Store Experience and Format Manager

Sofology; Golborne; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Sofology as a Store Experience & Format Manager and shape the customer experience. You'll ensure optimal product placement, lead visual merchandising strategies, and collaborate with various teams to create a stunning showroom experience. If you have a flair for design and strong strategic skills, we want you!

Benefits

30% discount across the Group

EAP for mental, physical and financial support

Enhanced maternity & adoption pay

Holiday buy back scheme (5 days)

Access to discounts at hundreds of high street retailers

Sharesave and volunteer days

Qualifications

• Proven experience in product ranging and visual merchandising in a retail environment.
• Leadership experience with the ability to engage and develop a team.
• Willingness to travel regularly to stores for execution.

Responsibilities

• Blend strategy with style and execute a long-term in-store experience strategy.
• Lead the execution of store refreshes and ensure brand consistency.
• Collaborate with various teams for commercial-driven space planning.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Relationship-building

Organizational skills

Commercial mindset

Job description

Your new role…

At Sofology, we believe the magic starts the moment a customer steps into one of our stores — and as our Store Experience & Format Manager, you'll be the creative genius making sure that first impression is nothing short of wow.

This is your opportunity to shape what “home” feels like inside our showrooms. From the way products are placed, to the stories our visuals tell, you’ll help us connect customers with their dream sofa — through thoughtful layouts, strategic product planning, and bold, beautiful merchandising. It’s all about bringing our brand to life, inspiring our customers, and creating a store experience that feels just as good as it looks.

A day in the life of…

As our Store Experience & Format Manager, you'll blend strategy with style, commercial thinking with creativity. Here’s what your days might look like:

Product Ranging & Space Planning

• Ensure accuracy of the range plan, working alongside the Style Partner – Project Manager to validate product selections.

• Engage with Buying, Store Experience, and Finance teams to identify potential space or commercial challenges during product drops.

• Regularly review and refine the blueprint, ensuring stores are optimally ranged based on product, color, and configuration.

• Influence the Buying team on product decisions, ensuring selections align with store layouts, customer preferences, and commercial goals.

• Work closely with Finance to apply a commercial lens to space planning and product placement.

• Be a strategic thinker, capable of challenging decisions and suggesting innovative alternatives to enhance store performance.

Store Experience & Visual Merchandising Strategy

• Partner with the Senior Store Experience Manager to develop and execute a long-term in-store experience strategy.

• Ensure visual merchandising principles are consistently applied across all stores, delivering a seamless and inspiring customer experience.

• Lead the execution of store refreshes, refits, and store openings, ensuring brand consistency.

• Collaborate with group functions such as Procurement and Store Format to drive cost efficiencies and operational improvements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Supplier Management

• Work closely with the Style Partner – Project Manager to align store merchandising strategies with seasonal product drops.

• Lead discussions with Buying and Finance teams to ensure commercially driven space planning.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, securing cost-effective and high-quality in-store materials.

Campaign & POS Management

• Oversee in-store POS execution, ensuring that all promotional and brand campaign materials align with store layouts and merchandising strategy.

• Work alongside the Store Experience Coordinator to ensure POS best practices are followed.

• Supporting the Store Experience Coordinator in the accurate documentation of POS process, stock holding. Store estate data and Imagery.

• Attend weekly brand and campaign meetings, ensuring future campaign requirements are accounted for in store planning.

Store Visits & Implementation

• Visit Academy Stores regularly to trial new product ranging, POS implementation and visual merchandising strategies.

• Ensure all stores maintain a high standard of visual merchandising, providing guidance and hands-on support when necessary.

In an ideal world…

You’ve got a great eye, a sharp mind, and a commercial instinct that helps you see both the beauty and the bottom line. Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Proven experience in product ranging, space planning, and visual merchandising in a retail environment.

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to challenge decisions and offer innovative solutions.

• Commercial mindset, with the ability to interpret financial data and apply it to space and merchandising strategies.

• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage and influence multiple stakeholders.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented, able to manage multiple projects and ensure execution at a national level.

• Experience with print production is preferred, as this role oversees the Store Experience Coordinator who manages in-store POS.

• Willingness to travel regularly to stores, ensuring consistent execution and identifying areas for improvement.

• Must have leadership experience and be able to engage, develop and effectively lead a team

Pay & Perks…

• Great basic salary & company bonus

• Plenty of opportunities to learn & grow

• 30% discount across the Group, plus 15% for your friends and family

• Access to discounts at 100’s of high street retailers

• Mental, physical and financial support (EAP)

• Enhanced maternity & adoption pay

• Spend up to £1,500 at Currys / PC World and spread the cost through Sofology

• Additional days off, whether it’s your wedding, birthday or even the arrival of your new furry friend

• A contributory health scheme, flu vaccines, access to a Doctor and private health check

• Income protection, bereavement and life assurance - you can count on us to be there when it matters

• Holiday buy back scheme (5 days)

• Okay, so the list just goes on, but here’s a few more…. Sharesave, volunteer days and a cycle to work scheme!

A little bit about Sofology…

We’re a fun place to be and we know our people are priceless. We’re proud of our Sofologists, who roll out the red carpet to each and every one of our customers, forever working together to be bold and ambitious.

We’re all about crafting an unrivalled sofa experience that leaves our customers and Sofologists in awe. We wholeheartedly embody our values, infusing them in every aspect of our work.

Roll Out The Red Carpet - From browsing to buying and beyond, we always ensure a Very Important Customer experience - no ifs, no buts.

A Seat for Everyone - Be yourself and feel at home. We know that different backgrounds and experiences make us stronger.

Bold By Design - We're a courageous brand with ambition and drive. We’ll never settle for second best and always strive for more.

So, if you want to join us on the sofa, save your seat by applying now!