Area Manager

Signature Cosmetics; Oos-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cosmetics retailer is seeking an experienced store manager to lead store teams and drive sales performance across designated stores. Responsibilities include implementing action plans for underperforming stores, monitoring sales activities, and ensuring compliance with visual merchandising standards. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership skills, a solid understanding of retail operations, and a strong focus on customer service excellence. This role requires effective management of team dynamics and operational processes.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in retail management and team leadership.
• Strong analytical skills for report utilization and sales strategy implementation.
• Excellent communication skills for team and external stakeholder interactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage store teams to drive sales performance.
• Implement promotional strategies to meet sales targets.
• Conduct regular store performance meetings and reviews.
• Ensure compliance with operational checklists and standards.

Skills

Leadership ability

Sales monitoring

Visual merchandising

Problem-solving

Operational responsibility

Job description

Responsibilities

• Promote a high-performance culture through the effective leadership and management of designated store teams.
• Monitor sales for designated stores on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and ensure action plans are in place to deliver required results.
• Ensure store specific action plans are in place for all underperforming stores.
• Discuss performing and non-performing stores with the Area Manager monthly and provide feedback on the achievement of action plans to deliver to requirements, including but not limited to stock management, slow moving products promotions, sales targets, Loyalty Card Programme, operational standards, shrinkage results and stock loss action plans, staffing and staff morale.
• Conduct performance meetings with underperforming store teams, ensure clear action plans are in place, monitor and review the achievement of the action plan
• Ensure all monthly promotions are implemented in designated stores, according to required standards and each store provides the relevant evidence of implementation.
• Assist Area Manager with the preparation and presentation of quarterly reviews to the Managing Director and National Operations & Sales Manager, including relevant analysis and clear action plans to deliver to key performance requirements.
• Ensure effective utilization of reports to support sound problem solving and decision making.
• Effectively utilize relevant reporting to provide input to required stock levels and volumes to support sales budgets, e.g., Top selling lines, Slow moving product line items, Out of Stock line items, stock re-ordering levels.
• Prepare for, co-ordinate and obtain input for the content to be shared at Cycle meetings, ensuring that topics covered add value, address area specific relevant matters, enhance continual sales growth and the development of employees.
• Ensure that visual merchandising standards and disciplines are consistently implemented and maintained to the required business standard to create a beautiful store experience.
• Provide feedback on the effectiveness of visual merchandising that encourage link selling and support the effective implementation of promoted products.
• Ensure stores maintain presentation standards and disciplines which include merchandising of windows, shop fronts, gondola ends, and countertops.
• Share best practice learnings with other teams and across areas.
• Draft and submit a Monthly store visitation plan and provide updates on any changes to the agreed plan.
• Conduct monthly store visits and discuss including but not limited to sales performance against targets, store standards, store disciplines, compliance with policies and procedures, utilisation of the Model Store files, notice board standards, stock management and the use of stock reports to manage Top 200 Items.
• Ensure that the fully completed Operational Checklist is forwarded to the Area Manager monthly.
• Complete the Operations checklist and Banking audits monthly and provide feedback to the store management including updating the Store Visitation book with the relevant feedback, action plans and instructions.
• Ensure that the store teams maintain focus on all key business indicators including but not limited to customer service excellence; Moments of Truth, Loyalty Card Programme, promotions, Link Selling, Make overs, stock management, Store standards and disciplines through the effective utilization of reporting, and ongoing feedback.
• Follow up, address, and rectify the out of line areas recorded on the Risk audits and previous store visits.
• Identify prime locations for stores in existing malls and shopping centres and discuss opportunities with Area Manager.
• Keep up to date with new mall and shopping centre developments and notify the Area Manager of possible sites for new stores.
• Ensure the successful planning, co-ordination and launching of new stores, revamps and relocations and ensure the relevant checklists are completed.
• Effectively manage all people processes including but not limited to employee relations, performance management, learning and development processes, recognition schemes and annual leave planning.
• Effectively and timeously manage monthly payroll processes including the preparation and submission of the Staff Movement report and all relevant supporting documentation.
• Ensure effective staffing schedules are in place in all stores including staffing over peak seasons, stock takes, training schedules and annual leave.
• Liaise with the Human Resources and Recruitment Department to identify appropriate. methods to recruit suitable candidates for relevant positions within agreed timelines.
• Ensure that the correct recruitment processes are followed to enable optimal operations and store structures.
• Ensure all employees are inducted utilizing the official company induction process and documentation.
• Ensure all staff understand their role and responsibilities and receive the relevant training including Point of Sale systems and procedures, Product Knowledge (new and existing products), Merchandising in store, Customer service, selling skills including makeovers, Health and Safety awareness and Shrinkage prevention.
• Ensure action plans are in place to effectively manage known and unknown causes of shrinkage including but not limited to stock rotation, ordering, write offs, damages and tester usage.
• Assist and support the Area Manager to deliver business requirements.