Store Manager: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a store manager?

A store manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a retail business. From managing staff and inventory to driving customer satisfaction, store managers ensure the shop runs smoothly and profitably. The people in this role act as a link between head office, suppliers and floor staff. They implement strategies and maintain high standards.

Why recruit a store manager?

Hiring a dedicated store manager gives you confidence that day-to-day retail operations are being handled efficiently. Store managers play a vital role in meeting sales targets, maintaining brand reputation and fostering a positive working environment.

Contributions of a great store manager:

• Motivating and managing sales teams
• Tracking KPIs and delivering on revenue targets
• Implementing visual merchandising and store policies

Defining your recruitment needs for store managers

Before hiring, identify the size and complexity of your store operation – this will help determine whether you need a hands-on manager, a more strategic lead, or both. Consider your budget, preferred level of experience, and whether this will be a permanent, part-time or fixed-term hire. If you’re unsure whether you need a store manager or an assistant manager, see our assistant store manager job description to make a comparison.

What are the types of store managers?

The profile of a store manager can vary by industry, store type and seniority level. While some lead large teams, others manage boutique shops or specialist branches. Many organisations also use alternative titles to reflect the seniority levels or focus of the role.

Common types of store managers include:

• Retail store manager
• Assistant store manager
• Department manager
• General manager (retail)
• Operations manager (store level)
• Flagship store manager

When writing your store manager job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on store manager jobs, according to Indeed data:

• Store manager
• Retail manager
• Shop manager
• Branch manager
• Retail store jobs
• Store supervisor
• Store team leader
• Retail team leader
• Retail supervisor

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Where to find store managers

To find the right store manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruitment strategies:

• Retail trade associations: groups like the British Retail Consortium (BRC) host events and support career development for experienced managers.
• Retail recruitment agencies: firms such as Retail Human Resources and C2 Recruitment specialise in placing managers in fashion, food, and general retail roles.
• Social networks: many experienced managers maintain active profiles and follow industry discussions.
• Internal promotions: consider top-performing team leaders or assistant managers for career advancement. Internal mobility is a great advantage, as candidates already know the business and onboarding is streamlined.

Post your job online: Try posting your store manager job on Indeed to find and attract quality store manager candidates.

Skills to look for in a store manager

A successful store manager candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• People management and leadership
• Sales forecasting and target setting
• Retail operations and compliance knowledge
• Customer service and conflict resolution
• Budget management and stock control
• Visual merchandising and brand standards

Writing a store manager job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular jobseeker search terms and recruitment insights for a store manager, you’re ready to write a job description.

A store manager job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing store manager job descriptions.

Interviewing store manager candidates

Strong candidates for store manager positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Leading retail teams and improving performance
• Responding to operational or staffing challenges
• Managing rotas, KPIs and shift-based environments
• Driving customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Handling inventory and supplier relationships

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of assistant store manager interview questions for examples (with sample answers).