Assistant Shop Manager
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Willow Foundation
Willow’s charity shops deliver sustainable income for the charity, supporting the delivery of more than 1,000 special days, treats or breaks for our beneficiaries each year. Our shops also play a key role in the local community, raising awareness and support for Willow, as well as providing opportunities for volunteers.
Job purpose
- To contribute to income generation for Willow by supporting the management of a retail shop to the highest standards of good practice, compliance with policies and procedures and maximisation of income, profit, and promotion of Willow to the public
Key responsibilities
- To support the recruitment and retention of a motivated team of volunteers.
- To support income and profit maximisation through maximising donations, preparation of items for sale, sales and disposals of un-saleable items to trade merchants; optimising the price for all donated stock.
- Achieve sales and profit targets in order that we are able to increase the number of special days, treats or breaks for seriously ill young adults
- To maximise sign-ups for retail Gift Aid and ensuring full records are maintained for donations under this scheme.
- To support the management of customer and donor engagement ensuring the best possible relationship with Willow.
- To support the management of the physical appearance of the shop maintaining high standards of shop merchandising and visual layout, managing space allocation through interpretation of sales data, controlling stock density and rotation systems, ensuring that it is inviting to customers and safe for customers, staff and volunteers at all times.
- To demonstrate understanding of Willow’s purpose and activities striving to improve brand awareness and communicate key messages in order to raise the charity’s profile
- To support all shop administration including cash handling and daily banking functions accurately and to deadline, ensuring company policies and procedures are adhered to.
- To support daily work plans, ensuring that there are enough staff to support sales and stockroom functions and encouraging effective communication, setting objectives and fostering a positive team spirit.
- To be a key holder ensuring that the shop is secure at all times and following procedures in the event of any incidents.
- To ensure that trading standards regulations are adhered to at all times.
- To work on Saturdays (and by prior agreement Sundays) as required within normal rota’d duties.
Generic responsibilities:
- To ensure all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes Willow’s equality and diversity policies
- To promote a health and safety culture within the workplace, observing all health and safety rules and procedures and attend all training courses as required
- To ensure that essential information of a sensitive or personal nature is not disclosed to, or discussed with inappropriate persons
- To ensure all information is maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act
- To provide holiday cover for the Shop Manager (agreed in advance)
- To undertake other duties, commensurate with the post, as required
Travel requirements:
- To attend Managers’ meetings and training sessions as required.
Unsocial hours requirement
- To work on Saturdays (and by prior agreement Sundays) as required within normal rota’d duties.
Person Specification
Knowledge
- An appreciation of the value of things
- Understanding of stock management
- Ability to use word and email
- Ability to plan and organise own and teams work load
- An affinity with Willow’s objectives and activities
Skills and abilities
- Accurate, conscientious, and self-motivated
- Ability to work on own and use initiative and make decisions
- Good communication skills at all levels
- An artistic streak, e.g. flair for display
Experience & qualifications
- GCSE Maths and English or equivalent literacy and numeracy skills
- Experience of working within the retail sector
- Understanding of health and safety and trading standards
Other
- All paid retail staff are required to complete a Basic DBS check every 3 years.