Deputy Manager at LGC in City of Westminster

This is a significant leadership role within the largest and most important part of the London Graphic Centre business. Working closely with the Store Manager, you will help lead the day‑to‑day running of a busy, high‑profile Covent Garden store. You will be responsible for delivering excellent customer service, strong commercial performance, high operational standards and a knowledgeable, motivated team. This role would suit an experienced Assistant Store Manager, Deputy Manager or Store Manager who is ready to take on a more specialist, commercially important and rewarding retail leadership position. You will need to be hands‑on, visible and highly organised, with the confidence to lead from the shop floor while also understanding the commercial detail behind strong retail performance.

Key responsibilities

• Support the Store Manager in leading a large, specialist retail store over two floors.
• Help drive sales, contribution, customer service, operational standards and team performance.
• Act as a senior leader on the shop floor, setting the tone for the team and ensuring customers receive knowledgeable, helpful and confident service.
• Deputise for the Store Manager, taking full responsibility for the store when required.
• Lead, coach and motivate the team to deliver agreed targets, standards and objectives.
• Build a strong service culture, ensuring colleagues engage with customers, properly understand their needs and recommend the right products.
• Develop product knowledge across the team, particularly across art materials, design supplies, stationery, graphics, paper, print and creative tools.
• Maintain excellent visual merchandising, housekeeping and stock presentation standards.
• Work with the Store Manager to manage store resources, rotas, payroll control and daily deployment.
• Support recruitment, induction, training, performance management and colleague development.
• Ensure stock accuracy, replenishment, availability and loss prevention standards are maintained.
• Identify opportunities to increase sales through better product knowledge, add‑on sales, promotions, displays and improved customer engagement.
• Work closely with support functions including Buying, Marketing, Ecommerce, HR, Finance and Operations where needed.
• Ensure all company policies, procedures, health and safety standards and security processes are followed.

Qualifications and experience

• Experience as an Assistant Store Manager, Deputy Store Manager, Store Manager or senior retail leader.
• Track record of helping to run a sizable or complex retail store.
• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to coach, motivate and hold a team to high standards.
• Commercial mindset, with confidence around sales, margin, stock, payroll and store performance.
• Excellent customer service standards and the ability to lead by example.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑moving environment.
• Good judgement, maturity and confidence when dealing with customers, colleagues and operational issues.
• Genuine interest in art, design, stationery, creative materials or specialist retail.
• Ability to learn a large product range and help others build their knowledge.
• Practical, hands‑on approach.
• Experience in art materials, stationery, design, books, home, lifestyle, fashion, premium retail or specialist retail is especially relevant.

Role benefits

• Fantastic training to help you complete your role and be the best you can be, with the option to continue your development into a more senior role if you choose to progress within the business.
• Great team to work with where you can progress and make a difference at all levels.
• Ongoing incentives to reward your performance.
• Fun working environment with regular social events.
• Eligibility to join the enhanced pension scheme after 12 months’ service (auto‑enrol after 3 months’ service).
• Generous discount at the London Graphic Centre and other brands within the Theo Paphitis Retail Group.

London Graphic Centre has been serving the UK's design and arts communities since 1973. Trends are constantly changing in the ever‑growing art and design world and we take pride in moving with those trends. It is part of the Theo Paphitis Retail Group, which comprises London Graphic Centre, Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue. We are a people‑oriented company made up of a diverse mix of talented people in a variety of roles, thriving on supporting colleagues by providing them with the knowledge, tools, policies and procedures to excel in their role.