Assistant Store Manager in Chelmsford

At Loaf we make insanely comfy sofas, beds and homewares that help people lead more comfortable lives. Founded in 2008, Loaf has steadily grown each year to become one of the leading premium furniture and homeware brands in the UK. We now have 11 Shacks (stores to everyone else!), with more on the way. It’s an exciting time to join an ambitious business. We have a full-time Assistant Shack Manager role in our upcoming Chelmsford Shack, creating an amazing customer experience for all our Loaf visitors. You’ll be the right-hand person to the Shack Manager, stepping up in their absence and helping to ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly.

The Job

• Support the Shack Manager with recruitment and onboarding.
• Offer day to day guidance, coaching and support to the team including holding 1:1s.
• Understand and adhere to the Loaf SHACKS sales policies - deliver a customer experience that is warm, friendly, knowledgeable and professional.
• Support with the creation and management of team rotas to ensure the Shack is appropriately staffed within budget.
• Maintain and grow your own product knowledge e.g. by reviewing the Loaf website, while ensuring your team’s is up to date through attending regular training sessions.
• Give our customers the confidence to make informed decisions with your honesty and amazing product knowledge.
• Understand and contribute to meeting daily/weekly sales targets, and support the Shack Manager in analysing trade feedback and performance trends.
• Understand customer order processes and make sure orders are placed within guidelines and ensuring every detail is correct.
• Review feedback from other Loafers and make suggestions on actions that could be taken to improve the Shack layout / placement of products, optimising performance.
• Understand and adhere to the Shack standards training, including taking an active role in visual merchandising, ensuring room sets and displays align with VM guidelines and support the customer journey.
• Manage stock, deliveries, and stock takes.
• Deputise for the Shack Manager when required.
• Act as a keyholder for the Shack, including training in First Aid and Fire Marshalling.
• Understand and adhere to all H&S compliance, management and reporting.
• Regular floor walks and briefings to ensure high standards, task clarity, and team motivation.
• Represent the Shack at offsite events, e.g. product launch training.
• Provide cover to other Shacks as necessary.

We’re looking for

• Previous experience within a customer service role, ideally within furniture, homewares or fashion - something where you’ve had the chance to offer customers advice and an honest opinion.
• Previous experience in a retail store, ideally in a supervisory or junior management position, including experience in recruitment, developing teams and managing the employee lifecycle.
• Problem solving.
• First class communication and listening skills.
• The ability to work independently and show initiative.
• Excellent attention to detail.

And what about you?

You’ll need to be warm and friendly, curious, and able to deliver the knowledgeable and professional experience we offer all our lovely Loaf customers.

Some Of Our Benefits

• 33 days holiday, increasing by 1 day each year for 3 years.
• Enhanced family leave policy.
• Staff and friends and family discount scheme.
• Healthcare cash plan.
• EAP programme.
• Shopping discounts.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Half a day for Christmas shopping.
• Life Assurance - 4 times annual salary.

What’s it like working at Loaf?

We are a forward-thinking, friendly bunch committed to building a fabulous company with brilliant people. The customer is at the heart of everything we do and we’re always striving for better, more efficient ways to deliver to the highest standard. As a business, we’re working really hard to be inclusive. No matter what identity or background, we want everyone to feel welcome in a place where we can all be ourselves. We’d love you to join us on our journey.

Please note that due to a high number of applications we are currently receiving we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback to every candidate at this stage of the process. If your application is successful, one of our Loafers will reach out to you to organise a face to face interview in Nuneaton in the first instance.