Store Manager (Furniture Store)

This is a hands-on and genuinely autonomous management position. As the business owner works full-time in South Auckland, the successful applicant will exercise independent control over the store’s strategic direction and daily operations, staff, stock and sales performance.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement the store’s sales, purchasing, pricing, marketing and customer-service strategies.
• Analyse customer demand, sales performance, market trends, warehouse capacity and existing stock levels to determine the store’s product range and future purchasing priorities.
• Establish retail prices based on landed costs, freight, target margins, competitor pricing and market demand.
• Source and select suppliers, negotiate commercial terms, approve purchases and shipping arrangements
• Prepare and manage the store’s budget and monitor revenue, expenditure, stock movement, margins and overall financial performance.
• Develop advertising, promotional and showroom strategies to increase sales and strengthen the store’s market position.
• Determine staffing requirements and manage the recruitment, training, rostering, supervision and performance of store employees.
• Set and maintain service and operational standards, including overseeing customer advice, deliveries, returns, warranties and significant complaints.
• Ensure compliance with workplace health and safety and other applicable retail requirements.
• Provide specialist advice on furniture construction, materials and assembly, inspect product quality and packaging before approving bulk purchases, and supervise complex assembly and the safe handling of heavy or bulky furniture
• Any other duties reasonably required for the effective operation of the store, including resolving customer complaints, handling delivery disputes and providing specialist product advice to customers.

Skills and experience required

Applicants must have:

• At least two years’ relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of furniture construction and assembly, including complex flat-pack and modular products containing numerous components, fasteners, nuts, bolts, brackets, hinges, rails and other fittings
• Sound product knowledge of upholstery foams together with an understanding of how foam density and firmness affect durability and comfort.
• Knowledge of mattress types and their construction.
• Knowledge of furniture substrates and finishes
• Prior experience assessing furniture quality, workmanship, structural stability, upholstery, hardware and finishing.
• Good spoken and written English and the ability to communicate confidently with customers, staff, suppliers and freight providers.
• The physical capacity to regularly handle and move bulky furniture and safely undertake heavy lifting as part of the role.

The successful applicant must be available to work rostered hours, including weekends and public holidays when required.