About Lancaster Superstore
Lancaster Superstore is a busy convenience retail and wholesale store serving the local community. We offer a broad range of grocery, household and everyday products, together with alcohol, tobacco and other age-restricted products.
We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded Store Managerwho can take responsibility for the day-to-day operation and performance of the store and help us develop the business further.
This is an opportunity for someone who is not simply looking for a supervisory position, but who wants to take ownership, make commercial decisions, lead a team and identify new ways of increasing sales and profitability.
The Role
As Store Manager, you will be responsible for the overall operational, commercial and people managementof the store.
You will lead the team, maintain excellent retail standards, manage stock and suppliers, monitor financial performance and ensure that the store operates safely, efficiently and in full compliance with relevant legislation.
We are particularly interested in candidates who can combine traditional retail management skills with modern technology, digital marketing and AI-driven business development.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the day-to-day operation of the convenience and wholesale store.
- Lead, motivate and develop the store team to achieve high standards of customer service and operational performance.
- Manage staff rotas, attendance, performance, training and day-to-day delegation.
- Take responsibility for store sales, profitability, margins and operating costs.
- Analyse sales and financial information and make informed commercial decisions to improve profitability.
- Identify opportunities to increase sales, customer footfall, average transaction value and repeat business.
- Develop and implement effective local marketing and promotional strategies.
- Monitor competitors, local market trends, customer behaviour and product demand.
- Identify opportunities for new products, promotions, services and revenue streams.
- Manage stock ordering, stock levels, wastage, shrinkage and stock rotation.
- Develop effective relationships with suppliers and wholesalers and negotiate where appropriate.
- Ensure appropriate pricing, promotions and product presentation.
- Maintain excellent merchandising and shop-floor standards.
- Monitor cash handling, tills, refunds, discounts and other financial controls.
- Ensure appropriate security procedures are followed to minimise theft, fraud and stock loss.
- Take responsibility for the implementation of the store's health & safety, fire safety and operational procedures.
- Ensure staff follow company policies and procedures.
- Ensure legal requirements relating to alcohol, tobacco and other age-restricted productsare strictly followed.
- Ensure staff understand and correctly implement age-verification procedures, including Challenge 25.
- Maintain appropriate records relating to refusals, incidents, training and compliance.
- Deal professionally with customer complaints and difficult situations.
- Liaise with management, suppliers, contractors and relevant authorities when required.
- Use business software, digital systems and technology to improve efficiency and decision-making.
- Explore and implement appropriate AI tools and automationto improve marketing, forecasting, administration, customer engagement and business development.
- Identify inefficiencies and develop practical solutions rather than simply following existing processes.
- Think creatively and bring new ideas to the business.
What We Are Looking For
The successful candidate will ideally have:
Retail Management Experience
- Previous experience working in retail, convenience retail, grocery, wholesale or a similar fast-paced environment.
- At least previoussupervisory or team-leader experience, with clear evidence of progression and the ability to take responsibility for a store operation.
- Experience managing staff, delegating tasks and maintaining operational standards.
- Experience with stock management, ordering, merchandising and supplier relationships.
- Commercial awareness and an understanding of how retail businesses generate profit.
Commercial & Financial Skills
You should be comfortable looking beyond sales and understanding profitability.
We are looking for someone who can:
- Understand sales, margins, costs and profitability.
- Identify profitable and underperforming product lines.
- Make sensible purchasing and pricing decisions.
- Monitor wastage, stock loss and operational costs.
- Use sales and financial information to make business decisions.
- Identify opportunities to improve the store's financial performance.
Marketing & Business Development
A strong understanding of modern retail marketingis highly desirable.
You should be able to:
- Develop local marketing initiatives.
- Understand customer demographics and buying behaviour.
- Create effective promotions.
- Use digital and social media channels appropriately.
- Identify new customer groups and business opportunities.
- Monitor competitors and local market trends.
- Think creatively about how the store can increase sales.
- Develop ideas that go beyond traditional convenience-store retailing.
Technology, Software & AI
Strong computer skills are essential.
