At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to deliver exceptional customer experiences and drive store performance.
- Company: Join KIKO Milano, a vibrant beauty brand with a focus on inclusivity and excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days holiday, 50% staff discount, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: Great career growth potential and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Be a key player in a fast-paced environment where your leadership makes a real impact.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in retail management, passionate about beauty and customer service.
The predicted salary is between 29700 - 36300 £ per year.
As a Store Manager at KIKO Milano, you are the commercial and cultural leader of a UK & Ireland retail business. You will own the performance of your store end‑to‑end, acting as a brand ambassador while leading a diverse, high‑performing team in a fast‑paced, customer‑first environment.
Your Mission
To deliver profitable growth and brand excellence by building an engaged, high‑performing team, delivering an outstanding customer journey and executing KIKO Milano’s strategy with commercial precision and creative energy.
Key Responsibilities
- People Leadership & Talent Excellence
- Build, inspire and retain a high‑performing, inclusive team with strong engagement, accountability and pride in the brand.
- Own the full talent lifecycle: recruitment, onboarding, development, succession planning and retention.
- Develop leaders at all levels through coaching and reviews, while fostering a culture of accountability where individuals take ownership of their performance and behaviours.
- Create a strong internal talent pipeline by identifying and accelerating future leaders.
- Embed a culture of continuous learning through product knowledge, artistry, service and selling excellence.
- Plan rotas, payroll and annual leave effectively, balancing commercial needs with wellbeing and compliance.
- Ensure full adherence to UK & Ireland employment legislation, equality & diversity standards and best‑practice people processes.
- Customer Experience & Brand Leadership
- Be a visible, hands‑on leader on the shop floor, setting the standard for service, selling and professionalism.
- Deliver a consistent, premium and inclusive KIKO Milano customer journey that drives conversion, loyalty and advocacy.
- Translate people shopping insights, feedback into clear actions that improve performance.
- Ensure expert product storytelling, flawless make‑up application standards and confident selling behaviours across the team.
- Champion personalisation, accessibility and authenticity in every customer interaction.
- Commercial Ownership & Business Performance
- Take full accountability for all store KPIs, including Sales, Conversion, ATV, UPT, LFL growth, Shrinkage and Productivity.
- Analyse weekly and monthly performance, identifying opportunities and risks, and executing agile action plans.
- Deliver annual budgets and quarterly business plans aligned with regional and brand strategy.
- Maximise trading opportunities through strong floor leadership, peak‑time planning and local market insight.
- Share competitor intelligence, customer trends and commercial insights relevant to the UK & Ireland Market.
- Operational, Brand & Compliance Excellence
- Ensure adherence and execution of KIKO Milano policies, procedures and the KIKO Store Book.
- Deliver high-impact execution of promotions, product launches and Retail Excellence.
- Maintain exceptional stock control, loss prevention and back‑of‑house organisation.
- Ensure health & safety, security and operational standards are consistently met and audit‑ready.
- Drive operational efficiency through strong routines, prioritisation and effective delegation.
What Success Looks Like
- Strong and consistent delivery of sales and profit targets
- High customer satisfaction and people shop results
- Low attrition and high team engagement
- A clear succession plan and internal talent pipeline
- A store recognised as a benchmark for brand, service and execution
What’s in it for you?
- 28 days’ holiday including Bank Holidays
- Enjoy a 50% staff discount on KIKO MILANO products
- Free allocation of KIKO MILANO products as part of your employee benefits
- 5% employer pension contribution
- Access to YuLife, our Employee Assistance Programme supporting wellbeing, fitness, and financial health
- Monthly bonus scheme to reward performance and results
- Ongoing training and career development within KIKO MILANO
- Maternity and paternity bonus
- Employee referral scheme with rewards for recommending great talent
Job requirements
- Proven experience as a Store Manager or senior retail leader in a fast‑paced, customer‑focused environment (beauty, fashion or premium retail preferred) - minimum 5 years
- A confident, emotionally intelligent leader with a coaching mindset.
- Commercially astute and comfortable using data to drive decision
- Passionate about beauty, trends and delivering standout customer experiences.
- Resilient, agile and confident leading teams through change.
Store Manager in Gateshead employer: KIKO MILANO
KIKO MILANO is an excellent employer, offering a vibrant work culture in Birmingham that fosters teamwork and personal growth. With a generous 50% product discount, ongoing training opportunities, and a monthly bonus scheme, employees are empowered to excel while enjoying the perks of working with a leading beauty brand.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Manager in Gateshead
✨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 KIKO MILANO, 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 KIKO MILANO!
We think you need these skills to ace Store Manager in Gateshead
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 KIKO MILANO, 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 KIKO MILANO 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 KIKO MILANO that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at KIKO MILANO
✨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!