Head of Retail - UK&I

JR United Kingdom; London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in the designer toy market is seeking a Head of Retail for the UK and Ireland. This pivotal role involves leading retail operations, enhancing customer experiences, and driving performance across stores. With a focus on strategic growth and market expansion, you will collaborate with regional teams to ensure operational excellence and brand consistency. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in retail management, a passion for collectibles, and the ability to navigate complex challenges. Join a vibrant team and make a significant impact in a fast-growing sector!

Benefits

Monthly appreciation gifts

Structured bonus/commission scheme

Comprehensive training programs

Regular team social events

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in senior retail management, preferably in designer toys or luxury retail.
• Strong expertise in P&L management and business expansion.

Responsibilities

• Oversee retail operations and ensure strong execution and customer engagement.
• Develop and execute local merchandising strategies and monitor retail KPIs.

Skills

Retail Management

P&L Management

Team Leadership

Customer Experience Enhancement

Market Development

Negotiation Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or Related Field

Job description

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Industry: Designer toys and collectible pieces

Location: Canary Wharf, London

Job type: Full time Permanent

About POP MART

Founded in 2010, POP MART is a market-leading entertainment company and a global champion of designer toy culture. Through global artist development, IP operations, and designer toy culture evangelism, we have built an integrated platform covering the entire designer toy value chain. Besides our original and iconic IPs such as Molly, Hirono, Skullpanda, and LABUBU, POP MART collaborates with top-tier toys and lifestyle brands including Disney, Universal Studios, and Sanrio to create collectible art toys featuring their iconic characters.

POP MART has established a strong presence across key European markets, including Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, and the UK. In the UK&I region, we operate over nine stores and over five Robo Shops (vending machines for POP MART products). With our ambitious growth plan, we continue to expand our retail network by opening new stores in London and nationwide.

For more information, please visit www.popmart.com and our LinkedIn Career page.

What to Expect

POP MART is a fast-paced company with a young and multicultural team where you can expect to:

• Lead and optimise the UK’s existing retail operations while planning retail expansion into Ireland
• Manage day-to-day store operations with a focus on execution, customer experience, and commercial results
• Play a key leadership role in strengthening POP MART’s position in one of its most important European markets
• Work cross-functionally with regional and headquarters teams to ensure alignment in planning, merchandising, and retail standards
• Contribute to the evolution of one of the most culturally dynamic and creative retail brands in the collectible space

POP MART offers our employees:

• Selected POP MART toys as appreciation gifts every month
• A structured bonus/commission scheme in line with the company’s and the individual’s performance
• Comprehensive training and development programs
• Regular team social events

The Role and Candidate

The Head of Retail, UK and Ireland is responsible for leading and optimising POP MART’s physical retail operations across both countries. With the UK already established as a key market, this role will focus on driving store performance, enhancing customer experience, and expanding retail leadership. This position carries retail P&L accountability and requires close collaboration with HQ and regional functions to ensure consistent brand standards and operational excellence.

This role offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of POP MART’s retail operations in one of the most important European markets. It requires a hands-on retail professional with solid experience in store operations, team management, and supporting market expansion. The ideal candidate is results-oriented, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-growing environment where structure is still being built.

Responsibilities

Retail Operations and Store Performance

• Oversee the end-to-end management of physical retail stores, ensuring strong execution, operational efficiency, and high customer engagement
• Define and monitor key retail KPIs, including store sales, foot traffic, conversion rates, and customer satisfaction
• Implement best practices to optimize store efficiency, reducing operational bottlenecks and improving sales execution
• Lead store teams and area managers to maintain brand consistency, sales excellence, and customer service quality
• Ensure compliance with global retail standards across all store locations, aligning with corporate brand and customer experience strategies

Merchandising and Product Strategy

• Develop and execute the local merchandising strategy, ensuring an optimized product mix across stores, vending machines, and e-commerce
• Analyse sell-through rates, inventory levels, and customer demand trends to enhance stock planning and replenishment
• Work closely with supply chain, headquarters, and logistics partners to ensure product availability across all channels
• Maintain high visual merchandising standards in physical stores and vending machines to maximize customer engagement
• Provide insights to headquarters regarding local product trends and consumer preferences to influence future product development

In-store Customer Experience

• Drive initiatives to enhance the customer experience across all physical retail locations
• Ensure store teams deliver a consistent, high-quality, and engaging brand experience
• Execute localized marketing campaigns, in-store activations, and brand engagement initiatives
• Support customer retention through excellent in-store service and meaningful offline touchpoints

Financial and P&L Management

• Maintain P&L ownership for retail and vending machines, ensuring revenue growth and cost efficiency
• Monitor financial performance metrics, implementing corrective actions to improve profitability across all retail channels
• Work with finance teams in Opex management to ensure accurate reporting, budget control, and expense planning
• Evaluate store expansions and vending machine rollouts based on performance data and growth objectives

People Leadership and Retail Team Development

• Build and develop a high-performing retail team, ensuring strong leadership across stores and omnichannel operations
• Oversee recruitment, training, and career development programs to cultivate skilled retail professionals
• Implement structured employee engagement and retention strategies to maintain motivation and team morale
• Foster a culture of accountability, customer-centricity, and innovation within store and retail teams

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of senior retail management experience, preferably in designer toys, luxury retail, or fast fashion
• Proven experience in business expansion, market development, and setting up new operations
• Strong expertise in P&L management, budgeting, and financial planning
• Deep understanding of brand-building, consumer engagement, and retail marketing strategies
• Excellent ability to navigate complexity, make strategic decisions, and drive execution
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills, particularly in real estate and retail partnerships
• Fluent in English in both written and verbal communications
• Based in London with occasional travel to other European cities, and Beijing Headquarters
• Permanent right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship

Desirable but Not Essential

• Experience in managing regional teams across multiple European markets
• Knowledge of the UK and Ireland scape, particularly in lifestyle or collectibles retail
• Passion for designer toys, pop culture, and collectible art