Summary
This organization is a long-standing, community-driven specialty retailer focused on showcasing and supporting Canadian handmade craft, art, and design. Operating as a co-operative model, the business represents and sells work from a large network of independent artisans and makers, creating a highly curated retail environment centered around craftsmanship, creativity, and local production.
The store combines elements of retail, gallery-style merchandising, tourism, gifting, and community engagement. Its product assortment spans multiple artisan categories, with an emphasis on quality, storytelling, and supporting independent creators. The business places strong importance on customer experience, member relationships, visual presentation, and maintaining a fresh and engaging retail environment. The organization operates with a collaborative and community-oriented culture, balancing commercial retail operations with a mission-driven focus on promoting local makers and creative industries. The Retail Store Manager plays a central leadership role, acting as the operational link between the organization, its members/artisans, customers, staff team, and board leadership. $75-80K
Description
- Leading day-to-day store operations and ensuring the store runs smoothly, professionally, and efficiently
- Delivering a welcoming, service-focused customer experience
- Driving sales performance through strong floor leadership, merchandising, product knowledge, and team engagement
- Maintaining high standards for visual presentation, displays, signage, cleanliness, and overall store environment
- Working closely with senior leadership on sales targets, operating budgets, marketing initiatives, policies, and store plans
- Preparing regular reporting on sales, expenses, operations, trends, and opportunities
- Managing inventory flow, product rotation, sell-through, and overall store presentation
- Supporting marketing plans, in-store events, external events, and community engagement initiatives
- Hiring, training, scheduling, coaching, and performance-managing retail staff
- Creating a respectful, inclusive, accountable, and positive team culture
- Overseeing store policies, procedures, loss prevention, cash handling, deposits, payroll coordination, and compliance
- Supporting technology upgrades, store projects, process improvements, and operational efficiencies
- Spending regular time on the sales floor, modelling service standards and supporting the team directly
Requirements
- 3-5 years experience in retail store management, specifically in a specialty retail setting
- Strong merchandising and visual presentation skills
- Experience leading, coaching, scheduling, and developing retail teams
- Budgeting, planning, reporting, and operational management experience
- Strong communication, organization, and time-management skills
- Comfort working with POS systems, ideally including Shopify and/or Square
- Proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Office, or equivalent tools
- A hands-on leadership style and willingness to work directly on the floor
- The ability to balance customer service, administration, team leadership, and operational execution
- Knowledge of BC Employment Standards is an asset
- Ability to lift up to 35 lbs.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and attend occasional events as required
Corporate Culture
This is an opportunity to join a respected and community-driven cultural retail organization with deep roots in British Columbia’s arts and craft sector. The organization is committed to creating meaningful connections between artists, customers, visitors, and the broader community through creativity, storytelling, and exceptional retail experiences.
Their mission is centered around supporting local craftspeople, promoting excellence in BC craft, and operating through a collaborative co-operative model that reinvests in artists, members, and sustainable long-term growth.
The organization values:
- Creating exceptional guest experiences that build lasting relationships and loyalty
- Celebrating artists and craftsmanship as an essential part of community and culture
- Supporting collaboration, inclusion, respect, and recognition for all team members, artists, and visitors
- Sharing authentic, artist-driven stories from across British Columbia
- Maintaining excellence in presentation, merchandising, and stewardship of the work represented in the store
- Building a welcoming, inspiring, and community-oriented environment where people gather through art and creativity
This role offers the opportunity to make a visible impact within a purpose-driven retail environment that blends culture, community, creativity, and commerce.