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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic retail team and create an exceptional customer experience.
- Company: Join OKA, a vibrant homeware brand with a fun and nurturing culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 33 days holiday, generous discounts, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Flexible hours and opportunities for professional development await you.
- Why this job: Be part of a growing brand and make a real impact in retail.
- Qualifications: Proven retail management experience and a passion for customer service.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board. We are currently looking to recruit a full-time Store Manager to support our Retail Team, based at our brand-new outlet in Braintree. OKA Braintree is our third outlet, following the successful introduction of the brand within the Bicester Village Garden Centre in 2025.
About Us: We know the best work is done by people who enjoy their jobs, so we create a fun and nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and is able to thrive. We are looking for an agile and proactive Store Manager with a positive attitude and entrepreneurial spirit who can help us nurture this company culture. Reporting to the Retail Area Manager, the Store Manager is responsible for the management and performance of our new OKA retail space. The Store Manager will support the business in preparing our Braintree store for opening in July 2026 and will be responsible for managing all sales and operational requirements of the store. Supported by your Area Manager and the broader Retail management team, you will lead and deliver best-in-class customer experience, while driving sales by empowering the store team to surprise and delight our customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Store Operations: Organising and executing all general daily activities and operational requirements of the store, proactively motivating and leading the store teams to exceed targets and KPIs, working with our Visual Merchandising team to update and maintain exceptional standards of store presentation and organisation, and working with Business Leads to ensure smooth operations.
- Customer Service: Role-modelling the provision of exceptional customer service to OKA customers, leading the store teams to deliver the highest possible standards of customer service – both face to face and via phone – in the most efficient and effective manner, establishing meaningful, long-term relationships with our customers via clienteling and customer loyalty initiatives.
- People and Culture: Maintaining a key presence on the shop floor to role model excellent service standards, recruitment and onboarding of a passionate, dedicated and dynamic retail store team, managing store staffing levels, workload and schedule, managing store team performance and leading them to achieve revenue targets and objectives, provision of training, learning and development and regular performance reviews for your retail store team to support their professional development, creating a culture of recognition within your store team, celebrating achievements and contributing to high levels of morale and employee engagement, responsibility for legal compliance and health and safety, partnering with our Trade, Interior Design and Marketing departments, to provide open and welcoming support with sales, customer queries and hosting a regular schedule of campaigns and events, and role-modelling our Company Values and Behaviours.
Our Values:
- Put the Customer First – provides exceptional internal and external customer service at all touchpoints.
- Be In It Together – approachable, personable, committed to shared success.
- Think Big – creative, innovative, solutions orientated.
- Own It – curious, persistent, drives results.
- Stay Playful – energises others, focuses on positives and opportunities, finds room for spontaneity.
About You: Experienced retail Store Manager with proven track record, ideally gained within a luxury furniture or homeware retail environment, passion for delivering exceptional customer service, good commercial awareness, confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills, natural flair for interiors and store merchandising, experience and enthusiasm for high-end retail environments, extensive selling skills and the ability to motivate others, good eye for detail, flexible approach to working hours as the sector demands, tenacious, hardworking and reliable, strong leadership, management, and organisational skills, a creative, problem-solving spirit, and passion for the OKA brand.
Our Benefits Package: 33 days holiday (including bank holiday entitlement), plus Length of Service increases, day off for your birthday, Health Cash Plan, generous staff discount, enhanced Maternity Pay, Employee Assistance Programme, eligibility for a discretionary company Bonus Scheme, plus a suite of additional employee benefits including Company pension scheme, life assurance cover, free eye tests, cycle to work scheme, interest free travel loans, social events, online wellbeing centre and more.
If successful you will become part of the OKA family, a fast-paced and dynamic business. If you would like to apply for this position, please send your CV and details of your salary expectations, notice period and right to work information via the link provided.
About OKA: Founded over 20 years ago by three entrepreneurial women with a passion for beautiful, practical and comfortable homes, OKA is more than a furniture and homeware retailer: it is a love affair with living well. We inspire people to confidently create a home that reflects their personality, a space where nothing should be too precious or perfect to be enjoyed with family and friends. British-born, today we have 15 stores across the UK – an established Interior Design and Trade business, a mail-order service and a thriving website.
Store Manager in Braintree employer: OKA Direct
Contact Detail:
OKA Direct Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Manager in Braintree
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture before your interview. Dive into OKA's values and mission, and think about how your experience aligns with their focus on exceptional customer service and teamwork. This will help you stand out as someone who truly gets what they're all about.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your leadership stories! As a Store Manager, you'll need to showcase your ability to motivate and manage a team. Prepare examples of how you've driven sales or improved customer experiences in previous roles to impress the interviewers.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just talk about your skills; show them! Bring along a portfolio or examples of your past work in retail management, especially if it involves visual merchandising or customer engagement. This can really help paint a picture of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're keen on being part of the OKA family right from the start. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Store Manager in Braintree
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your passion for retail and customer service shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about creating a fantastic shopping experience for our customers.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Store Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in retail management, especially if you've worked in luxury environments. We love seeing how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join the OKA family!
How to prepare for a job interview at OKA Direct
✨Know the Brand Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you research OKA thoroughly. Understand their values, product range, and customer service philosophy. This will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also show your genuine interest in the brand.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Store Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership abilities. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully motivated a team or resolved conflicts. Highlight how you can create a positive work environment that aligns with OKA's culture.
✨Prepare for Customer Service Scenarios
Expect questions about handling difficult customer situations. Think of specific instances where you provided exceptional service or turned a negative experience into a positive one. This will showcase your commitment to putting the customer first, which is key for this role.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few insightful questions ready. Inquire about the store's opening plans, team dynamics, or how OKA measures success in customer service. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.