At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team, drive sales, and create an exceptional shopping experience.
- Company: Join Varley, a contemporary fashion brand empowering women worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Be a brand ambassador and inspire confidence in every customer interaction.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in retail management with strong leadership and analytical skills.
- Other info: Join a supportive, family-run business that values diversity and community.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Varley is a contemporary fashion brand for the modern woman. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife Lara and Ben Mead, we are an international, family-run business headquartered between London, Los Angeles, and New York. We offer year-round collections, including knitwear, outerwear, and everyday staples, complemented by active pieces to create an elevated wardrobe for how you live and move. We are defined by the women who wear Varley and exist to instil quiet confidence through connections that enhance everything they already are. As women’s lives evolve, so do we.
The Store Manager is a strategic leader and brand ambassador, responsible for driving commercial performance, delivering an exceptional customer experience, and building a high-performing team. They demonstrate independent thinking, strong problem-solving skills, and forward planning to anticipate trading patterns, staffing needs, and operational challenges. The Store Manager champions a culture of collaboration and positivity, ensuring the store is a supportive place for teams and an inviting space for customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, coach, and inspire the team to achieve commercial and service objectives.
- Proactively workforce plan, forecasting hiring and staffing needs around peak trading periods and seasonal business demands.
- Recruit, onboard, and retain high-performing talent with succession in mind.
- Conduct regular 1:1s, team meetings and annual appraisals, setting clear expectations and reviewing performance against goals.
- Address performance and behaviour issues directly, creating performance improvement plans where necessary and escalating with HR as appropriate.
- Develop and implement tailored coaching and training strategies to build capability, confidence, and leadership across the team.
- Successfully plan and manage workload and time to ensure administrative tasks and reporting are completed, while maintaining strong leadership presence on the shop floor.
Commercial & Operational Excellence
- Demonstrate strong commercial acumen, analysing performance data (sales, product, and inventory reports) to identify trends and opportunities.
- Take full accountability for achieving store KPI’s, regularly reviewing performance and implementing strategies to exceed targets.
- Translate data into actionable strategies that improve sales, stock efficiency, team effectiveness, and customer experience.
- Prepare and present clear, high-level reports and insights for senior management.
- Forecast and plan proactively for key trading periods, events, and product launches to maximize profitability.
- Use Microsoft Office (particularly PowerPoint) to support reporting, presentations, and communication of business performance.
- Ensure store operations and policies (including health & safety) are maintained.
- Utilize operational tools effectively to drive business decisions and streamline store operations, including POS, data platforms, and internal communication tools.
- Oversee visual merchandising execution and ensure the store environment reflects brand guidelines.
Customer & Brand Experience
- Act as a visible and inspiring brand ambassador, ensuring every customer interaction reflects the brand’s values and service standards.
- Drive a service-first culture that builds long-term customer relationships and loyalty.
- Leverage CRM and clienteling platforms to track customer behaviours, personalize service, and strengthen engagement.
- Manage customer feedback, ensuring issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
- Support the execution of brand activations, events, and local community initiatives to increase engagement and awareness.
- Take a forward-thinking approach to retail, identifying and testing new ideas to improve service, team performance, and operational efficiency.
- Continuously review processes and team ways of working to identify areas of improvement.
- Champion a culture of curiosity and adaptability, empowering the team to problem solve and think strategically.
Key Skills & Experience
- Proven experience as a retail manager (minimum 3 years), ideally in a fast-paced, digitally driven retail environment.
- Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and present sales, product, and inventory data.
- Confident in workforce planning, forecasting, and preparing for peak trading periods.
- Proficiency with retail operational tools including communications platforms, POS systems, reporting/data platforms, CRM, and clienteling platforms.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly PowerPoint, plus Excel, Word, Outlook) to support reporting, presentations, and communication.
- Demonstrated ability to manage performance and behaviour issues fairly and effectively, including creating and implementing performance improvement plans.
- Excellent leadership skills: able to coach, develop, and inspire a diverse team.
- Strong ability to plan workload, prioritize effectively, and manage time to balance admin responsibilities with being present on the shop floor.
- Forward planner with strong organizational and project management skills.
- Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal).
- Passionate about fashion, culture, and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
The Ideal Candidate
- A decisive, independent thinker who thrives in problem-solving and strategy.
- Commercially minded, with the ability to balance short-term goals with long-term growth.
- Hands-on and proactive, leading by example on the shop floor and in operations.
- Resilient and solutions-focused, with the ability to navigate challenges effectively.
- Customer-focused, detail-oriented, and adaptable to the fast-changing retail landscape.
Our People
We think of ourselves as an international family-run business that embodies our founders’ commitment to creating timeless collections for the modern woman. What started as a company of two, has grown into a close-knit team of thinkers, creators, and innovators, taking care of our clothes, each other, and our community. Split across the UK and USA, our team is 85% female, making us proud to be a brand for women, by women. We are guided by two core beliefs: the pursuit of quality in everything we do and looking after one another.
Company Values
- We are the sum of many parts.
- We pursue quality in everything we do.
- We embrace possibility and push boundaries.
- Data-driven decisions and purposeful actions.
- Our brand is timeless and valuable.
- We respect and exceed customer expectations.
- We choose partners who reflect our values.
- We grow our brand by empowering others.
- Responsibility is at the core of everything we do.
- Kindness is our guiding principle.
Store Manager - Marylebone employer: Varley
Contact Detail:
Varley Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Store Manager - Marylebone
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the brand inside out! Research Varley’s collections, values, and culture. When you walk into that interview, you want to show that you’re not just another candidate but someone who truly understands and embodies what they stand for.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have. This can give you insider knowledge and make you stand out as a well-informed candidate.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for situational questions! Think of examples from your past experiences where you’ve demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, and customer service. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation for the opportunity. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’d be a perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Store Manager - Marylebone
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Fashion: When writing your application, let your love for fashion shine through! Share why you’re excited about the Varley brand and how it resonates with your personal style. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role and the brand!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Store Manager, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Talk about how you've inspired and developed teams in the past, and how you plan to bring that same energy to Varley.
Be Data-Driven: Since the role involves analysing performance data, don’t shy away from mentioning your analytical skills. Include examples of how you've used data to drive sales or improve customer experiences in previous roles. We love a candidate who can think strategically!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure your application is tailored specifically for the Store Manager position at Varley. Use keywords from the job description and align your experiences with the responsibilities listed. This shows us you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the role!
How to prepare for a job interview at Varley
✨Know the Brand Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Varley's history, values, and product offerings. Understand their mission to instil confidence in women and how they adapt to evolving lifestyles. This knowledge will help you connect your experience with their brand ethos.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Store Manager, you'll need to inspire and lead a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully coached and developed team members in the past. Highlight your ability to create a positive work environment and how you handle performance issues effectively.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive sales and improve customer experiences. Bring examples of how you've analysed performance metrics and implemented strategies that exceeded targets. This will show your potential employer that you're not just a people person but also a savvy business leader.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about how you'd handle specific situations, like staffing during peak trading periods or resolving customer complaints. Think through your responses ahead of time, using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly and effectively.