At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic retail team, driving sales and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
- Company: Join IOLLA, a trendy eyewear brand making waves in Edinburgh.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private healthcare, and generous discounts on eyewear.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of growth and learning in a vibrant community.
- Why this job: Be the face of IOLLA in Edinburgh and shape the future of eyewear.
- Qualifications: 2+ years retail management experience; optical knowledge is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
IOLLA is a direct to consumer, independent retailer of high quality eyewear; designed in house and enjoyed worldwide through our online and physical spaces. Our mission is to become the most popular prescription eyewear brand wherever we are, and we want you to help get us there!
We are excited to be recruiting for an experienced Retail Manager to join our incredible Edinburgh St James team, in the heart of Edinburgh City Centre. Our Retail Manager will lead our Edinburgh community, bringing both commercial acumen and genuine optical expertise to every aspect of the role.
What you’ll do:
- Play the leading role within our retail store team, working collaboratively with your team to drive sales, customer experience and operational excellence — drawing on your optical knowledge to elevate the quality of every customer interaction.
- Demonstrate best practice and role model behaviours that bring our core values and service excellence to every IOLLA customer, every day.
- Confidently guide customers through lens choices, frame suitability, and prescription requirements, and inspire your team to do the same.
- Be committed to the continuous growth of your team, creating a culture where learning, development, and progression are part of everyday life.
- Be confident in identifying commercial opportunities that support the growth of the IOLLA brand, both internally and externally, including leveraging your optical knowledge to identify product gaps, training needs, and service improvements.
- Drive an exceptional brand experience, ensuring every customer looks and feels great in their new eyewear.
- Be the local community face of IOLLA, representing the brand and playing a key role in growing our Edinburgh city centre community — including building relationships with like-minded brands who share our passion for quality, design, and outstanding customer experience.
- Contribute to brand development by providing local market insights, customer trends, and product feedback.
- Drive and maintain exceptional visual merchandising at all times, ensuring the showroom is always presented to the highest standard.
- Lead your management team to effectively manage all aspects of day-to-day operations, including stock management and compliance with relevant Health & Safety requirements.
Join our team because:
- You have at least 2 years experience as a retail manager, and thrive when working in a high volume, high footfall, fast paced environment overseeing a large team. Optical retail experience is preferred but not essential.
- You lead with confidence, building teams that are engaged, empowered, and consistently performing at their highest level.
- You are commercially minded and sales driven, with a proven track record of hitting and exceeding targets.
- You are self motivated and understand the importance of leading by example.
- You have a passion for style and keeping up to date on key seasonal trends.
- You have a spectacular ability to build great working relationships both internally and externally.
- You can drive performance and results and are organised and strategic in your approach.
- You thrive working in a team and can work independently, too.
- You take ownership for your own learning and embrace new challenges with a growth mindset.
What you’ll get:
- A competitive salary.
- Excellent training, including all things optics.
- Discretionary reward and bonus each month.
- Enhanced annual leave with service.
- Annual leave purchase scheme.
- Private healthcare.
- Our Retail Trust partnership offers a host of benefits including an Employee Assistance programme and access to high street discounts, amongst many others!
- Complimentary eyewear.
- A generous friends and family discount.
- To work for a brand who are proud to be a Real Living Wage employer.
This role is based in our IOLLA St James Quarter Showroom, Edinburgh. We can’t wait to hear your story and look forward to meeting you!
Retail Store Manager employer: IOLLA
IOLLA is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of Edinburgh City Centre. As a Retail Store Manager, you will benefit from comprehensive training, competitive salary, and a commitment to employee growth, all while being part of a brand that values quality and community engagement. Join us to lead a passionate team, drive sales, and create memorable customer experiences in a supportive environment that champions your professional development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Retail Store Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Before your interview, dive into IOLLA's mission and values. This way, you can show how your experience aligns with their goals and demonstrate your passion for quality eyewear.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Role-play common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. Focus on showcasing your leadership skills and how you've driven sales and customer experience in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Bring your A-game to the interview! Dress smartly and confidently, reflecting the brand's style. Remember, first impressions count, and you want to embody the IOLLA ethos right from the start.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Retail Store Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Eyewear:When you're writing your application, let your love for eyewear shine through! Talk about why you’re excited about the role and how you can contribute to IOLLA's mission of becoming the go-to brand for prescription eyewear.
Highlight Your Retail Experience:Make sure to showcase your retail management experience clearly. We want to see how you've led teams, driven sales, and created amazing customer experiences in your previous roles. Use specific examples to back up your claims!
Be Authentic and Personable:We’re looking for someone who can connect with our community and customers. So, don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. Share a bit about yourself and what makes you a great fit for our team!
Apply Through Our Website:To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to see your application and get you one step closer to joining our fantastic Edinburgh team!
How to prepare for a job interview at IOLLA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your optical knowledge before the interview. Understand the different types of lenses, frame styles, and how to guide customers through their choices. This will not only show your expertise but also demonstrate your commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team in the past. Think about times when you motivated your team, drove sales, or improved customer experiences. Be ready to discuss how you can create a culture of learning and development at IOLLA.
✨Be Commercially Savvy
Familiarise yourself with IOLLA's brand and its position in the market. Come prepared with ideas on how to identify commercial opportunities and improve sales. Showing that you understand the business side of retail will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Connect with the Community
IOLLA values community engagement, so think about how you can represent the brand locally. Prepare to discuss any previous experience you have in building relationships with other businesses or engaging with the community. This will highlight your ability to be the face of IOLLA in Edinburgh.