Hiring For: Almonte Shop Manager

Are you passionate about retail, fashion, and home decor? Do you have experience in managing a small shop space? Would you thrive serving the welcoming and close-knit Almonte community? Are you excited about ensuring the success of a key store location for a growing local, ethical brand? Pokoloko is looking for a Shop Manager for our brand new Almonte location opening December 2023, who can effectively manage the execution of a dynamic product collection and marketing calendar in an intimate retail shop setting. 

ABOUT POKO

Poko is a fair trade, environmentally-conscious fashion and home brand based in Ottawa-Gatineau. We sell via three channels: wholesale, online retail, and brick-and-mortar retail, and work with over 100 independent artisans worldwide. You can expect a supportive, positive work culture, surrounded by like-minded, hardworking young professionals. Your work will make a significant, positive impact on the people and environments of our Poko community, at home and abroad. 

JOB FACTS & POKO PERKS 

  • Full time hours, 40 hours per week 
  • Schedule includes weekdays and weekends during regular business hours, and will fluctuate depending on seasonal business needs  
  • Competitive hourly compensation, based on experience and skill set
  • Location of work is 76 Mill Street in Almonte Ontario, with occasional trips to Poko’s warehouse offices in Ottawa-Gatineau
  • Shop discount
  • Casual dress 
  • Quarterly team activities
  • Km driven for Poko working purposes reimbursed 
  • Health benefits 

EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS

  • Full driver’s license, and ideally access to personal vehicle
  • Minimum 1-2 years of experience in retail 
  • Management, sales, customer service, home decor, fashion, and/or merchandising experience an asset
  • Fluency in English required, French language skills an asset but not required
  • Proficient in the following an asset but not required: Excel, Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Gmail, Drive), Slack, WhatsApp, Shopify, Shopify POS, DEAR or inventory management tools
  • Ability to bend and lift up to 50 lbs, can stand for long periods of time 
  • Flexibility to be in the shop 2-4 weekend days per month depending on the season, partial weekend and holiday availability is necessary  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Shop Management

  • Participate in weekly meeting with Poko co-owners to plan the execution of short and long term goals, calendar, and strategy using key performance indicators and data analysis 
  • Maintain regular communication via phone, Slack, and email with the Poko Team between meetings - expect daily communication during working hours
  • Coordinating with the Poko Marketing Team to ensure the Almonte shop reflects Poko’s marketing calendar including new product launches, special events, etc
  • Work with Poko co-founder Jess to hire and train any shop support needed
  • Keep shop procedures dynamically updated, and the small Almonte team (1-2 part time employees) trained on all shop procedures
  • Create, manage, and communicate the schedule for the Almonte team
  • Nurture a strong team and shop culture and vibe, creating a positive and supportive environment
  • Ensuring effective communication between the shop team, and between the Almonte Team and the greater Poko Team
  • Support the purchasing of supplies needed for the shop, and ensure the purchasing of supplies for the shop is financially and logistically efficient 
  • Coordinating bank deposits, complete daily cash counts, resolve discrepancies immediately
  • Take proactive initiative to ensure any tech issues are fixed immediately
  • Managing any interpersonal issues that may occur, approach all interpersonal issues in a calm, private and appropriate manner 
  • Conduct performance reviews and supportive check ins with co-founder Jess for Almonte team 
  • Lead team meetings and team trainings when needed 

Merchandising & Inventory 

  • Ensure the Almonte Shop is strategically stocked with Poko products and supplies 
  • Count, track, price, and organize inventory within the shop
  • Ensure effective and timely product restocks and inventory transfers from the Poko warehouse to the Almonte Shop
  • Ensure best sellers and seasonal best sellers are optimized in the shop space
  • Ensure all spaces in the shop are merchandised effectively and beautifully 
  • Plan weekly merchandising changes based on weekly data analysis, ensure merchandising changes are made swiftly and regularly to maximize sales
  • Maintain a clean and organized shop space including storage areas of product backstock 
  • Ensuring interior and exterior signage is updated, clear, beautiful, and effective
  • Complete rolling and annual inventory counts, ensure the inventory counts are reflected in the Poko inventory system and accurately match the physical products in store

Sales & Community  

  • Service all customers at an exceptional level of customer service while meeting sales goals
  • Initiate meaningful conversations with customers, support customers in finding what they need, suggest styling and product recommendations
  • Maintain sales goals, and maximize sales at the shop level with customers, while ensuring an inclusive, positive, and effective experience for each customer
  • Maintain and engage ongoing relationships with our regular customers, and aim to create long term relationships with new customers and less frequent customers, to increase customer loyalty 
  • Participate actively in local community events as a representative of Pokoloko 
  • Stay informed and communicate to the Poko co-founders about local community events and opportunities for Pokoloko to support and be involved in the Almonte community  
  • Host special events and workshops at the shop, for example Pokoloko’s sample sales 
  • Develop product knowledge in order to communicate accurately with customers, actively seek product knowledge in order to constantly improve your knowledge base in an effort to be the best source of product knowledge for customers
  • Provide weekly sale information, product knowledge, and training to all Shop Associates, ensuring effective and cohesive messaging 
  • Ask critical questions to the Poko Team to constantly be improving and developing Pokoloko products, and evolving what Pokoloko offers its community. Pass along customer feedback for product improvement.  
  • Occasionally contact customers via phone and email in a professional, helpful, kind, and courteous manner, for example for products on hold 

HOW TO APPLY

  • Only applications submitted via our website will be considered. To apply please complete the Round 1 form below. 
  • Please write “terracotta” in the first sentence of your cover letter so we know you read the entire job posting and have strong attention to detail
  • Our goal is to pick the best candidate by latest December 15, 2023.  Applications close when a candidate is hired. All candidates will be notified when the application process is closed. 
  • Pokoloko is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and safe workplace where all team members have the opportunity to succeed