Flagship Store Manager

DeMellier is a London-based brand that was founded with the vision of doing things differently: to design handbags that would make women feel empowered, made ethically and sustainably, while giving back to those who need it most. These principles guide everything we do. All our pieces are crafted ethically in Europe using the finest sustainably sourced materials, we champion equality and for every piece sold, we fund vaccines and medical treatments aimed to save the life of a child in need. So far, through our permanent charity initiative, ‘A Bag, A Life’, in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, we have funded over 2,000,000 vaccines. Join us and be part of an award‑winning, purpose‑driven brand that fosters creativity, collaboration, and meaningful impact within the luxury industry.

The role DeMellier is opening its first physical store on Sloane Square in September 2026, and we are looking for an exceptional Store Manager to lead it. This is the most significant hire the brand has ever made. The first person to hold this role sets the standard for everything that follows: the team, the client experience, the culture, and the commercial trajectory of the store. We are looking for someone who understands the weight of that and wants it. As Store Manager, you are the owner of this business in every sense but the legal one. You are accountable for revenue, for the client experience, for the team, and for the culture. You report to the Head of Retail, and you represent DeMellier in one of London's most considered retail destinations. You set the standard, you hold it, and you bring your team with you. The store is not a shop. It was designed to feel like a home - considered, warm, and personal. The Store Manager carries that spirit into every interaction, every decision, and every conversation with their team.

Main responsibilities

• Client Experience and Clienteling
  • Own the client experience from the moment someone walks through the door to the moment they leave, whether they buy or not.
  • Build and lead a VIP clienteling programme that converts first‑time visitors into long‑term clients and long‑term clients into advocates.
  • Conceive and host in‑store events with a clear commercial objective behind every one.
  • Drive traffic to the store through client relationships, community connections, and local partnerships, not just footfall.
  • Build and maintain relationships with neighbouring businesses and the wider Sloane Square community.
  • Ensure every member of the team understands the welcome ceremony, the brand story, and how to read a customer and adapt in real time.
  • Oversee the Founding Client Programme at opening, ensuring the first clients are logged, followed up, and retained.
• Team Leadership and Coaching
  • Lead, develop and inspire a team of seven across all roles from Supervisor to Sales Adviser.
  • Bring the team into the vision, not through instruction but through understanding.
  • Handle team objections with warmth and conviction.
  • Coach the team to tell the DeMellier story with the same conviction and adaptability you have yourself.
  • Elevate individual strengths.
  • Hold performance conversations with the same warmth and directness the brand demands.
• Commercial Performance
  • Own the store P&L. Know your numbers daily.
  • React quickly and decisively when trading requires it.
  • Report weekly to the Head of Retail with clarity, honesty, and a point of view.
  • Identify and act on opportunities to grow revenue through clienteling, events, local partnerships, and in‑store experience.
  • Drive the store to meet and exceed its revenue, conversion, and CRM targets.
• Operations
  • Manage daily operations across two floors to the standard the brand and the location demand.
  • Oversee stock management alongside the Stock Controller.
  • Manage the rota across early and late shifts, seven days a week.
  • Lead the store through the pre‑opening phase, stock intake, VM setup, team onboarding, and soft launch.

Requirements

• Proven Store Manager experience in accessible luxury, premium, or contemporary fashion, a minimum of 3 to 5 years in a similar leadership role.
• A track record of building, coaching, and developing high‑performing client‑facing teams.
• Strong clienteling experience and a genuine understanding of CRM as a commercial driver.
• Experience managing a store P&L and reacting to trading performance in real time.
• Proven ability to host and convert in‑store events with a clear commercial objective.
• The ability to work at pace without losing sight of the detail or the people.
• Experience opening a store or joining a store pre‑opening is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, confident presenting to senior leadership.
• A genuine connection to DeMellier's values, sustainability, gender equality, and giving back.

Benefits

• Annual Leave package increasing the longer you stay with us.
• Enhanced company maternity policy.
• Time given yearly to volunteer for a charity of your choice.
• Employee Discount: 50% off Stock and up to 90% off Seasonal Sample Sales.

DeMellier is committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our amazing, global customer base. We believe that a diverse team brings a wealth of perspectives and experiences to our business, leading to more innovative and inclusive products.