Chicago Assistant Store Manager

Branch Furniture; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental coverage

PTO

401(k)

Product allowance

Employee discount

Job summary

Branch Furniture seeks an experienced Assistant Store Manager for the Chicago store to support the Store Manager in driving sales, operations, and people management. This role requires building a high-performance team and delivering a best-in-class customer experience as Branch scales its retail program.

You will lead coaching, merchandising, and daily operations while ensuring our brand’s aesthetic and customer-first approach remain centered in every interaction.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of experience managing in high-service or high-end retail.
• Proven leadership skills to guide, mentor and coach a team.
• Clear, impactful communication with customers, employees and senior management.
• Strategic sales sense; optimize store operations and lead the team to exceed targets.
• Customer-centric focus; deliver exceptional service and build lasting relationships.
• Operational excellence in retail: inventory, merchandising, and sales tracking.
• Strong problem-solving skills with ability to adapt and implement solutions.
• Entrepreneurial spirit; comfortable wearing multiple hats in a startup environment.
• Passion for furniture and design in every customer interaction and merchandising decision.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of sales associates to hit personal and store goals.
• Partner with Store Manager on daily operations and customer experience.
• Oversee inventory, stock replenishment, merchandising, and store presentation.
• Drive profitability through coaching, follow-ups and performance tracking.
• Engage with B2B customers, tours, and ongoing relationship management.
• Collaborate with corporate on brand standards and store initiatives.

Skills

High-end retail experience

Leadership

Communication

Strategic sales

Customer-centric

Operational excellence

Problem solving

Entrepreneurial spirit

Passion for furniture

Job description

Branch is shaking up the $46B office products industry to create the best work experience for the 21st century: easy, affordable and adaptable so you can sit down (or stand) and get to work.
Most people spend eight hours a day at their workspace. Our mission is creating accessible and inspiring products to help people and teams feel their best at work, wherever that happens.

We're based in NYC and Toronto, and backed by the investors behind Quip, Caraway, Eight Sleep and Peloton. Our culture combines strategic clarity with scrappy execution; we think and plan rigorously but ship fast and have fun doing it. We're looking for entrepreneurial teammates who do the same.

The Role

As the first Assistant Store Manager of our Chicago store, you will support the Store Manager in leading Branch's retail business in the market. You will support the Store Manager in sales, operations, and people management, while helping us define what great retail looks like at Branch.

This is an opportunity for an experienced retail leader who is energized by building from the ground up, developing high-performance teams, creating a best-in-class customer experience, and is excited about being a part of the team as we scale Branch's retail program.

This role is salaried with a compensation range of $62,000-$72,000 USD based on the candidate's experience, skills, competencies, and qualifications. As a full-time employee, you'll be eligible to participate in Branch's benefits program, which includes health and dental coverage to help with medical and dental care costs for you and your family, accrued PTO, a 401(k) to support your retirement savings, a Branch product allowance, and an employee discount on Branch product.

• Revenue & Profitability
• Sales Performance & Achievement: Collaborating with the Store Manager, you'll help establish and exceed sales targets, motivating your team to deliver exceptional service and drive revenue through effective coaching and consistent follow-ups.
• Sales Tracking & Performance Metrics: You'll analyze sales reports, monitor store performance, and identify opportunities for improvement. You'll provide actionable insights to the Store Manager on how to drive profitability and operational efficiency.
• Brand & Customer Experience
• Building Client Relationships: You'll engage directly with a variety of customer types, offering personalized service that keeps them coming back.
• B2B Client Support: You'll support our B2B customers end-to-end, such as B2B appointments and tours, check-out, and ongoing relationship management, being well-versed on our B2B value proposition and product offerings.
• People
• Team Leadership & Growth: You'll lead, mentor, and inspire a talented team of sales associates, providing coaching and feedback to help them hit their personal and team goals while cultivating a positive, results-driven culture.
• Store Manager Partnership: You'll act as an extension of the Store Manager, spotting opportunities for process improvement and synthesizing employee feedback. You'll help set the tone for a positive, high-performing store culture, stepping in to lead when the Store Manager isn't on the floor.
• Store Presentation & Merchandising: Working alongside the Store Manager and corporate team, you'll ensure the store is impeccably designed and visually compelling, creating an inviting atmosphere that enhances the customer experience and supports the brand’s aesthetic.
• Operations
• Daily Operations Management: You'll partner with the Store Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth and efficient processes, from opening and closing to inventory counts, store cleanliness, and scheduling.
• Inventory & Stock Management: From stock replenishment to deliveries, you'll ensure the store is always stocked with the right products, keeping things organized and running smoothly so the team can focus on sales.

Job Requirements:

• High-End Retail Experience: You bring 2-4 years of experience managing in high-service or high-end retail, with a proven ability to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction while exceeding sales goals in premium environments.
• Proven Leadership Skills: You know what it takes to inspire a team, whether it’s guiding, mentoring, or coaching. You help your team members reach their full potential and align with the brand’s vision.
• Clear & Impactful Communication: You're an expert communicator who connects with all levels of the business, from customers to employees to senior management, ensuring clear, professional interactions across the board.
• Strategic Sales Expertise: You understand what drives sales and know how to capitalize on opportunities for growth. You optimize store operations, maximize floor coverage, and lead your team to consistently exceed targets in a competitive retail landscape.
• Customer-Centric Focus: You're passionate about delivering exceptional service and building long-lasting relationships, no interaction is deemed "too small" for high-quality service.
• Operational Excellence: You've mastered the art of retail operations, from inventory management to visual merchandising and sales tracking, all while keeping everything running like clockwork and ensuring accuracy at every step.
• Problem Solver & Adaptable: With your strong problem-solving skills, you're always ready to identify challenges and implement effective solutions, even where there is ambiguity.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit: You're comfortable wearing multiple hats in a startup environment, flexing between retail management, marketing, and special projects as the business evolves and grows.
• Passion for Furniture and Design: You have a genuine enthusiasm for furniture and design, bringing that passion into every customer interaction and merchandising decision on the floor.

If you're an experienced retail leader with a passion for high-end service, looking to take on new challenges in a dynamic, growing startup, we'd love to meet you!

Branch is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that celebrates individuality and uniqueness. We firmly believe that diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences fuel innovation and creativity, ultimately making us a stronger and more effective team.

Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where all individuals are respected, appreciated, and empowered to achieve their utmost potential while being their true authentic self.

Branch is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure our selection process is equitable, and such accommodations can be made available on request. If you require an accommodation, please contact [e-mail].