RETAIL AREA MANAGER

Direct reports: Store Managers

Retail: Two London stores, Sydney and future Réalisation retail locations, with product and fit support for China retail

Role Purpose

Responsible for the day-to-day leadership, performance and profitability of Réalisation's global retail business.

The role leads retail operations, retail merchandising, store teams and store presentation and retail activation execution, ensuring stores deliver strong commercial performance, exceptional customer experience and operational excellence.

Working closely with the Director of Partnerships, the role executes retail strategy and identifies opportunities to improve sales, profitability, customer retention and store productivity across all locations.

The role will also ensure consistent retail and product standards across markets, overseeing product and fit training and providing overarching fit notes and guidance for new styles to China retail.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Retail Business Performance & Operations

• Accountable for Retail sales and operating profit performance against agreed budgets and targets across all stores.
• Lead Retail store teams, including direct management, coaching and development of Store Managers.
• Oversee all Réalisation retail locations, currently two London stores and Sydney, with responsibility extending to future stores as the retail footprint grows.
• Execute the Retail strategy and priorities set by the Director of Partnerships, ensuring effective delivery across all locations.
• Own day-to-day Retail performance, identifying and implementing initiatives to drive sales growth, profitability, customer retention, conversion, UPT and ATV.
• Conduct regular store visits, performance reviews and weekly check-ins with Store Managers to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Set clear store-level KPIs and work with Store Managers to develop action plans where performance is below target.
• Oversee store staffing, payroll and team productivity against agreed budgets, working with Store Managers to ensure appropriate staffing levels.
• Lead retail stock management across all locations, ensuring inventory supports customer demand and commercial objectives.
• Collaborate closely with Merchandising on regular inventory reporting, replenishment requests, stock insights and trading recommendations.
• Monitor product and stock performance and identify opportunities to improve Retail trading.
• Own the ongoing presentation and visual standards of all retail locations, ensuring each store consistently reflects the Réalisation brand.
• Oversee in-store visual merchandising and product placement, ensuring execution reflects agreed Creative and Merchandising direction.
• Oversee window presentation, floral arrangements and other decorative and environmental elements within stores.
• Ensure exceptional daily standards across store presentation, cleanliness, fitting rooms, lighting, music and overall customer environment.
• Conduct regular reviews of store presentation and visual merchandising and provide clear feedback and actions to Store Managers.
• Manage retail operations and processes, ensuring stores operate efficiently, consistently and in line with brand.
• Lead the development and continuous improvement of store procedures, training materials and operational processes.
• Oversee stock accuracy, stocktakes and shrinkage controls across stores.
• Support Click & Collect and other customer initiatives that support sales growth and customer accessibility.
• Lead store teams to implement Retail customer loyalty proposition and strategy defined by the Director.
• Manage pop-up events as they arise.
• Ensure all retail locations trade safely and legally, escalating any issues to the Director of Partnerships as necessary.