Area Manager
Accountable for the turnover of a number of retail outlets, typically somewhere between ten and thirty units, Area Managers are responsible for inspiring a team of store managers to exceed their sales and profit targets and to deliver standards of excellence in customer service. Outlined below are the broad responsibilities assumed by an Area Manager:
Customer: inspire and motivate the store teams to achieve all customer targets.
People: recruitment, training and development of Store Manager teams; recognising and rewarding high performance.
Profit and Loss: analyse all relevant financial and stock data, facilitating sound commercial decisions to drive financial performance.
Operational: deliver exceptional retail store standards throughout the area, ensuring effective management of stock, audits and shrinkage across the area.
Key performance indicators are likely to include:
- Mystery shop scores
- Labour turnover
- Shrinkage
- Payroll
- Profit and loss
- Standards
Store Manager
Responsible for the day-to-day management of a department or store, the main focus of a Store Manager’s job is to improve the commercial performance of the store, increasing its turnover and maximising profitability. People management, profit and loss and customer service are all part and parcel of the Store Manager’s role.
Day-to-day tasks include: managing and motivating staff; analysing figures and making key decisions on stock control to maximise profitability; resolving health and safety, legal and security issues, touring the sales floor regularly, talking to colleagues and customers and identifying or resolving urgent issues all fall within their remit. A Store Manager will also keep abreast of trends in the retail industry and monitor competitor activities, accumulating knowledge that will positively inform future customer initiatives.
Assistant Store Manager
The primary role of the Assistant Store Manager is to ensure that store personnel provide consistently high levels of customer service. Day to day tasks include answering questions, assisting with product selection, purchases and returns and ensuring the store is clean, well organized and properly merchandised. The Assistant Store Manager is also responsible for ensuring store policies, procedures and controls are followed by staff.
