Archipelago Senior Manager of Retail Operations

Company: OluKai-Kaenon-melin-Roark
Location: Irvine
Posted on: January 24, 2023

Job Description:

Who We Are

Archipelago is a shared services company that invests in and builds premium experiential brands in the ocean and outdoor lifestyle category. Just as an Archipelago is a chain of islands that shares resources, each individual brand (island) is operated by its founding team, but outsources backend operations to a core team of shared experts so brands can individually focus on what they do best; brand development, creating great products and deep storytelling.

OluKai: At OluKai our footwear is created using the highest quality materials and crafted into beautiful, functional and incredibly comfortable designs that reflect the spirit of the ocean lifestyle we all enjoy. Our customers and staff embody the connection that exists between people and the ocean, it is our Culture.

OluKai products are currently sold through an ecommerce site, wholesale accounts globally and through five owned retail stores in Hawaii. OluKai plans to open more stores on the mainland US and key international locations.

Melin: Melin creates the world's most premium outdoor lifestyle hats and believes a hat isn't just an accessory thrown on when leaving the house. It's the most critical part of our everyday wardrobe. It's the first thing someone sees when they look at your face and their first impression of your personal style. Its the billboard that tells the world who you are, what you value and where you're from and how you live your life.

Melin hats are sold on an ecommerce site, in specialty wholesale accounts and just recently opened their first retail store in Laguna Beach. They are planning to open several more owned retail stores in the near future.

Roark: Roark is a core modern adventure lifestyle brand with roots in surf. Roark was created to give a voice to the modern adventurer who finds just as much joy on the journey as he or she does at the summit. Stories off the beaten path are the fabric of our adventures - sharing them with others is what stitches it all together.

The brand is sold globally through select wholesale accounts, an ecommerce site and five owned retail stores located in Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Boulder. Additional owned retail stores are planned over the next several years.

Kaenon: Is a premium outdoor lifestyle sunglass brand using advanced Japanese polarized optics and high quality frames crafted in Italy. Premium materials and craftsmanship is used to enhance the outdoor experience. Kaenon products are sold online and throughout wholesale accounts around the US.

Role Summary: Create, enhance and implement owned retail store operations, systems, policies and procedures to deliver a fun, efficient and best in class experience for the retail team and customers while driving sales and profitability through highly motivated store teams and effective omni-channel strategies. The role will focus on developing systems, processes and best practices for OluKai and assisting Roark and Melin with implementation. The role will also focus on preparing Melin to scale to new locations.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Culture

• Create a positive culture of ownership, innovation and sales focus that promotes teamwork and results in high retention and low turnover
• Build morale by recognizing and celebrating individual and team achievements, supporting career development and creating an environment where employees ideas are valued
• Develop individual and team performance capabilities via clear expectations, intentional and frequent honest conversations, meaningful recognition, and accountability.
• Visit and engage on location with retail teams to foster a strong partnership, trust, and positive working relationship
• Invest in future leadership including recruitment, management, coaching and developing a high performing team of Area Managers and Store Managers.
  
  Sales & Marketing
  
  • Create and implement motivational tools, selling strategies and effective product and sales training programs to reach sales goals
  • Participate in go-to-market strategies to maximize sales of new product launches
  • Evaluate sales results on a daily basis using key business reports and tools - developing plans to continually improve
  • Find opportunities to execute creative selling strategies such as pop ups and special events that engage the community and increase revenue
    
    Human Resources
    
    • Partner with Human Resources and District Managers in all activities related to recruiting, hiring, retaining, and promoting a talented and diverse retail team
    • Ensure that stores are in compliance with all employment, state and federal laws, including but not limited to wage and hours, human rights and equal employment opportunities
    • Partner with Human Resources to create localized operating manuals and handbooks
    • Elevate processes to staff appropriately, encourage and motivate employees and coach throughout the hiring & training process
      
