Retail Area Sales Manager Kent / Sussex area in Folkestone

We don’t just sell products. We inspire reading, learning, creativity and play. When people spend time doing what they love, it’s Time Well Spent. And with the right passion - It All Starts With You.

Stores in this area include Ashford (County Square), Canterbury, Chatham, Chatham Outlet, Crawley, Dover, Eastbourne, Eastbourne (Langney Centre), Folkestone, Gravesend, Hailsham, Hastings, Haywards Heath, Hempstead Valley, Herne Bay, Horsham, Maidstone, Maidstone (Week Street), Margate, Ramsgate Garden Centre, Sevenoaks, Sittingbourne, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, Westwood Cross.

This is more than toys and books and art supplies. This is about inspiring people to read, learn, create and play. So, with the right passion, it all starts with you.

As a Retail Area Manager, you will be at the helm of multiple retail locations, steering them towards success with your dynamic leadership and strategic vision. Your primary goal will be driving commercial success, infused with a dash of innovation and a sprinkle of charm.

You’ll empower your teams, aiding them in reaching their full potential while ensuring a joyful journey – after all, it’s part of our DNA! We firmly believe that a team that thrives is one that is both happy and engaged.

Your Mission:

• Inspire, motivate, and develop high-performing store teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
• Communicate with your store teams and spend time with them in store to keep engagement high.
• Drive retail commerciality like a boss! Striving for fantastic sales and high performance across all KPI’s including sales, profitability, safety, store standards, pricing, and cost control.
• Drive operational excellence and achieve outstanding results across your designated retail area.
• Create store experiences that are fun, friendly, accessible, and inclusive for colleagues and customers.
• Hire Store Managers who align with our purpose, values and mission. Spot potential and use their strengths to add value to your area.
• Implement effective visual merchandising strategies to enhance the customer journey.
• Collaborate with fellow Retail Area Managers to share best practices and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure the delivery of commercial targets, including sales, profitability, and cost control.

Skills / Behaviours That Will Set You Apart:

• A positive ambassador for our brand and our values.
• Inspirational leadership style with a positive outlook.
• Passion for delivering exceptional customer service.
• People skills with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
• Commercial acumen with the ability to drive sales and profitability.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative mindset and a team player.
• Able to drive growth, maximise sales and profitability whilst leading our customer-first service strategy.
• Willing to lend a hand - If you’re on a store visit and the teams are busy or overwhelmed, you’re happy to help by getting stuck in, working shoulder-to-shoulder with them to support.
• Resilience in a dynamic retail environment.
• Innovative thinking and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Being a Great Leader:

• Align Goals with Values: Ensure that your team’s goals are clearly connected to the company’s values and purpose.
• Clear Communication: Ensure that your team understands the goals, expectations, and their roles.
• Role Model: Lead by example. Demonstrate the behaviours and attitudes you expect from your team.
• Provide Feedback: Offer constructive feedback regularly.
• Empower Your Team: Delegate tasks and trust your team to handle them.
• Conflict Resolution: Address conflicts promptly and fairly.
• Empathy: Understand and consider the feelings and perspectives of your team members.

And let’s not forget about the most important part… your team’s well-being and aspirations. You’ll be their biggest supporter, cheering them on.

Our PERKS really are ‘The Works’:

• 25% Colleague Discount! - Plus, exclusive Double Discount days!
• MyWorks - Access exclusive online discounts across hundreds of retailers, holidays, utilities deals, tech and more!
• Family Friendly Leave - Enjoy some time well spent with enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
• Holiday – 33 days, including bank holidays.
• Stream - Claim early access to 50% of your wages as you earn them.
• Can-Do Academy - Grow your skills and career with instant access to further training and development.
• Share Scheme - Own a piece of The Works!
• 24/7 support for you and your family - Through our partnership with the Retail Trust.
• Healthcare Cash Plan – To support your everyday healthcare costs.
• And loads more! – Long service awards, pension, life assurance, Cycle to Work scheme and optional charity giving.

Our Purpose: To inspire reading, learning, creativity and play.

Our Values: We are Crafty | Smart with what we’ve got. We are Caring | Heart in every action. We are Can-do | Energy that gets it done.

Each year, we run an anonymous colleague engagement survey. This is so important for us to hear your feedback and suggestions.

Promoting Diversity, Inclusion, and Applying Reasonable Adjustments. At The Works, we are proud to have an inclusive culture where everyone truly feels able to be themselves. Our roles are open to all, including under-represented groups.

We are open to discussions around working hours and flexible working. If you need reasonable adjustments for an interview, let us know in your application and we’ll be happy to help!