Store Manager

The Shoprite Group of Companies; Middelburg; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in South Africa is seeking a UniQ Store Manager to oversee operations, drive customer service, and manage inventory levels. The role demands strong leadership and retail management experience, particularly in apparel. Candidates should demonstrate effective team development skills and a results-oriented mindset. The position requires flexibility with working hours and a commitment to operational compliance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in retail or service-oriented environment managing a small team.
• Experience in apparel, clothing, or fashion retail.
• Understanding of operational controls and health & safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily store operations and adhere to standards.
• Lead and develop the store team to provide excellent customer service.
• Analyze inventory levels and conduct regular operational reviews.

Skills

Team leadership

Customer service

Operational management

Problem-solving

Sales orientation

Education

Relevant post-matric courses

Job description

Overview

The purpose of the UniQ Store Manager role is to manage and build the new UniQ apparel brand, drive an outstanding service culture, oversee store standards, operational excellence, and develop service, sales, and stock strategies alongside the UniQ team. The role executes stock management and merchandising plans, manages loss prevention and related mitigations, encourages the achievement of sales targets, and focusses efforts on return customer traffic to the store as a key indicator of success. The role oversees, and supports a team comprising Team Leaders, Sales Consultants and Associates who offer helpful, and accurate product information, instore customer support and ultimately work together to deliver a competitive experience as ambassadors of the UniQ brand.

Responsibilities

• Manage every aspect of the day-to-day running of the store, including operating standards, store administration, security, sales, aftersales, stock, and merchandising (People, Process, Product).
• Together with the team provide a friendly and engaging customer experience. Maintain a positive and lively atmosphere with particular attention to customer service and public relations.
• Provide strong leadership - motivating, leading, training and developing the team. Lead daily, weekly, and monthly store meetings to share store and individual performance, celebrate top service and sales, drive identification of training needs and attendance, provide store operations / standards updates as well as broader company initiatives underway.
• Oversee adherence to trading hours, procedural opening and closing standards (including key carrier controls) and adequate resourcing cover to meet the needs of customers (considering peak trading trends).
• Consistently maintain store appearance to guidelines and standards. Keep a neat, clean, well-stocked environment. Adhere to all standards related to signage labeling, planogram integrity, seasonal style guides, and merchandise presentation ensuring high standards in product range, stock levels and presentation (and related stock smoothing).
• Manage all aspects of operational activity and management of standards pertaining sales, price, and promotion discounts, reduced to clear, donations and related pricing material.
• Manage, monitor, and mitigate losses throughout the stock movement cycle from point of arrival at store premises, verification of receipt, through merchandising, promotions, sales, self-checkout, recycle/return processes, and replenishment, managing shrinkage controls (including RFID tag controls) throughout the process.
• Manage inventory levels, assets, and expenses within the store by applying financial controls and routinely reviewing all operational processes. Ensure that the stock ledger and stock variances are accurately recorded.
• Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly reports and presentations as required.
• Share suggestions regarding the continuous improvement of store operations, campaign ideas, service, and sales opportunities etc. Support an innovative and open store environment.
• Provide support to the broader UniQ Team and other stores / projects as required.
• Build a culture of non-negotiable compliance with company guidelines, standards, procedures, and policies including but not limited to safety protocols - Health & Safety (OHSACT), Security and related Loss Prevention.

Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant post-matric courses and qualifications – (highly advantageous).
• +3 years exposure to a retail or service-oriented store environment, managing a small team in a customer interfacing, sales and stock orientated environment - (essential).
• High energy individual with overall store management experience with exposure to apparel / clothing / fashion retail - (essential).
• Exposure to retail systems, technologies, and new innovations - (essential).
• Understanding of procedures, standards, and guidelines in a retail store context – Company policies and procedures, operational controls, loss prevention and mitigation, Health & Safety – OHSACT procedures etc. - (essential).
• Flexibility to work daytime, afternoon and evening shifts, weekends, and holidays within legislative requirements - (essential). (To ensure that we optimise our service delivery to our customers and align with our teams, the working hours for this role are planned against a weekly schedule (any days from Monday to Sunday (shift work), including public holidays).

Key Competencies and Work Ethic

• Energetic, enthusiastic, creative, well-groomed, reliable, punctual, and not afraid of hard work.
• Team oriented, strong leader with a social personality that thrives around people (store team and customers) - makes people feel comfortable by adapting their approach to suit their needs.
• Positive attitude with the ability to coach and motivate staff. Inspiring teamwork, leading by example, and consistently focused on delivering outstanding results.
• Independent problem solver, quick thinker, and learner, adaptable to change.
• Work well under pressure and handle multiple priorities.
• Set goals and priorities, organise outputs, maximise capacity and productivity.
• Sales orientation with a strong eye for detail and the ability to execute planograms, seasonal style guides and other visual merchandising to specification.
• Strong analytical skills - ability to maximise profitability, prepare reports & figures and provide observations and insights.
• Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal.
• Physically strong - ability to stand or walk for long periods of time, lift things, climb up ladders etc.
• Integrity, strong code of conduct and compliance.