Dtc Retail Operations Manager (South)

Company Description:

The Barbour story began in 1894 in South Shields in the North East of England. Founder John Barbour began supplying oilskins and other garments to protect the growing community of sailors, fishermen and dockers. Still family owned and now fifth generation, Barbour HQ remains in South Shields. Under the leadership of Chairman Dame Margaret Barbour, Barbour has grown into a lifestyle brand sold in over 55 countries worldwide including Europe, the US and Asia offering a wardrobe of stylish functional clothing, footwear and accessories inspired by the unique values of the British countryside. The iconic Barbour Bedale and Barbour Beaufort wax jackets continue to be made by hand in the factory in South Shields. In 2020, Barbour launched Wax for Life, an overarching name for all of Barbour’s wax services designed to encourage customers to extend the life of their wax garments. Wax for Life includes re-waxing and repairs (first introduced in 1921) and Barbour Re-Loved an upcycling circularity initiative. Each year over 70,000 wax garments are sent back to Barbour globally to be repaired, rewaxed or altered.

Position Overview:

We are currently recruiting for a DTC Retail Operations Manager to join the Barbour Retail team to effectively manage the operational aspects of the Southern territory for Barbour Retail across full price & clearance stores, working alongside the DTC management team, ensuring all performance targets are met. You will ensure the stores are operating proficiently and profitably, working alongside the Head of Retail and key internal business partners to deliver against the strategic projects and priorities and to drive efficiencies in principles and practices within allocated store portfolio.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for achieving sales targets and working alongside the DTC management team to achieve the full targets for a specified territory – across full price and clearance stores.
• Work with the store managers to drive the fiscal sales targets for the stores within the territory, working monthly and weekly to drive these numbers.
• Provide feedback to the Head of Retail on the forecast processes within the year, contributing to forecast accuracy where possible. Drive and deliver against agreed KPI’s across the store portfolio.
• Contribute to delivering a commercial balance between core/seasonal and key seasonal stories as aligned with the commercial calendar within the specified region, ensuring store-by-store nuances are considered.
• Provide feedback into the store buying process to drive opportunity and assess performance in season and post, making adaptations to the splits for forthcoming seasons.
• Work alongside the marketing business partners to maximize the commercial calendar opportunities, ensuring messaging is on point, stock is matched with key stories, and adequate depth has been assigned.
• Connect with centre management for store-specific promotions and campaigns, aligning on pricing strategies to achieve maximum profitability while achieving timely sell-out.
• Work closely with the merchandising team to create efficient stock management programs and processes, reviewing the stock management processes and working alongside the Head of Retail to create new ways of working and clear systems to optimize commercial opportunities and drive sales.
• Collaborate with the DTC management team to achieve the objectives and priorities laid out in the DTC overview plan for the year.
• Work alongside key internal business partners following the strategic direction created by the E-Commerce Director and Head of Retail to drive towards an integrated omnichannel approach to Direct to Consumer.
• Manage the store P&L’s, ensuring key targets are met and targets are driven, reporting any issues or risks to the performance of the store. Be aware of optimum margin contribution, working with the Head of Retail to drive and optimize key financial metrics.
• Manage the integration of partner stores as part of the DTC structure and objectives within the specified territory, working closely with the Barbour Wholesale personnel & Head of Retail.
• Manage the store staffing structure and cost line alongside the store managers for stores within the designated territory.
• Work alongside key internal business partners and the Head of Retail to secure and deliver consistent recruitment, interview, onboarding, training, and development processes and procedures, with a view of reducing staff turnover percentage. Contribute to creating positive, motivating, and rewarding store cultures, feeding back any areas for opportunity and development.
• Lead and develop the retail managers to deliver outstanding customer service and operational excellence.
• Deliver product relevant training and coaching staff on selling skills techniques.
• Maintain a personal development program for all team members and yourself.
• Undertake effective performance management for team members, combining formal and informal review processes.
• Recruit new members to the team as required and develop their skills to the appropriate level.
• Ensure visual merchandising standards are developed and maintained to the highest levels, within brand values, working closely with the UK VM team and VM store champions.
• Be accountable for all company property through effective store security in all stores.
• Ensure all Health & Safety regulations and company procedures are adhered to and remedial action is taken if required.
• Manage the environment of the specific stores, reacting to any maintenance/service requests.
• Work with the Head of Retail on the project management of the new stores that will open in the specific territory.
• Territorial split: South, subject to additions when new stores open. Locations yet to be confirmed.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience of remotely managing standalone stores.
• Able to identify new and varied opportunities through business development.
• Understanding current market trends.
• Excellent people management skills.
• Conflict resolution ability.
• Acting with a professional and respectful manner to all individuals.
• Effective delegation skills and ability to prioritize work activities.
• Able to lead by example to motivate, generate commitment, and enthusiasm within the team.
• Able to develop the team through training and coaching opportunities.
• Able to undertake presentations to individuals and groups.
• Excellent customer care and selling skills.
• Able to analyze external and internal data and translate into actions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to build strong relationships internally and externally at all business levels.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Creative thinking with ability to translate into practical application and new ways of working.
• Time management for self and transferring organization to team.
• Information Technology skills including EPOS systems, MS Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet.
• Experience of planning and executing stock counts.
• Understanding and implementation of visual merchandising.

Additional Information:

• Travel will be involved in this role when required.

Benefits:

• Discretionary Company bonus scheme.
• Staff discount.
• Staff shop.
• Healthcare cash plan.
• 25 days holiday as standard increasing with length of service plus bank holidays.
• Free onsite parking.
• Subsidised canteen.
• Wellbeing support.
• Operate hybrid & flexible working.
• 4pm finish on a Friday.

Note: In the event that a sufficient volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.

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