At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire store teams to deliver exceptional brand experiences and drive profitable growth.
- Company: TOAST, a unique lifestyle brand known for thoughtful design and craftsmanship.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, generous staff discounts, and comprehensive training.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Be a catalyst for change in a brand that values creativity and social conscience.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and a passion for retail and customer service.
The predicted salary is between 23634 - 28886 £ per year.
As Area Manager you will have full accountability for delivering TOAST’s expected brand, operational and commercial performance across an area group of stores.
You will be expected to use your initiative to lead your store management team to deliver an exceptional brand experience in your stores and to drive profitable growth in your area via the successful delivery of their KPI, behavioral and operational performance goals.
You will liaise with all suitable support functions to facilitate any necessary suport required to achieve these goals.
You will be an ambassador for TOAST, demonstrating the brand values and behaviours within your methods of working and you will work to develop your team to the same high standards.
- ROLE IN DETAIL
- Take ownership and accountability for all aspects of store performance in your area.
- Deliver area profit contribution targets via targeted management of your P&L account.
- Deliver area sales, payroll and stock management KPI targets and manage all other costs within agreed budgets in conjunction with Retail Operations Manager.
- Recruit, develop and maintain a high performing store management team capable of delivering the brand’s expectations and by providing all necessary training and guidance to improve retention rates in your area.
- Maintain a planned, visible and measurable succession plan in your area, seeking opportunity to develop your team, setting goals and highlighting opportunities for succession with your team through coaching and development.
- Deliver TOAST’s in store experience and customer service expectation across your area through the development of our store teams and act as a customer facing ambassador within your involvement in other TOAST projects.
- Deliver TOAST’s brand visual expectations across your area in liaison with the Visual Merchandising Manager. Support the upskilling of your team to enable this.
- Deliver TOAST’s brand and marketing initiatives across your area in liaison with our Marketing team.
Actively seek opportunity to instigate suitable marketing activity in your area.
- Commercially manage your store and area stock packages to achieve a balance between high sales performance and premium on brand visual presentation.
- Provide detailed feedback to key liaisons regarding stock performance. Manage feedback from stores to the office and back, ensuring it is factual, accurate and acted upon.
- Continuously deliver excellent back-of-house operations in your area that support the needs of the stores and facilitates optimal trading results in a secure fashion, holding your management team to account for delivering this locally.
- Continuously deliver excellent administrative practices in your area according to the Retail Operations Manual, liaising with Retail Operations Manager.
- Liaise and seek feedback from all key head office functions to facilitate excellent store performance.
- Ensure a safe and healthy working environment for our customers and all of our store team, with a focus on risk assessment and ensuring a high level of housekeeping.
- Actively seek self-development and training of own skills set to continually improve performance.
- Any other duties at the request of the Head of Sales.
- ABOUT TOAST
Born in a Welsh barn in 1997, TOAST has grown from loungewear and nightwear to become a unique lifestyle brand, creating, and curating simple, functional, beautiful clothing, home ware and editorial.
TOAST is renowned for its thoughtful, contemporary design and commitment to traditional textiles and craftsmanship.
The brand aspires to be the global lifestyle brand synonymous with Social Conscience.
TOAST has studios in both London and Swansea and is one of the very few United Kingdom clothing brands with its own pattern room.
TOAST celebrates a slower more thoughtful way of life in shops throughout the UK, concept stores around the world and online at www. toa. st
The emphasis within the TOAST workplace is on thoughtfulness, simplicity, creativity, and collaboration.
We work hard to communicate intelligently with the wider world and strive against doing the obvious.
We value serious thought in many broad fields – in art, literature, design, philosophy, travel, science as much as we do in fashion.
Though our output may appear simple, it is always produced with great attention to detail.
As a strategic priority TOAST nurtures imaginative talent and change makers.
As part of the TOAST team, you are a catalyst for the brand’s successes.
To realize our ambitions, we need you to share our interests and values, have an enthusiasm for TOAST itself as well as a deep knowledge and passion for your own specialist area.
In return for your dedication, TOAST will offer a supportive and stimulating working environment with flexible working hours and generous staff discounts.
You will receive a comprehensive induction, including product and brand training, that helps to plant a deep understanding of TOAST that can be carried confidently through your work and into the outside world.
TOAST VALUES
- HONEST COMMUNICATION: straight talking, demonstrate humility and respect, challenge constructively, create transparency, acknowledge & resolve mistakes, maintain commitments and to be accountable.
- INTEGRITY: To be honest, with strong moral and ethical principles and values
- DRIVE: show relentless determination to drive delivery & excel
- POSITIVE MINDSET: achieve results with a positive energy and can-do attitude, overcome challenges and Influence others positively.
- PRIORITISE QUALITY: less is more, an obsessive attention to the detail.
- SUPPORT: challenge and encourage colleagues, celebrate success, and focus on positives
WE OFFER
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- A contributory Company pension scheme
- Company discount
- DASH Cycle to Work scheme
- Yellow Nest salary sacrifice childcare scheme
- Free Eye test and contribution towards glasses
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Area Manager - UK Retail employer: Toast
Toast is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, particularly for the Senior Director of Product role based in London. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, competitive compensation, and a commitment to leveraging AI tools, Toast empowers its team members to innovate and excel while collaborating with diverse international teams. The company's dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion ensures that every employee feels valued and has the opportunity to thrive in their career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Area Manager - UK Retail
✨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 Toast, 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 Toast!
We think you need these skills to ace Area Manager - UK Retail
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 Toast, 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 Toast 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 Toast that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Toast
✨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!