Area Manager: Eastern Cape

homechoice is a leading South African homeware retailer. For 40 years we've helped our customers create beautiful homes they love with an innovative range of quality products they can afford.

The preferred candidate will assume accountability for overseeing both the general management and operational activities of the homechoice Showrooms within Gqeberha and Surrounds.

What you will love doing in this role

Performance Management

• Achieve and exceed sales and profitability targets for all stores in the area.
• Leverage data-driven insights to improve store performance, including conversion rates, New Accounts, and Average basket size.
• Develop and implement targeted action plans that address any identified areas of improvement.
• Ensure stores maintain high standards of customer service and brand experience.

Product

• Visual Display Management: Ensure that all stores maintain world-class visual displays that align with brand standards.
• Personal Stylists Culture: Foster a culture where staff act as personal stylists, assisting customers in creating a home they love through expert product recommendations and styling advice.
• Guideline Implementation: Oversee the consistent implementation of visual merchandising guidelines across all stores, ensuring every location reflects the brand's aesthetic and quality.
• Performance Metrics: Drive performance improvements through effective visual merchandising strategies that enhance gross profit (GP) and average item value.
• Innovation: Regularly assess and update display techniques to stay ahead of market trends and competitor offerings.

Expand into new markets

• Assist in identifying potential new store locations and market opportunities.
• Execute activations within neighboring towns to drive new foot traffic.
• Support new store openings, refurbishments, and store relocations.
• Collaborate with marketing to execute promotional campaigns.

Optimize risk and drive efficiencies

• Mitigate risk associated with cash, stock, OHASA and regulatory requirements in all stores in the area
• Improve the Goods Returned rate to achieve targets for all stores in the area
• Ensure all stores adhere with company policies, procedures, and operational standards.
• Conduct regular store visits to assess merchandising, stock levels and obsolescence, and adherence to visual guidelines.
• Address operational issues and escalate where necessary.
• Improve fraud detection skills in-store through collaboration with Fraud and Training.

People Management & Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop Store Managers and their teams.
• Drive employee engagement and maintain a positive working environment.
• Manage performance, conduct appraisals, and implement corrective actions where needed.
• Ensure effective succession planning and staff development programs for key positions in the area.
• Manage performance in alignment with HR practices, and competently address cases of misconduct at a store level and/or disciplinary hearing stage.

Living the values

• Live and behave in alignment to the company values and promises.
• Drive value-driven behavior in all stores in the area
• Be receptive to feedback and have the courage to share ideas, feedback and suggestions in the right tone and the right forum

What you'll need to do this role

• Diploma or Degree required in Retail management, business management, or similar
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in retail sales
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a management position
• A valid South African driver's license

What we will love about you

• Ethical and professional self-starter with high energy levels.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with a customer centric attitude.
• Natural leader with the ability to mentor and inspire.
• Deadline and target driven with great attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and motivational skills with the ability to communicate at all levels.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage stress effectively.
• Adaptable, flexible with loads of initiative.

Behaviors we love

Wow my
customer

• Walk in my customers' shoes
• Deliver on my promises
• Deliver insight-led solutions my customers need

Treat the business as
my own

• Take accountability
• Be curious, creative & explore opportunities
• Do it right & at the right time

Play as a
team

• Be helpful
• Be inclusive
• Find the fun