Store Manager - Eastbourne

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

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday pro rata

Personal pension scheme

Life insurance

40% colleague discount

Employee Assistance Programme

Long service awards

Cycle2Work

Discounted gym membership

Eye tests

Health Cash Plan

Enhanced parental pay

Job summary

Hobbycraft Eastbourne is seeking a Store Manager to lead a friendly team and deliver an inspiring customer experience. You will be responsible for day-to-day store management, rosters, merchandising and ensuring high standards across the shop.

The role requires a confident leader with retail experience, strong communication skills and a proactive approach to health, safety and compliance. A competitive salary reflects the 39-hour week and responsibilities across stock and customer service.

Qualifications

• You’ll be a confident, resilient leader who can motivate a diverse team in a fast paced retail environment.
• Proven track record in a retail environment, including leading a team, coaching and colleague development.
• Experience in recruitment and onboarding, delivering commercial targets and managing KPIs, planning workloads and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the team to deliver excellent customer service every day.
• Be a visible brand ambassador for Hobbycraft, providing friendly service and expert advice.
• Create an inspiring shop floor with strong availability, presentation and seasonal merchandising.
• Inspire customers to start and finish projects by showcasing ideas in-store and making products easy to find.
• Run the store day to day, including rota planning, breaks, handovers, and opening/closing routines.
• Deliver store targets by managing sales drivers, KPIs and timely commercial actions.
• Recruit, onboard and retain great colleagues; build capability and plan for succession.
• Keep the store safe, secure and compliant (cash, stock loss, audits, health & safety).
• Manage stock processes: deliveries, replenishment, stock accuracy and loss prevention.

Skills

Team leadership

Coaching

Recruitment

KPI management

Budgeting

Health & safety

Communication

Planning & organising

Job description

Store Manager - Eastbourne

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Our Values & Behaviours

• Together in the Making Everything starts with our purpose; delivering for the customer as one team
• Make it Simple Good planning and simplicity help everyone to perform at their best
• Be Bold, Be Brave Clear communication, feedback and learning fuel growth

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 [e-mail] 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.

About Us

We’re here to help you create

Our passion for craft is at the centre of everything we do. This is reflected in our creative and knowledgeable Hobbycraft store colleagues, who are always on hand to help, and our vast, carefully selected range of quality products. Throughout the year, we also host a variety of workshops and demos in stores and online, designed to give everyone the opportunity to master a new craft or refine a beloved one.

We're here to support everyone on their crafting journey, from parents looking to encourage their creative kids, to student artists, expert knitters, model making hobbyists and more! Why not come into your local Hobbycraft store today and find the perfect craft for you?

What's Needed

• Customer service
• Creative
• Knowledgeable