At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform the retail culture of a premium fragrance brand in London.
- Company: Join a prestigious fragrance brand with a focus on excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to shape retail standards.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by driving performance and energising teams.
- Qualifications: 10-20+ years in retail or hospitality leadership with a proven turnaround track record.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
You’ll be joining a premium fragrance brand as their Retail Director, based in London with some travel to stores required.
The role:
- As Retail Director, you will take full operational ownership of the UK retail estate, acting as the most senior retail leader in the business and working closely with the CEO.
- This is a hands-on role for an experienced operator who thrives on resetting standards, energising teams and driving measurable performance improvement.
- Lead a full reset of retail culture and in-store standards, including presentation, hygiene, service behaviours and selling energy.
- Establish clear non-negotiables and implement daily and weekly leadership disciplines.
- Assess area managers, store managers and senior sales teams to identify high potential, capability gaps and performance issues.
- Introduce a clear weekly performance cadence covering conversion, ATV, footfall and standards compliance.
- Design and roll out a practical sales training framework with embedded in-store coaching.
- Refresh in-store promotional activity, theatre and sales missions to drive engagement and urgency.
- Support senior leadership with ER, conduct and people performance issues.
- Assess succession, mentor internal talent and recommend a long-term retail leadership structure.
- Deliver a final report outlining actions taken, outcomes achieved and next-phase recommendations.
How you’ll dazzle us:
- You are a senior, credible retail operator with 10–20+ years in retail or hospitality leadership roles and a proven track record of delivering turnarounds.
- You bring gravitas, warmth and clarity, balancing high standards with emotional intelligence.
- Comfortable making tough decisions, you are commercially driven, hands-on and energised by fast-moving environments.
- Your background is likely within premium or aspirational retail or service-led hospitality, and you know how to lead large teams through cultural and operational change.
What’s next:
If you’re ready to step into a high-impact role where your experience will make an immediate difference, apply via the form below.
Retail Director in London employer: Artisan People
Contact Detail:
Artisan People Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the retail industry, especially those who might know someone at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the brand's values and recent initiatives. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your vision aligns with their goals and how you can elevate their retail culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss your past successes in turning around retail operations. We want to hear about specific examples where you've driven performance improvements and energised teams.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows us you’re genuinely interested and keeps you on our radar as we make decisions.
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the retail industry shine through. We want to see how your experience aligns with our premium brand and how you can energise teams to achieve greatness.
Be Specific: Use concrete examples from your past roles to demonstrate your achievements. We love numbers, so if you've improved sales or transformed a team, share those stats with us to show your impact!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Retail Director role. Highlight your experience in resetting standards and driving performance improvement, as these are key to what we’re looking for.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we appreciate professionalism, don’t be afraid to let your personality come through. We’re looking for someone who can balance high standards with emotional intelligence, so a touch of warmth in your writing can go a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Artisan People
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Retail Director, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of key performance metrics. Brush up on conversion rates, average transaction value (ATV), and footfall statistics. Be ready to discuss how you've used these metrics to drive performance improvements in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires a hands-on leader who can energise teams. Prepare examples of how you've reset retail culture or improved team dynamics in the past. Highlight your emotional intelligence and how it has helped you make tough decisions while maintaining high standards.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about challenges you've encountered in retail operations and how you overcame them. Be specific about the actions you took and the outcomes achieved, especially in terms of mentoring talent and addressing performance issues.
✨Align with Company Values
Research the premium fragrance brand's values and mission. During the interview, align your answers with their ethos, showing how your experience and vision for retail leadership fit into their culture. This will demonstrate your commitment and understanding of what they stand for.