Store Manager Designate - Berkshire/Buckinghamshire

Hobbycraft; England; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday

Birthday day off

Pension scheme

Life insurance

Staff discount

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work

Health benefits

Volunteer day

Eye tests vouchers

Job summary

Hobbycraft Buckinghamshire & Berkshire is looking for a Store Manager Designate who will lead a team to create a welcoming, inspiring shopping experience. You will drive sales, develop staff, and oversee stock, merchandising, cash handling and daily operations in a busy retail environment.

You will be a visible brand ambassador, coach a diverse team, manage rotas and KPIs, and ensure safety and compliance while delivering exceptional service to customers.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of a retail team.
• Experience delivering commercial targets and KPIs.
• Experience recruiting and onboarding staff.
• Strong planning and workload management.
• Experience with health & safety and compliance.
• Positive, hands-on leadership style.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the team to deliver excellent customer service.
• Act as brand ambassador and deliver inspiring in-store experiences.
• Own merchandising, stock availability and seasonal displays.
• Plan rosters, shifts and store opening/closing routines.
• Drive store performance by managing KPIs and sales actions.
• Ensure safety, compliance and loss prevention.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Coaching

Planning & organisation

Communication skills

Customer service

Job description

Store Manager Designate - Buckinghamshire & Berkshire

Salary: £34000-£38000 per annum

Hours of work - 39 hours per week

At Hobbycraft, creativity is at the heart of who we are. Our stores are places where customers come for inspiration, advice and the supplies to bring their ideas to life. When you join us, you’ll be part of a friendly team that shares a love of making, enjoys helping others, and takes pride in creating a welcoming, vibrant store for everyone.

Role Purpose

As Store Manager, you’ll lead the store team to deliver a welcoming, inspiring experience for every customer. You’ll be a visible brand ambassador, bringing hobbies and crafts to life through great service, high store standards and ideas that inspire customers to create. You’ll drive sales and develop your team, while making sure the store runs safely and smoothly each day, covering everything from stock and merchandising to cash, compliance and operational routines.

Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the team to deliver excellent customer service every day.

• Be a visible brand ambassador for Hobbycraft, bringing our love of hobbies and crafts to life through friendly service, expert advice and a genuine passion for making.

• Create an inspiring shop floor: strong availability, great presentation, and seasonal merchandising.

• Inspire customers to start and finish projects by showcasing ideas in-store, keeping displays impactful, and making it easy to find the right products and guidance.

• Run the store day to day, including rota planning, breaks, handovers, and opening/closing routines.

• Deliver store targets by managing sales drivers, key KPIs, and taking timely commercial actions.

• Identify areas for improvement and take necessary action to drive the business forward

• Recruit, onboard and retain great colleagues; build capability and plan for succession.

• Keep the store safe, secure and compliant (cash, stock loss, audits, and health & safety).

• Manage stock processes: deliveries, replenishment, stock accuracy and loss prevention.

• Communicate clearly so everyone understands priorities, expectations and ways of working.

Please note, this job description is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time in line with relevant company changes.

Required Experience

You’ll be a confident, resilient leader who can motivate a diverse team in a fast paced retail environment, stay calm under pressure, and manage changing priorities.

You’ll have a proven track record in a retail (or similar) environment, including:

• Leading a team (store, department, or equivalent)

• Coaching, performance management and colleague development

• Recruitment and onboarding

• Delivering commercial targets and managing KPIs

• Planning and organising workload to meet deadlines and priorities

• Managing costs and working within budgets

• Health & safety and compliance, including safe working practices

• A positive, hands-on approach that motivates others and builds a great team culture.

Key Skills Required

• Planning and organisation

• Sound judgement and decision-making

• Clear communication, verbal and written

• Customer first mindset

• Adaptability and resilience in a fast-paced environment

• Commercial awareness

• Leading by example and representing the Hobbycraft brand.

Working Hours & Environment

Your working hours will be outlined in your contract of employment.

Our stores are open 7 days a week and there is a need for flexibility of working pattern to ensure our stores can offer the best service to our customers.

We pride ourselves on an inclusive and creative working environment, so you can truly be you and enjoy your time at work. We also prioritise wellbeing, offering a range of support and initiatives designed to help you feel and perform at your best.

Salary & Benefits

In addition to the advertised salary, here are some of our key benefits:

• 33 days holiday including bank holidays pro rata, which grows with you during your time with us. You will also get a day off to celebrate your birthday

• Access to a personal pension scheme (4% contribution matched by us)

• Option to join Hobbycraft pension scheme offering x2 life insurance

• 40% colleague discount

• Employee Assistance Programme, for overall wellbeing for you and your family including financial advice and up to 6 counselling sessions

• Long service awards to thank you for your time spent with us

• Cycle2Work scheme

• Discounted gym membership

• Charity fundraising events and a volunteer day.

• Vouchers for free eye tests for VDU users

• Access to a range of high street discounts

• Access to a Health Cash Plan

• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay.

Due to the volume of applications we are receiving we may need to close the vacancy prior to the expiry date

We are completely committed to supporting anyone with a disability in applying for our vacancies. If you have a disability and require support throughout our recruitment process, you can contact us at and let us know what adjustments you may need.

At Hobbycraft we celebrate the joy of crafting, and we celebrate all of our colleagues and customers. As a retailer we have a diverse Colleague base from a broad range of all communities. Our colleagues are recruited for their skill, passion, love of craft and customer service, which is also reflected in our customer base. It is this skill and love of crafting which defines them. Hobbycraft, is an equal opportunity employer who takes equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging very seriously, we regularly review our policies and practices to ensure not only compliance, but also best practise from an employment perspective.

Hobbycraft are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, and we are committed to equal and fair treatment for all colleagues or potential colleagues irrespective of race, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic origins, religion or belief, disability, age, gender, marital or family status.