Deputy Branch Manager

Wordsworth Books; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Wordsworth Books in Cape Town seeks a Deputy Manager to run the store in the absence of the Branch Manager, ensuring daily operations, customer service, and sales goals.

You will lead staff, manage stock, merchandising, promotions, and security, while maintaining a positive, professional store image.

The role requires hands-on leadership, strong communication, and a focus on local market needs to drive repeat business and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Oversee store operations in absence of Branch Manager.
• Lead staff to meet store goals and adjust to market changes.
• Provide excellent customer service and foster a positive store culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate staff to achieve sales targets.
• Ensure stock accuracy and efficient stock turnover.
• Maintain attractive store displays and manage promotions.

Skills

Retail management

Staff leadership

Customer service

Stock management

Merchandising

Job description

Deputy Managers are responsible for overseeing and managing the operation of the store in lieu of the Branch Manager not being in store. In doing so Deputy Managers will ensure that they, as well as their staff, achieve maximum sales of books and other merchandise. The main responsibilities are a set of clearly defined goals and objectives that will assist management in ensuring that all employees are aligned with the business goals and strategies. In following this method all Branch and Deputy Managers must be able to lead by example and remain abreast of the industry's ever-changing climate.

Management Of Staff

• To support Head Office and remain amiable with regards to assisted rostering.
• Overall care of employees and their wellbeing.
• Motivating and mentoring staff to do their best for the Wordsworth Books brand.

Customer Service

• Offering assistance to every customer entering the store with a friendly face and a positive attitude.

Housekeeping

• Maintaining neat and tidy shelves.
• Maintaining order in all sections.
• Ensuring that the store is in a state of general cleanliness and that it is always tidy and presentable.

Merchandising

• Attending to the window and in- store displays and ensuring that same are attractive, eye catching and changed every two weeks.

Promotions

• Making sure that all promotions are adequately merchandised and ample quantities are on hand.
• In completing the aforementioned, the trap of high stock levels and low stock turnover MUST be avoided!

Stock Management

• Monitoring the category sales and in doing so aligning the stock with the needs of the local market and maintain a focused buying strategy.
• Ensuring that receiving is accurate and shrinkage is managed and controlled.
• All stock must be in line with the sales and store size to ensure a high level stock turnover.

Communication

• All correspondence with suppliers, customers, fellow employees and Head Office will be done in a professional and courteous manner.
• In accordance with the aforementioned, all communication via any medium will be concluded in a timeous manner.

Training

• Ensuring that all employees are trained and up to date with store systems, customer service/ sales techniques and products.

Security

• Security must be discussed regularly and all employees must always be alert and aware of the non-shoppers and/ or shop lifters.
• Making sure that the CCTV and Convex mirrors are monitored.

Admin And Control

• Daily cash ups, credit cards and banking will be cross checked daily.

Knowledge Management

• Ensuring that all employees are aware of the Category Sale Reports.
• New book submissions from all publishers must be circulated amongst the staff.

Selling

• Ensuring that every employee and every process in store focuses on making sales.
• Ensure that a culture of hand selling, up selling and relationship building occurs to ensure repeat business.
• Make sure that the sales target for the store is reached every month, in order for you and your team to receive Incentives.

Community Sales

• Facilitating of selling to Schools, Libraries and Churches.