At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate team, ensuring exceptional customer service and pet care every day.
- Company: Join Jollyes Pets, an award-winning retailer with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonuses, discounts, and health support.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a hands-on role while working with pets and people.
- Qualifications: Retail experience and a love for pets are essential.
The predicted salary is between 28038 - 28500 £ per year.
This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll be on the shop floor every day - supporting your Store Manager and coaching the team through live customer interactions, helping with deliveries, and setting the standard through what you do, not just what you say. If you want to build your leadership experience and see the impact of it in real time, read on.
Following exciting recent and continued growth, Jollyes is looking for a talented individual to be the Deputy Manager in our Poole store. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a company voted Best Retailer 2024 in the Retail Week awards, and included in the Sunday Times 'Best Places to Work' list and accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition in 2024.
The Benefits:
- Competitive salary of £28,038 - £28,500 p.a., plus annual bonus potential of up to £2k p.a., subject to reaching pre-agreed measures.
- Financial Wellbeing Package (Stream): Access earnings early, plus savings tools and discounts.
- Retail Trust Membership: Counselling, wellbeing, and financial support.
- Colleague Discounts: Treats at 800+ retailers, plus 30% off Jollyes products and pet services.
- Health & Wellbeing Support: Online GP, mental health services, fitness programs, dental care, and cancer support.
- Workplace Pension: Legal & General scheme (EE 3%, ER 5%).
- Extra Time Off: Birthday, wedding, new pet days, plus buy/sell holiday options.
- Enhanced Family Leave: Maternity and paternity packages above statutory levels.
- Recognition & Rewards: Top Dog Award with extra day off and perks.
- Lifestyle Benefits: Cycle2Work scheme and discounted David Lloyd membership.
- Learning & Development: Ongoing training for career growth.
The Role – Deputy Store Manager:
- Supporting your Store Manager in leading the team day-to-day, deputising fully in their absence and helping create an excellent culture and working environment, demonstrating our values of being: Genuine, Wise, Eager, Focused, Together.
- Running a successful store - helping to manage KPIs around people, store standards, customer service, and financial performance, and playing a key role in maximising turnover and gross margin while controlling costs.
- Helping build a strong sales culture in-store: coaching your team to spot every opportunity to add value for the customer – confidently suggesting complementary products, seasonal offers, or additional services that genuinely improve the experience for pets and their owners.
- Ensuring you and your team deliver the highest standards of pet care, with pet welfare always the top priority, and promoting responsible pet ownership.
- Delivering exceptional customer service and a great shopping experience, with strong pet and product knowledge across the team. (Training given)
- Supporting the recruitment, motivation, training and development of your team, and helping to promote Jollyes as an employer of choice locally.
- Sharing clear communication of key business updates and individual/team objectives.
- Genuinely hands-on, not office-based. You'll be out front with your team and customers — helping with deliveries, walking the floor, and helping drive performance through what you see and do in-store, not from behind a screen.
- Physically active by nature. Our products can be heavy and retail keeps you on your feet most of the day - if the idea of a desk job doesn't appeal, this could be exactly what you're looking for.
- If you'd need any reasonable adjustments to succeed in this role, just let us know in your application.
The Skills:
- A genuine passion for pets and people - delighting customers with an unrivalled shopping experience.
- Some previous retail supervisory or management experience, with a hands-on approach and a readiness to step up and lead when needed.
- Commercially confident on the shop floor - comfortable modelling and encouraging upselling and add-on sales conversations with customers.
- A clear communicator who can motivate a team and support succession planning for future leaders.
- Has contributed to strong business performance and KPIs in a previous role, while helping maintain high store standards, health & safety, and legal compliance.
- Commercially aware, with an interest in developing your understanding of P&L management.
- Own transport with a UK driving licence, as occasional out-of-hours store visits or regional cover may be needed.
- Full time, permanent - 40 hours/week, 5 days out of 7. This includes evenings and weekend cover when our stores can be busiest.
About Jollyes Pets:
Jollyes are an award-winning UK pet retailer with over 120 stores and over 50 years of pet expertise between our paws. Winners of the Retail Week award for 'Best Retailer' (under £250m t/o) and Pet Retailer of the Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards, listed in the Sunday Times 'Best Place to Work' and shortlisted for 'Happiest Place to Work', you really can be sure you're joining a great brand and employer, trusted by our customers and our colleagues. Accredited by 'Rest Less' as an age-inclusive employer we welcome applications of all ages (16+), and with our accreditation to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, we're friendly to pets, people and the planet too!
Deputy Manager in Poole employer: Jollyes
Jollyes is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant and pet-friendly work environment in Derby where you can thrive as a Retail Store Manager. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, you will benefit from a comprehensive Financial Wellbeing Package, health support, and generous time off, all while enjoying opportunities for career advancement in a supportive team culture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Manager in Poole
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Jollyes, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Jollyes!
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Manager in Poole
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Jollyes, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Jollyes and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Jollyes that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jollyes
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
