Store Manager

As a store manager, you are responsible for one or more retail stores. You lead the team and drive commercial success.

Starting salary (per month)-
Job ads405

As a store manager, you are responsible for one or more local retail stores. While mainly fashion companies advertise positions as store managers, retailers in other sectors also have manager job positions to fill. Depending on the company's practices, the role may also be described as a retail manager or shop manager.

What are the tasks of a store manager?

As a store manager, you are the highest-ranking manager at the respective location. Therefore, you are responsible for managing employees. In addition, you are responsible for optimising the economic success of the store.  These are your main tasks:

Overseeing sales activities
Hiring and developing employees
Leading the store team
Tracking key performance indicators and reporting on them
Managing inventory levels and organising restocking
Adhering to brand guidelines, for example in product presentation

Skills

Hard skills

Management skills
Marketing mix
Customer insight
Commercial law
Disseminate internal communications

Soft skills

Active listening
Persuasion and inspiration
Negotiation

What skills do you need as a store manager?

As a store manager, you encounter a variety of people every day. In addition to ensuring customer satisfaction, your interactions with the sales team are especially important. Many sales team members work part-time, while others are present all day. In addition to experienced colleagues, there are also new employees who are beginning their training.

Your task is to motivate each team member according to their level of training, in order to maximise their potential. Therefore, to be a successful store manager, you should possess good communication skills and social intelligence. At the same time, as a leader, you are personally responsible for the performance of your store. Being highly self-motivated can help you achieve your goals. These are the most important skills for working as a store manager:

Willingness to take responsibility
Leadership talent
Communication skills
Understanding the product range
Business acumen

Training as a store manager

To be considered for jobs as a store manager, you should have experience in retail. As practical skills are particularly important, an apprenticeship as a retail salesperson can provide a good foundation for this career path. Without a business understanding, you will not be able to effectively report key performance indicators and achieve your goals. Here are some of the key performance indicators that management uses to measure your performance:

Low inventory differences
High turnover rate
Low exchange rate
Low absenteeism and below-average staff turnover

However, you can make the leap to store management even without formal training, if you have relevant experience.

Store manager's salary

The retail industry demands a hands-on mentality from its executives. Those who are too proud to jump in and work at the cash register during peak times will not have an easy time in the long run. Working weekends is also standard in many local retail businesses. What does your employer offer in return? In an assistant store manager's first year, the salary ranges from £22,000 to £24,000.

Source for salary information: https://www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Retail_Store_Manager/Salary