Store Manager - Newport Beach - Varley

Description

Job Title: Store Manager

Location: Fashion Island, Newport Beach, California

Who We Are:

Varley is a contemporary fashion brand for the modern woman. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife Lara and Ben Mead, we are an international, family-run business headquartered between London, Los Angeles, and New York. We offer year-round collections, including knitwear, outerwear, and everyday staples, complemented by active pieces to create an elevated wardrobe for how you live and move. We are defined by the women who wear Varley and exist to instil quiet confidence through connections that enhance everything they already are. As women's lives evolve, so do we.

Job Description

The Store Manager is a strategic leader and brand ambassador, responsible for driving commercial performance, delivering an exceptional customer experience, and building a high-performing team. They demonstrate independent thinking, strong problem-solving skills, and forward planning to anticipate trading patterns, staffing needs, and operational challenges. The Store Manager champions a culture of collaboration and positivity, ensuring the store is a supportive place for teams and an inviting space for customers.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and inspire the team to achieve commercial and service objectives.
• Proactively workforce plan, forecasting hiring and staffing needs around peak trading periods and seasonal business demands.
• Recruit, onboard, and retain high-performing talent with succession in mind.
• Conduct regular 1:1s, team meetings and annual appraisals, setting clear expectations and reviewing performance against goals.
• Address performance and behaviour issues directly, creating performance improvement plans where necessary and escalating with HR as appropriate.
• Develop and implement tailored coaching and training strategies to build capability, confidence, and leadership across the team.
• Successfully plan and manage workload and time to ensure administrative tasks and reporting are completed, while maintaining strong leadership presence on the shop floor.

Commercial & Operational Excellence

• Demonstrate strong commercial acumen, analysing performance data (sales, product, and inventory reports) to identify trends and opportunities.
• Take full accountability for achieving store KPI's, regularly reviewing performance and implementing strategies to exceed targets.
• Translate data into actionable strategies that improve sales, stock efficiency, team effectiveness, and customer experience.
• Prepare and present clear, high-level reports and insights for senior management.
• Forecast and plan proactively for key trading periods, events, and product launches to maximize profitability.
• Use Microsoft Office (particularly PowerPoint) to support reporting, presentations, and communication of business performance.
• Ensure store operations and policies (including health & safety) are maintained.
• Utilize operational tools effectively to drive business decisions and streamline store operations, including POS, data platforms, and internal communication tools.
• Oversee visual merchandising execution and ensure the store environment reflects brand guidelines.

Customer & Brand Experience

• Act as a visible and inspiring brand ambassador, ensuring every customer interaction reflects the brand's values and service standards.
• Drive a service-first culture that builds long-term customer relationships and loyalty.
• Leverage CRM and clienteling platforms to track customer behaviours, personalize service, and strengthen engagement.
• Manage customer feedback, ensuring issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
• Support the execution of brand activations, events, and local community initiatives to increase engagement and awareness.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Take a forward-thinking approach to retail, identifying and testing new ideas to improve service, team performance, and operational efficiency.
• Continuously review processes and team ways of working to identify areas of improvement.
• Champion a culture of curiosity and adaptability, empowering the team to problem solve and think strategically.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a retail manager (minimum 3 years), ideally in a fast-paced, digitally driven retail environment.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and present sales, product, and inventory data.
• Confident in workforce planning, forecasting, and preparing for peak trading periods.
• Proficiency with retail operational tools including communications platforms, POS systems, reporting/data platforms, CRM, and clienteling platforms.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly PowerPoint, plus Excel, Word, Outlook) to support reporting, presentations, and communication.
• Demonstrated ability to manage performance and behaviour issues fairly and effectively, including creating and implementing performance improvement plans.
• Excellent leadership skills: able to coach, develop, and inspire a diverse team.
• Strong ability to plan workload, prioritize effectively, and manage time to balance admin responsibilities with being present on the shop floor.
• Forward planner with strong organizational and project management skills.
• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal).
• Passionate about fashion, culture, and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

The Ideal Candidate

• A decisive, independent thinker who thrives in problem-solving and strategy.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to balance short-term goals with long-term growth.
• Hands-on and proactive, leading by example on the shop floor and in operations.
• Resilient and solutions-focused, with the ability to navigate challenges effectively.
• Customer-focused, detail-oriented, and adaptable to the fast-changing retail landscape.

Our People

We think of ourselves as an international family-run business that embodies our founders' commitment to creating timeless collections for the modern woman. What started as a company of two, has grown into a close-knit team of thinkers, creators, and innovators, taking care of our clothes, each other, and our community.

Split across the UK and USA, our team is 85% female, making us proud to be a brand for women, by women.

We are guided by two core beliefs: the pursuit of quality in everything we do and looking after one another. Everything else should take care of itself.

Company Values

We are the sum of many parts

We may have two founders, but we are the sum of many parts. The journey is just as important as the destination. We look after one another. We promote diversity and inclusivity as central parts of the culture we are building. We are less when we don't include everyone. Our successes and our failures we make as a team not as individuals.

We pursue quality in everything we do.

We should chase perfection in everything we do. Growth is a result of improvements to every aspect of what we do, not just reliant on an individual or department. We grow together.

We embrace possibility and push boundaries

We believe that there are no limits to what we can achieve. We encourage innovative thinking, pushing boundaries, and embracing new possibilities. We constantly challenge ourselves to think beyond the ordinary and create extraordinary outcomes.

Data-driven decisions and purposeful actions

We base our decisions and actions on data and reason, not on hope. We prioritize and justify our choices through thoughtful analysis. We think before we act, understanding the impact of our actions.

Our brand is timeless and valuable

Our brand is our most valuable asset, and we treat it with the utmost respect. We recognize that our brand will outlive us and strive to enhance its value through everything we do. We prioritize long-term growth over short-term gains, ensuring the longevity of our brand's reputation.

We never compromise our product

We believe the best form of marketing is to make better product. Let word of mouth be the most powerful marketing channel. Constantly improve, however marginal a gain. Our product is defined by the quality not price.

We respect and exceed customer expectations

We deeply appreciate and value those who choose to consume our brand. We consistently strive to surpass their expectations in every interaction. Our goal is to transform customers into passionate advocates who enthusiastically share their positive experiences with others.

We choose partners who reflect our values

We view our suppliers, service providers, and stockists as partners, not mere business relationships. We carefully select partners who align with our values and standards. We understand that the company we keep reflects our brand's integrity and reputation.

We grow our brand by empowering others

We understand that the way we present information is just as crucial as the information itself. We focus not only on what we do but also on how our actions positively impact others. We aim to empower and support those around us, fostering growth and creating meaningful connections.

Responsibility is at the core of everything we do

We believe that responsibility is as fundamental as the fit of a garment. We prioritize ethical practices and sustainability in all aspects of our business. We are accountable for our actions and strive to make a positive impact on our environment and communities.

Kindness is our guiding principle

We prioritize treating others with respect, empathy, and understanding. We believe that kindness creates a positive work environment and fosters strong relationships with our team members, partners, and customers.