day-to-day Staff Management – we firmly believe that a Manager should lead by example but at the same time be capable of delegating regular shop duties to ensure all tasks are carried out effectively.
• Returns & Complaints – thankfully this is not a big part of the role but, where necessary, you should handle all customer returns in a prompt, understanding and professional manner, in line with our returns policy.
• HR Management – staff appraisals, new start inductions, recruitment, performance management, involvement in disciplinary procedures & any other issue included within the employee handbook.
• Rota Management – develop cost-effective rotas which match prevailing trading conditions and peak trading hours whilst not compromising shop security.  Liaise with Directors on staff pay, wages costs in your store and any changes you feel could improve your shop performance.
• Holiday Management – working closely with the Office to ensure holidays are managed properly and in the best interests of the business.
• HSE Management – working with Management to ensure full compliance with current HSE requirements. As Manager, you are responsible for compliance in your own store.
• Key holder duties – opening & closing of the store, cashing up, banking, recording hours etc.
• Payroll – working with the Office to finalise monthly payroll matters.
• Website – as the business continues to evolve and the importance of the website increases, Managers need to develop systems and procedures to ensure despatches, returns, click and collect orders, customer complaints and enquiries are dealt with in an efficient and effective manner.

If you feel the job is the right one for you and you want to join us at this exciting time in our development cycle, then please click the “APPLY NOW” button or send your CV and Cover Letter to info@beggshoes.com