The successful candidate should be comfortable learning and using modern business systems, including relevant:
- EPOS/till systems
- Stock and inventory management software
- Microsoft Office or equivalent productivity software
- Spreadsheet and financial reporting tools
- Digital marketing platforms
- Communication and collaboration systems
- Online ordering and supplier systems
- Business management software
- Different operating systems and digital platforms
AI & Innovation
Knowledge and practical use of AI to improve business performance is a major requirement for this position.
We are particularly interested in candidates who understand how AI and modern technology can be used to:
- Improve marketing campaigns
- Analyse sales and customer data
- Identify purchasing trends
- Forecast demand
- Improve stock management
- Create promotional content
- Improve customer engagement
- Automate repetitive administrative tasks
- Research competitors and market opportunities
- Identify new business opportunities
- Improve productivity and profitability
You do not need to be a software developer. However, you should be confident using technology, willing to learn new systems and capable of finding practical ways to use AI as a business tool.
Communication & Language Skills
Excellent communication skills are essential.
You should be able to communicate professionally with:
- Customers
- Employees
- Suppliers
- Wholesalers
- Contractors
- Management
- Regulatory and professional contacts
Knowledge of Asian languages would be advantageous, particularly where this assists with communication with customers, suppliers or members of the local business community. Knowledge of Indian languages would be an additional advantage.
English communication skills, both written and spoken, are essential for the role.
Compliance, Safety & Age-Restricted Products
Because Lancaster Superstore sells alcohol, tobacco and other age-restricted products, the Store Manager must have a strong understanding of responsible retailing and compliance.
You will be expected to ensure that:
- Alcohol is sold in accordance with the premises licence and applicable licensing legislation.
- Tobacco and other age-restricted products are sold in accordance with current legislation.
- Staff understand and follow age-verification and Challenge 25 procedures.
- Suspected proxy purchasing is dealt with appropriately.
- Refusals and relevant incidents are recorded correctly.
- Staff receive appropriate training.
- Health & safety procedures are followed.
- Fire safety and emergency procedures are maintained.
- Food and product safety procedures are followed where applicable.
- The store remains clean, safe and professionally presented.
- Operational risks are identified and addressed promptly.
Previous experience managing a business selling alcohol, tobacco or other age-restricted productswould be highly advantageous.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for someone who is:
- Commercially minded
- Results driven
- A natural team leader
- Confident making financial and operational decisions
- Organised and responsible
- Customer focused
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced retail environment
- Confident with computers and business software
- Interested in AI and emerging technology
- A strong communicator
- Practical and solutions-focused
- Able to deal calmly with challenging situations
- Able to work independently and take ownership
- An out-of-the-box thinker who can bring new ideas to the business
- Willing to challenge inefficient processes and find better ways of working
Most importantly, we want someone who can think like a business owner while managing like a professional Store Manager.
What We Offer
- £26,000 per annum for 37.5 hours per week.
- A position with significant responsibility and autonomy.
- The opportunity to contribute directly to the growth of the business.
- Opportunity to introduce new ideas, technology and AI-driven business improvements.
- A varied and commercially focused role.
- Opportunity for career development as the business grows.
How to Apply
Please submit yourCV and a short covering letterexplaining:
- Your previous retail/supervisory or management experience.
- Your experience managing teams.
- Your experience with sales, profitability and financial decision-making.
- Your experience with marketing and business development.
- The business software and technology you have used.
- Your experience using AI tools in a business environment.
- Your experience with convenience retail, wholesale, alcohol, tobacco or other age-restricted products, if applicable.
- Why you believe you would be able to help Lancaster Superstore increase sales, improve profitability and develop the business.
Please note:Candidates must have the appropriate right to work in the UK. Where a role is intended to be sponsored, eligibility for sponsorship will be assessed separately against the applicable UK immigration requirements.
Job Title:Store Manager – Convenience Retail & Wholesale
Company:SINGHANDKUMAR LTD
Trading Name:Lancaster Superstore
Location:2 New Street, Lancaster, England, LA1 1EG
Job Type:Full-time
Salary:£26,000 per annumWorking Hours:37.5 hours per week
Pay: £26,000.00-£30,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Pay rise
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
