JOB TITLE Retail Market Manager
ROLE TYPE Full Time
DEPARTMENT EU Retail Team
REPORTING TO Head of Retail - Europe & Global Clientelling
LOCATION Fitzrovia, London
SALARY Competitive
COMPANY PROFILE
Orlebar Brown (Chanel group) launched in March 2007 as a more tailored approach to men’s beach and swim shorts. Based on the traditional pattern of a tailored pair of trousers for men, and with their distinctive side fasteners, they are not just a swim short; they are the original and best shorts you can swim in.
Today, our collections are built into broader lifestyles imagined around Beach, Resort, Coast and Sport. We have multiple product releases, including capsules, new categories and services, over the calendar year to maintain excitement, and interest for our customers.
Since 2007, we have built the brand to achieve our stated purpose which is - to encourage, excite and inspire everyone to ‘Holiday Better’. This is our purpose and why we get out of bed every morning.
The brand has rapidly gained global recognition and is sold through online, more than 30 O.B. stores, and the best retailers and hoteliers in the world. Our customer is truly international, so whether they are in St Barth’s for Christmas with family, Miami for a wild Spring break, a conference in Dubai with a few days off, tacking a boat off the coast of St Tropez, volunteering to replant mangrove plantations in Puerto Rico, walking along a cliff top in Cornwall, or diving off one into a beautiful blue ocean then O.B. should be there to help you do it better.
Our business is built on relationships with those customers, and we strive to maintain our relationship with them, wherever they might be, and provide world class service, when and where they want. It is also built on finding new customers to the brand by welcoming them to join the ever-growing O.B. community.
THE POSITION
The Retail Market Manager is responsible for leading the commercial performance, operational execution and people leadership of the UK, France and Monaco retail markets.
The role is accountable for delivering sales, profitability, productivity, compliance and people performance across directly operated stores, concessions and boutique spaces within the region. Working closely with Store Managers, concession partners and Head Office teams, the Retail Market Manager ensures that each location is commercially focused, operationally disciplined and aligned to the standards expected of Orlebar Brown as a luxury lifestyle brand.
Reporting to the Head of Retail Europe & Global Clientelling, this role will work cross-functionally with teams across Retail, HR, Finance, Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Operations, Clientelling, Concierge and wider commercial functions. The role is fast-paced, commercially focused and requires the ability to move confidently between market leadership, Store Manager coaching and detailed operational follow-up.
The Retail Market Manager will be responsible for driving the performance of directly operated points of sale across the UK, France and Monaco, as well as concessions and boutique spaces where directly employed team members are present, often working alongside department store teams or third-party partners. The role may also support wider regional business initiatives, including seasonal trading, new store openings, concession partnerships, market projects and cross-channel retail initiatives.
As the retail structure evolves, this role will become increasingly focused on market performance, people leadership, commercial execution and accountability. The Retail Market Manager will ensure that agreed retail standards, service expectations, training tools and operational processes are embedded consistently across the UK, France and Monaco, working in partnership with the relevant Head Office and retail support teams.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
COMMERCIAL LEADERSHIP & MARKET PERFORMANCE
- Own the delivery of sales, profitability and productivity targets across the UK, France and Monaco.
- Analyse weekly, monthly and seasonal trading performance, identifying risks, opportunities and actions required to improve performance.
- Lead market-level action plans to drive sales, conversion, ATV, UPT, customer retention and clientelling performance.
- Partner with Store Managers to ensure each location has a clear commercial plan, aligned to local trading patterns, customer behaviour, product opportunities and market context.
- Review store performance regularly, challenging underperformance and recognising strong results.
- Contribute to the weekly ACT trading pack and wider retail reporting, ensuring the Head of Retail Europe & Global Clientelling is supported with clear, accurate and actionable market insight.
- In the absence of the Head of Retail Europe & Global Clientelling, present relevant UK, France and Monaco updates in weekly trade meetings and retail management meetings.
- Partner with Merchandising, Planning, VM, Marketing and Clientelling teams to maximise product, customer and local market opportunities.
- Support seasonal launches, sale periods, local activations and trading initiatives, ensuring strong market execution and clear communication to Store Managers.
STORE LEADERSHIP & PEOPLE MANAGEMENT
- Lead, coach and develop Store Managers across the UK, France and Monaco.
- Build strong relationships with Store Managers, ensuring they are clear on expectations, priorities, performance targets and standards.
- Conduct regular one-to-ones, store visits and business reviews with Store Managers.
- Identify capability gaps within store management teams and agree action plans to improve performance.
- Build succession plans across the market, identifying future talent and supporting internal progression.
- Support the recruitment of high-quality retail talent into the business, in partnership with Store Managers and HR.
- Act as an interview stage for Store Manager, management and key retail appointments where required.
- Ensure new Store Managers receive a strong market-level induction and understand the commercial, operational and people expectations of their role.
- Partner with HR on performance, conduct, absence, probation, grievance, disciplinary and employee relations matters.
- Ensure Store Managers are held accountable for team engagement, retention, training completion and day-to-day people leadership.
- Support Store Managers in building high-performing, brand-appropriate and customer-focused teams.
MARKET OPERATIONS & COMPLIANCE
- Be accountable for operational execution across the UK, France and Monaco, ensuring stores are compliant, organised and commercially effective.
- Ensure Store Managers understand and follow company policies, retail processes and Standard Operating Procedures.
- Hold Store Managers accountable for day-to-day store operations, including stock accuracy, cash management, stockroom standards, store administration, health and safety, scheduling and local compliance.
