Area Manager

Here at The Edinburgh Woollen Mill we have a fantastic opportunity for you to join our vibrant team as an Area Manager for the South East.

The role will be responsible to manage and support stores in an assigned area to achieve Company objectives by empowering Store Managers, promoting a customer focus culture to all colleagues which will assist to maximise sales and profit performance. Total Profit and Loss accountability for results in each area.

About us:

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill is a retail business comprising of over 400 units, including High Street, Tourist & Destination sites, predominantly Fashion and Home.

High Street

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill has mainstream high street stores selling ladies and menswear for the 45 plus customer. Outlets are located in a wide variety of market and provincial towns across the UK and Ireland.

Tourist Shops and Visitor Centres

We have specialty tourist stores, where gift items and other products reflect the stores location. The outlets, which trade under an individual, often local, fascia, are in key tourist locations throughout the UK. Many stores are on busy tourist routes and benefit from coach visits where food service and exhibitions are all part of the attraction.

Destination Shopping

There are Destination Sites which contain all of the Company's concepts and other brands to increase their attractiveness as a retail destination. The sites trade under local, individual fascia’s such as Antartex Village, and Kernow Mill, Mackinnon Mills.

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Responsibilities/Objectives

• To achieve and exceed sales and profit budgets in the stores and the area overall

• Take a leading role in setting business objectives and budgets as well as agreeing with Store Manager plans and strategies to achieve the same.

• Take responsibility to ensure that high standards of customer service and satisfaction are achieved and maintained in all stores

• Plan, monitor and regulate the financial performance of stores, identifying opportunities, remedying issues, and maximizing the return from existing resources

• Plan store strategies/layouts in line with divisional sales strategies and ensure the stores implement the agreed seasonal and promotional plans.

• Identify new opportunities to profitability expand each store business potential and feed back to Head Office any other business opportunities, e.g., potential new sites.

• Ensure that stores are crewed effectively to maximise sales and maintain store standards, within the set cost parameters.

• Take responsibility for ensuring every possible measure is taken to reduce the operating costs stores and protect profitability. Taking effective action to combat shrinkage and controllable expenses.

• Ensure that the company procedures for cash and stock handling are followed within stores and security procedures are being followed within stores.

• To recruit Store Management in conjunction with HR, in line with the needs of the individual store and company

• Take responsibility for the effective Induction and ongoing training of Store Management in line with company Induction Guidelines

• Identify and develop individuals with potential for succession, and in conjunction with HR maintain an accurate succession plan for the area

• Monitor the ongoing performance/behaviour of Store Managers and take disciplinary action as required within company procedures and personal limits of authority

• Ensure Store Managers recruit, induct and train their store teams in line with company procedures and programmes.

• Ensure Store Managers monitor their team’s performance ongoing, and carry our Annual Performance

• Ensure that stores maintain a safe working/shopping environment in line with the HASWA and company procedures, and carry out Risk Assessment of new stores or as directed by the Health and Safety Department.

Flexibility is essential since the job-holder's working hours will be determined by the requirements of the business.