Retail Sales Manager

The Fabric Center; Morris (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation and sick pay

Job summary

The Fabric Center in Morris, Illinois is hiring a Sales & Office Manager to lead daily retail operations, grow machine and fabric sales, build strong customer relationships, and elevate our presence in the sewing community.

This role blends retail management with hands‑on product education, vendor partnerships, inventory oversight, and event support. You’ll coach a team, guide promotions, and ensure an outstanding customer experience.

Qualifications

• Goal-driven and sales-oriented with experience coaching and motivating a team.
• Confident in managing transactions up to $50,000.
• Outgoing, personable, and confident engaging with customers, teammates, vendors, and community partners.
• Positive and team-focused, contributing to a collaborative store culture.
• Organized, resourceful, and solutions-driven, able to troubleshoot challenges.
• Growth-minded and motivated to learn and elevate sales, events, and customer experience.
• Natural leader who sets expectations and leads by example.
• Marketing-minded, promoting products, classes, and events through in-store engagement.

Responsibilities

• Motivate and coach the sales/customer service team to achieve monthly revenue targets.
• Sell sewing machines, fabrics, notions, and related products in a professional retail environment.
• Demonstrate sewing and embroidery machines; educate customers on features, capabilities, and benefits.
• Build and maintain a personal book of business through strong customer relationships.
• Deliver exceptional customer service and ensure a welcoming, knowledgeable store environment.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with key machine and fabric vendors.
• Manage daily store operations, opening/closing procedures, and front-of-house workflow.
• Create and roll out weekly staff schedules.
• Oversee machine inventory: ordering, receiving, tracking, and merchandising.
• Maintain accurate sales records, reporting, and monthly revenue tracking.
• Teach sewing classes and product demonstrations for customers at multiple skill levels.

Skills

Sales leadership

Team coaching

Customer relations

Vendor partnerships

Inventory management

Event support

Job description

Company Description The Fabric Center is a premier quilting destination in the Midwest, offering more than 10,000 bolts of fabric, a wide selection of patterns, and essential quilting and sewing supplies. The store carries top sewing, embroidery, and quilting machines and is a certified dealer for Bernina, Brother, and Janome, providing trusted in-house sales, service, and repairs. Located off Liberty Street in Morris, Illinois, The Fabric Center serves customers from across Chicagoland who are seeking quality products and knowledgeable support. The shop is known for its welcoming environment and commitment to helping customers bring their creative projects to life. It has earned a reputation as a go-to destination that is “definitely worth the trip.”

The Fabric Center | Morris, Illinois Full-Time | Salary + Aggressive Tiered Commission | Vacation & Sick Pay | 2 Saturdays/Month Required

About the Role

The Fabric Center is seeking a dynamic Sales & Office Manager to lead daily retail operations, drive machine and product sales, build customer relationships, and grow our presence across the sewing and textile community. This role blends retail management, sales leadership, vendor partnerships, inventory oversight, event support, and hands‑on product education.

Ideal Candidate:

• Goal‑driven and sales‑oriented, with experience coaching and motivating a team
• Confident in managing transactions sizes up to $50,000
• Outgoing, personable, and confident engaging with customers, teammates, vendors, and community partners
• Positive and team‑focused, contributing to a supportive, collaborative store culture
• Organized, resourceful, and solutions‑driven, able to troubleshoot challenges and keep operations running smoothly
• Growth‑minded and motivated, eager to learn, improve, and elevate The Fabric Center’s sales, events, and customer experience
• A natural leader who sets expectations, inspires high performance, and leads by example
• Marketing‑minded, comfortable promoting products, classes, and events through in‑store engagement and community outreach
• Energetic with a can‑do attitude, ready to jump in, solve problems, and keep the store moving forward
• Passionate about sewing, textiles, and creative making, with genuine enthusiasm for helping customers explore new tools and techniques
• Comfortable presenting, teaching, and demonstrating, whether leading classes or showcasing machines

Key Responsiblities

• Motivate and coach the sales/customer service team to achieve monthly revenue targets
• Sell sewing machines, fabrics, notions, and related products in a professional retail environment
• Demonstrate sewing and embroidery machines; educate customers on features, capabilities, and benefits
• Build and maintain a personal book of business through strong customer relationships
• Deliver exceptional customer service and ensure a welcoming, knowledgeable store environment

Business Development & Community Engagement

• Build a pipeline of new opportunities through outreach at the point of sales,schools, educational programs, guilds, and applicable businesses
• Represent The Fabric Center at events, workshops, community programs, and promotional activities
• Help drive attendance for in-store events, classes, and machine showcases
• Develop and maintain partnerships with key machine and fabric vendors

Retail Operations & Management

• Manage daily store operations, opening/closing procedures, and front‑of‑house workflow
• Create and roll out weekly staff schedules
• Oversee machine inventory: ordering, receiving, tracking, and merchandising
• Maintain accurate sales records, reporting, and monthly revenue tracking
• Ensure the store is clean, organized, and visually appealing

Training & Education

• Teach sewing classes and product demonstrations for customers at multiple skill levels
• Provide ongoing product sales training to staff
• Stay current on sewing technology, textile products, and industry trends

Compensation & Schedule

• Six figure salary + aggressive tiered commission structure
• Vacation and sick pay included