- Monitor operational performance across the market, identifying recurring issues and ensuring corrective actions are completed.
- Ensure stores maintain strong stock management disciplines, including stockroom organisation, cycle counts, returns, repairs, consolidations and stock take preparation.
- Own market-level accountability for stock loss, stock take outcomes and corrective action plans.
- Ensure maintenance, snagging, health and safety and store environment issues are escalated appropriately and resolved in a timely manner.
- Ensure operational costs, including cleaning, security, maintenance and local store spend, are managed responsibly and in line with business expectations.
- Support annual stock take planning and preparation, working with relevant internal stakeholders and Store Managers.
- Monitor scheduling and payroll budget adherence, ensuring Store Managers submit rotas on time and manage staffing effectively against trade and budget.
- Ensure OneStock, Farfetch and other omnichannel initiatives are executed effectively in stores and that local issues are escalated and resolved quickly.
- Partner with relevant Head Office and retail support functions to ensure any new operational processes, standards or tools are implemented consistently across the market.
CUSTOMER, CLIENTELLING & BRAND EXPERIENCE
- Champion the Orlebar Brown customer experience across the UK, France and Monaco.
- Ensure Store Managers are actively driving clientelling, customer retention and high-touch service within their stores.
- Embed agreed service expectations, clientelling behaviours and customer experience initiatives across the market.
- Use customer feedback, mystery shop results, Concierge insight and store observations to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Hold Store Managers accountable for delivering a consistent, luxury customer experience in line with business expectations.
- Support local clientelling, relationship-building, events and community activity where commercially relevant.
- Ensure customer service issues are escalated and resolved appropriately, working with Concierge and Customer Service teams where required.
- Promote a customer-first mindset across all store teams, ensuring commercial performance is achieved without compromising brand standards or client experience.
VISUAL MERCHANDISING & STORE PRESENTATION
- Ensure all stores across the UK, France and Monaco deliver strong visual presentation and uphold Orlebar Brown brand standards.
- Work with Visual Merchandising and relevant retail support teams to ensure VM guidelines are implemented accurately and on time.
- Hold Store Managers accountable for maintaining shopfloor standards, window presentation, stockroom organisation and overall store environment.
- Provide feedback to Store Managers where standards fall short and ensure corrective actions are completed.
- Escalate repeated non-compliance or significant presentation issues to the Head of Retail Europe & Global Clientelling and relevant support teams.
- Support new season launches, sale setup, localised product focuses and VM changes from a market execution perspective.
FINANCIAL CONTROL & BUSINESS DISCIPLINE
- Monitor market payroll spend, ensuring stores are staffed appropriately and in line with agreed budgets.
- Review store productivity, including sales per hour, conversion, ATV, UPT and payroll efficiency.
- Ensure Store Managers understand their budgets, targets and key performance indicators.
- Monitor operational expenditure and challenge unnecessary or excessive spend.
- Ensure local costs are managed carefully, particularly around maintenance, consumables, uniforms, cleaning, security and emergency cover.
- Support the Head of Retail Europe & Global Clientelling with forecasting, budgeting and market planning where required.
PROJECTS, CHANGE & CROSS-FUNCTIONAL WORKING
- Lead or support agreed retail projects across the UK, France and Monaco.
- Support new store openings, closures, refurbishments, concession projects and seasonal retail initiatives as required.
- Act as the market lead for implementation of key company initiatives, ensuring Store Managers understand expectations and actions.
- Work collaboratively with HR, Finance, Operations, Merchandising, VM, Concierge, Clientelling and other regional retail leads.
- Share market insight and feedback to help improve retail processes, customer experience and operational effectiveness.
- Support cross-market collaboration and contribute to a more consistent retail operating model.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Proficiency in both written and spoken French and English is essential for the role.
Fluency in French and English. Please note all meetings with the Head of Retail and OB HQ team members will take place in English.
Full driving license and ability to drive in Europe.
Experience in retail management and operational standards delivery.
Sharp attention to detail with a systematic and logical approach to work
Capable of planning, organising and at times, project managing.
Has resilience as well as composure and has integrity and trust within the business.
Motivates the team to deliver and has excellent people management skills.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and the ability to communicate “up” confidently and appropriately
Able to build and maintain relationships with all levels of the business
Strong administrative and organisational skills
Excellent PC skills, fully adept with Microsoft packages, especially Excel, PowerBI, and ERP system.
Must be flexible to work 5 days out of 7 including weekends.
WHAT WE OFFER
Being part of a diverse working environment of people who we learn from every day
The chance to train and develop your skills in a fast-working environment
Competitive benefits package:
Physical wellbeing: Private medical insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions and the ability to add family members, an online GP app with 24/7 appointments, available within 24 hours, and cycle scheme participation for tax-exempt bike and/or accessories purchase.
Financial wellbeing: Company pension scheme.
Lifestyle: Orlebar Brown and CHANEL product discounts and employee-only sales.
Employee Recognition: Service award incentives, 1-week office closure in August to practice what we preach (paid leave and separate from 25 days annual leave plus UK public holidays).
It’s never just a job at Orlebar Brown. It’s a way of life. We live and breathe our brand values – Tailored, Vibrant and Brave. Our team define who we are and how we get the job done.
At Orlebar Brown, we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe the uniqueness of each individual increases the diversity, complementarity and effectiveness of our teams. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective, experience and potential you could bring to Orlebar Brown.
Direct applications only. Recruitment agencies – thanks for reading – but we’ve got this one covered!
