Retail Manager

Barretts (Barretts of Canterbury Limited); Canterbury; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days annual holiday (including Bank

Welcome pack and induction

Discounted servicing and parts across”

Annual staff social events

Barretts Summer Ball

State-of-the-art working environment

Modern paperless operation

Job summary

Barretts of Canterbury Limited, a MINI retailer in Canterbury, seeks an experienced Retail Manager to lead a Sales team and a Retention Specialist. You will promote F&I products, deliver a premium customer journey, and drive compliant sales performance.

You will coach and develop staff, optimise enquiry handling, and maintain high standards of compliance while achieving strong finance penetration and customer satisfaction. Salary plus commission and company car offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in automotive retail management
• Strong leadership and coaching skills
• Customer-focused with premium service mindset
• Knowledge of F&I processes and compliance
• Enquiry management and sales process discipline

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop Sales Executives and Retention Specialist
• Drive exceptional customer experience throughout the sales process
• Maximise finance and insurance opportunities while ensuring compliance
• Monitor enquiry conversion rates and sales performance
• Collaborate with Retention Specialist to maximise renewals
• Ensure compliance with industry standards using F&I systems

Skills

People leadership

Coaching

Enquiry management

Finance & Insurance

Compliance

Customer experience

Automotive retail

Sales strategy

Tools

Ideal File

EMAX

AutoProtect

Job description

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for an experienced and driven Retail Manager to join our successful MINI retailer in Canterbury.

This is a key leadership role within our sales operation, responsible for developing a high-performing sales culture focused on exceptional customer experiences, effective enquiry management, strong finance performance, and industry-leading customer retention.

Working closely with the General Sales Manager, you will lead and inspire a team of Sales Executives and a Retention Specialist, ensuring every customer interaction reflects the premium standards expected of the MINI brand and the Barretts name.

The Role

As Retail Manager, you will play a pivotal role in maximising every sales opportunity through the effective promotion of finance and insurance products, whilst ensuring customers receive a seamless and professional purchasing experience from initial enquiry through to vehicle handover and beyond.

A key focus of the role will be coaching, mentoring and developing the sales team. You will be expected to create a high-performance environment where enquiry management, product knowledge, customer engagement and conversion rates are continually reviewed and improved. Through regular coaching and performance management, you will challenge and support your team to achieve outstanding results whilst maintaining the highest standards of compliance.

You will take ownership of enquiry management processes across the department, ensuring all leads are handled effectively, promptly and professionally, maximising conversion opportunities and delivering an outstanding customer journey at every stage.

Finance and insurance performance remains a critical element of our business, and you will work closely with the sales team to promote a strong F&I culture. Using systems including Ideal File, EMAX and AutoProtect, you will ensure compliance standards are consistently maintained while driving performance across finance penetration and product sales.

Retention will be a major focus of the role. Working alongside our Retention Specialist, you will develop and execute strategies that maximise customer loyalty, finance renewals and repeat business opportunities, ensuring we deliver exceptional customer experiences that encourage long-term relationships with both Barretts and the MINI brand.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Sales Executives and a Retention Specialist.
• Drive a culture of exceptional customer experience throughout the sales process.
• Ensure all enquiries are managed effectively, professionally and in line with group standards.
• Maximise finance and insurance opportunities whilst maintaining absolute compliance.
• Monitor and improve enquiry conversion rates, customer satisfaction and sales performance.
• Create a strong F&I-focused culture through coaching, support and accountability.
• Work collaboratively with the Retention Specialist to maximise renewal and retention opportunities.
• Ensure full compliance through the effective use of Ideal File, EMAX and AutoProtect.
• Deliver departmental objectives while maintaining the premium standards expected of the MINI franchise.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in an automotive retail management, business management or sales management role.
• A strong leader with a passion for coaching and developing people.
• A customer-focused mindset with a commitment to delivering exceptional client experiences.
• Excellent understanding of finance and insurance products and compliance requirements.
• Strong enquiry management and sales process disciplines.
• Results-driven with a proven track record of delivering performance through others.
• Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.

Company Benefits

• 32 days annual holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Comprehensive welcome pack and company induction
• Discounted servicing and parts across the Barretts Group
• Annual staff social events
• Barretts Summer Ball (held every two years)
• State-of-the-art working environment
• Modern paperless operation

About Barretts

In 2022, Barretts celebrated its 120th anniversary as a family-owned and operated business. We are one of the few family-run retailers to have represented both Jaguar and Land Rover since their inception, providing a unique, personal and first-class customer experience across Kent.

Customer service has always been at the heart of everything we do. Combining traditional family values with modern retail excellence, Barretts has built a reputation for delivering exceptional levels of service, trust and professionalism. Our people are passionate about creating memorable experiences and building long-term customer relationships that last for generations.

If you are passionate about developing people, delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving performance through effective leadership, we would love to hear from you.

Salary + commission based on experience and performance.Company car.

Whatever your question or feedback we are here to help.
So please feel free to contact us.

Reg Office: Broad Oak Road,Canterbury,Kent,CT2 7PQ

Reg. Company Number: 349070

VAT Reg. No. GB201032351

Financial Disclosure

Barretts of Canterbury Limited (FRN 303895) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders and their finance products. We are not an independent financial advisor. We will provide details of products available, but no advice or recommendation will be made. You must decide whether the finance product is right for you. We do not charge you a fee for our services. Whichever lender we introduce you to, we will typically receive commission from them, either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow.For your reassurance, all of the lenders we work with could pay commission at different rates, but the commission we receive does not influence the interest rate you will pay. Our aim is to secure finance for you at the lowest interest rate you are eligible for from our panel of lenders. If you ask us what the amount of commission is, we will tell you in good time before the Finance agreement is executed. Barretts of Canterbury Limited is authorised and regulated for General Insurance distribution purposes by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check this by visiting www.fca.org.uk .

For the sale of general insurance, Barretts of Canterbury Ltd (FRN 303895) is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd (FRN 497010, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Barretts of Canterbury Ltd to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.