      Customer Experience
      
      • Work with District and Store managers to develop a best-in-class customer journey and experience that solidifies retail as the preferred shopping experience for customers
      • Create a Customer First culture that empowers all team members to "solve for yes" to ensure customer satisfaction in all locations
      • Develop and execute a system for clienteling and other omni-channel strategies
      • Connect the customer with giveback programs in a way that customers feel part of the family and proud of their purchase and brand connection
        
        Store Operations
        
        • Continuously assess efficiency and operational opportunities and work with Store & District Managers and channel partners to create, refine, and implement consistent and scalable processes to meet and exceed our business goals.
        • Create and conduct regular store audits to assist stores in continual improvement
        • Resolve Retail store issues by analyzing data, preparing reports and identifying solutions
        • Build and sustain strong cross functional relationships and be able to represent retail stores on projects
        • Deliver quarterly business plans and hindsight recaps, action plans in coordination with corporate partners to ensure revenue and profit goals are being met
        • Work with Planning to identify themes in product and inventory performance and collaborate with all stakeholders to improve performance utilizing data points, strategy, and seasonality with a goal of increasing sales, optimizing inventory, and enhancing margin efficiency throughout ongoing sales cycles
        • Work with District leaders to ensure brand strategy is consistently executed across all stores, including customer service, product knowledge and visual merchandising standards
          
          Finance
          
          • Partner with finance to deliver positive operating margins by store with the establishment of financial goals/objectives, sales plans, payroll and store expenses, and travel budgets
          • Liaison with Director of Retail and Finance on quarterly and annual Store forecasts
          • Controls and influences budgets, revenue, and expenses
          • Manages Regional payroll budgets and approves all pay rates and salary adjustments
          • Present regular financial and operational results to Director of Retail and other internal stakeholders
            
            Technology
            
            • Critically assess technology needs to create and optimize scalable solutions and evolving operational tools to support omni-channel strategies such as Bopis / Ropis, endless aisle, drop ship, fulfill from store and clienteling
            • Act as Store Systems liaison with IT including managing and updating Store Systems as needed
            • Work with data teams to enhance the store reporting infrastructure
              
              Additional Responsibilities
              
              • Willingness to take on additional responsibilities and special projects as assigned
              • Partner with the wholesale departments to create a positive working relationship between owned retail stores and local wholesale partners
              • Ability to jump in and assist in new store opening projects and project management
                
                Qualifications
                
                • Minimum 5+ years of direct, hands on multi-store operational management, preferably during a period of new store growth where several new units are added annually
                • Bachelor's degree in a related field
                • Proficiency in MS Office, G Suite and experience with project management software such as Asana, Basecamp, Monday.com....
                • Experience with Shopify POS and Full Circle ERP is a plus
                • Ability to project manage working on a variety of projects in parallel
                • Entrepreneurial Spirit - can run without hand-holding and isn't afraid of leading and delivering on new projects regardless of experience
                • Experience with omni-channel technology implementation is a plus
                • Available for overnight domestic travel and possibly international
                • This position is based in Irvine, CA and requires a minimum of 3-days per week at the Corporate office
                  
                  Benefits and Perks:
                  
                  • The annual salary range for this position is $80,000 to $110,000 plus opportunity for annual bonus; salary is based on the experience that you bring to the position
                  • Free (and amazing) chef prepared breakfast and lunch provided Monday - Thursday. Includes vegetarian options
                  • Generous product discounts
                  • Growth opportunities within the Archipelago family of brands
                  • Company bonus program
                  • Travel to Hawaii and other desirable destinations
                  • In-office gym
                  • Medical, Dental, Vision insurance
                  • 401k with employer match
                  • Paid beach and service days
                  • Work with talented and great people who share a love of the outdoor lifestyle

Keywords: OluKai-Kaenon-melin-Roark, Irvine , Archipelago Senior Manager of Retail Operations, Executive , Irvine, California