Retail Manager

Job Description

Hourly Rate: Commensurate with experienceContracted hours: 35 hours per week to include weekendsRetail Manager - Full Time PositionDo you love people as much as you love fabric and dressmaking We do! Sew Me Something is an award winning, growing independent business that has been supporting people on their creative journey for over 10 years with our sewing and craft workshops and haberdashery. We cater for complete beginners to advanced practitioners.Our main focus is to help people improve their sewing and crafting and increase their love of creativity and this should be yours too. It is important to go that extra mile and put a smile on someones face to brighten up their day.We have successfully run our haberdashery store for over 10 years and are now going from purely online, back to a combined online and bricks and mortar store with the opening of our brand new Arts and Crafts Destination.The retail side of our business supports the educational side and provides the products used in the sewing and craft workshops. We will continue to run the online side of the retail business as well as the in-person side, so both elements will need to becarefully managed.This is a new role that will be instrumental in developing an existing part of the business but in a very different way.We are seeking a highly organised and productive individual that has a good working knowledge of fabrics and dressmaking that can oversee and manage this expanding area of our business.Previous experience of running or managing a creative business is essential and you will ideally possess a good blend of commercial and creative skills as well as customer service and team management skills.Flexibility is also key within this role. There will be weekend work on a rotated basis and we also attend a number of exhibitions and shows throughout the year both locally and nationally that will mean working away from home and your participation in someof those will be required.Skills SetCreative:You will have excellent knowledge of fabric and textiles. Knowledge of other crafts would be an advantage. An eye for styling and visual promotion will also be essential.In line with our brand aesthetic you will also be required to:

• Select new stock lines
• Combine fabrics with patterns for promotional samples
• Help to plan and style photoshoots
• Arrange mannequin and shop displays
• Create content for social media posts and visual promotions
• Provide content for regular email newsletters

Commercial:You will need to demonstrate a commercial awareness and reasonably good knowledge of similar businesses operating within this sector. Excellent organisational and IT skills will be required with a high degree of accuracy and strong numerical and analyticalskills.In this area you will be required to:

• Identify new ideas and opportunities to maintain a competitive edge within the market.
• Maintain and build good relationships with suppliers
• Keep ahead of stock levels and identify good and bad sellers
• Create and maintain stock databases and cost sheets
• Oversee and manage the packing and distribution of online orders in an efficient and timely manner
• Work with existing software and quickly develop an understanding of new software
• Be alert to systems which need updating to increase efficiency
• Demonstrate excellent customer service skills and a willingness to go that extra mile
• Be responsible for overseeing and maintaining the premises in good order

Team Management:We are a small team and proud of our open minded and welcoming workplace. As manager you will have a hard working and positive approach to work, you will also be a people person who finds it easy to get on with everyone, is flexible and accommodating butalso possesses strong leadership skills and an ability to motivate people in a busy environment.Your role will be to:

• Build and maintain strong individual working relationships with your colleagues.
• Lead by example, being at all times conscientious and reliable and prepared to get stuck in with day to day tasks.
• Motivate and inspire staff to run an efficient shop and ensure that customer service is kept to a very high standard.
• Be responsible for the ongoing development of colleagues, through training, mentoring and providing feedback.
• Plan staff rotas.
• Schedule shop routines and ensure they are completed to maintain a safe, clean and tidy working environment.
• Work with the Workshop Manager to assist with the preparation of resources and studio space for up coming workshops and other events.
• Attend exhibitions and shows helping to set up and breakdown the stand as well as creating relationships with potential and existing customers.

Details:

• This is a full-time permanent position preceded by a 6 month trial period.
• Hours are 5 full days per week to include one weekend day.
• Based at our new location just outside Alcester, Warwickshire.
• Job share will be considered.

Keyskills :
CraftDressmakingSewing