Job Title:
Store Director, Moores of Coleraine
Reports to:
Managing Director
Responsible for:
Floor Managers, VM Manager, Cash and Information Analyst, Store
Manager – White House, Store Manager – Clare’s of Llandudno
Key Liaisons:
Managing Director/ Finance Director/Head of Buying/Group HR &
Training Manager/Marketing Manager
Job Purpose:
Reporting directly to the Managing Director and working closely with the Ulster Stores Senior
Management Team, the Store Director will provide vision and leadership in Moores, driving
performance to maximize sales and profitability, through a well merchandised store and
motivated, customer focused teams. The Store Director will also oversee and drive the
performance of the White House, Portrush and Clare’s of Llandudno.
Attitude:
You will be comfortable with constructively challenging and being challenged in equal
measure.
What sort of person are we are looking for?
You will be an experienced retail manager, passionate about what you do, with a proven track
record in delivering sales and profit targets, either in a large department store environment or
relevant multi-sector areas. Whilst it is important that you can see the bigger picture, the
smaller detail of retail will also be important to you, with the understanding that without the
basics in place success won’t be possible.
You will enjoy leading from the front, thriving on developing and motivating the team to bring
the best out of them. You will provide clear, focused management and your coaching style will
fit naturally with good communication and interpersonal skills.
Interpreting management information to recommend and carry out sound commercial and
trading actions will be as important as the skills required to implement some of the projects
that result.
You should feel at home within a strong group management team, welcoming the challenge
as well as the support.
Working closely with the managing director (business owner) and senior management team,
you will be thrilled to have a unique opportunity to truly influence the business’s success.
Key Responsibilities
1. Ensure that sales and profit targets are met by:
(i)
(ii)
Motivating the sales teams to actively sell and give outstanding customer
service.
Consistently reviewing merchandise, both in store and in the market place
and liaising with the Head of Buying to ensure that Moores always carries
product which exceeds the expectations of its customers.
2. Monitor departmental sales per ft2 and maintain a complete knowledge of stock and
sales performance, planning space so that maximum return is achieved.
3. Deliver key business results and achieve key performance indicators relating to
revenue generation, cost control, customer service and the management of people.
4. Constantly question and challenge the store operation seeking improvements that
deliver lower costs, improved sales and increased profitability.
5. Liaise with Concession Area Managers to ensure that in store concession performance
is maximised and store standards are maintained.
6. Actively coach and develop the Moores management team and Store Managers of
White House and Clare’s to reach their full potential, and ensure that a succession plan
is in place and is reviewed on a regular basis.
7. Lead the sales management team and support team (cash office/VM) to maximise their
performance and deliver the business objectives.
8. Project-manage any agreed store refurbishment projects or major floor moves, within
budget, achieving desired improvements to the customer shopping experience.
9. Inspire the Visual Merchandising and Floor Managers to deliver and maintain exciting
merchandising and layouts within the store.
10. Lead from the front by maintaining a strong personal floor presence, building an
understanding of the store’s customers and what is important to them.
11. Continuously monitor competition and be aware of opportunities and threats.
12. To be public face of Moores participating in the activities of the Coleraine business and
local communities to ensure a positive image of the store amongst external
stakeholders.
13. Ensure that the store is compliant with NI legislation relating to Health and Safety and
employment, creating a safe and harmonious work environment.
Person Specification
Essential Attributes
1.
Significant previous experience in a quality department store environment or relevant
multi sector areas, with a proven track record in retail management, including store
layout and service standards.
2.
Passionate about retail, commercially focused, outgoing, confident and hard working.
3.
Experience of the achievement of sales targets (in the range of £5 million - £10 million)
and the management of budgets.
4.
Sufficient professional gravitas to provide effective leadership and coaching to your
team.
5.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to influence and build
strong cross functional relationships.
6.
A hands on, proactive, floor based approach.
7.
IT literate with excellent numerical and analytical skills; a fast learner who can grasp
situations swiftly, generating useful insights and pragmatic ideas.
Business Background:
Ulster Stores Ltd, an independent retail group based in Coleraine, Northern Ireland
comprises 4 department stores, Moores of Coleraine, The White House Portrush, Clare’s of
Llandudno and de Gruchy St. Helier. The group also operates three cookshops and several
specialist websites
Moores
The store occupies a landmark building in a 100% prime pitch in Coleraine, a thriving town on
the North Coast of Northern Ireland. Moores currently trades from 42,000 square feet and is
the one of the largest Independent Department Stores in Northern Ireland.
Both tourism and the 2006 refurbishment contribute greatly to Moores’ substantial average
weekly footfall of 34,000 customers.
The store trades middle to better end within the local market. The store has a turnover of
more than £8m, with sales split 38% concession and 62% own bought. In addition to an instore restaurant and cafe, departments include menswear, young fashion, fashions, beauty,
fashion accessories, lingerie, footwear, stationery, gifts, luggage, cookshop, linens and
electricals. Moores currently employs approx 75 people.
Coleraine/Northern Ireland
Coleraine is known as ‘The Capital of the Causeway Coast,’ Northern Ireland’s famous tourist
area which includes well known attractions such as The Giant’s Causeway, Royal Portrush
Golf Club, The Bushmills Distillery and miles of Blue Flag Atlantic beaches.
The North Coast of Northern Ireland boasts beautiful scenery, golden sandy beaches and
rugged countryside, which are the backdrop for an area steeped in history and ancient Irish
legend. The towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine provide locals and visitors alike
with a host of water sports, championship golf courses, scenic walks and restaurants galore.