Retail Manager

The Retail Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, financial performance, and daily operation of a boutique gift shop located within Emerald Queen Casinos (including both physical locations of Tacoma and Fife). This position combines strategic retail leadership with hands-on execution to deliver an exceptional shopping experience for casino guests, hotel visitors, entertainment patrons, and local customers.

The Retail Manager is accountable for maximizing sales, profitability, inventory productivity, merchandising excellence, and team performance while maintaining the highest standards of customer service and operational execution. The ideal candidate possesses strong merchandising instincts, exceptional analytical and financial skills, and the ability to build a high-performing retail team.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Merchandising & Visual Presentation (25%)

Own the complete customer shopping experience through compelling visual merchandising and store presentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute seasonal merchandising strategies throughout the year.
• Create impactful feature presentations highlighting:
• New arrivals
• Seasonal collections
• Promotional merchandise
• Local and regional products
• Tribal merchandise
• Event-specific assortments
• Maintain exceptional visual standards throughout the store to maximizes sales while supporting ease of shopping.
• Continuously refresh displays to maintain customer interest by utilizing sales analytics to optimize product placement.
• Coordinate fixture placement and floor sets.
• Develop signage standards for pricing, promotions and storytelling.
• Monitor merchandise presentation throughout each day.

1. Buying, Assortment Planning & Inventory Management (25%)

Develop profitable assortments using customer insights, sales analytics and retail best practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual merchandise assortment plans.
• Analyze:
• Sales trends
• Sell-through
• Inventory productivity
• Gross margin
• Seasonal demand
• Forecast inventory needs and develop simple open-to-buy plans.
• Identify opportunities for new brands and product categories; manage vendor relationships (either direct or through Faire/marketplace).
• Maintain balanced assortment across key categories:
• Apparel
• Jewelry
• Gifts
• Souvenirs
• Local products
• Luxury items
• Seasonal merchandise
• Minimize markdown exposure through effective buying; analyze slow-moving inventory and develop action plans.
• Manage replenishment strategies.
• Ensure inventory accuracy and oversee cycle counting (September/February).

1. Leadership, Personnel Management & Customer Experience (20%)

Build and develop a highly engaged retail team committed to outstanding guest service.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, interview, hire, train retail associates.
• Coach staff on:
• Customer service
• Product knowledge
• Selling techniques
• Merchandising
• POS procedures
• Conduct performance evaluations and develop individual employee goals.
• Create work schedules that maximize productivity while controlling payroll (attendance management).
• Address employee performance concerns and resolve workplace conflicts professionally.
• Partner with Human Resources regarding employee relations and maintain compliance with both Gaming and Tribal employment policies. 

1. Financial Management & Business Performance (15%)

Drive profitable business performance through disciplined financial management.

Responsibilities

• Own store P&L performance.
• Develop annual sales plans and operating budgets.
• Monitor daily, weekly and monthly business trends and utilize to forecast sales/expenses.
• Monitor, analyze, develop action plans to optimize:
• Sales – volume
• Margin – profitability
• Labor – payroll expenses
• Expenses – operations costs
• Productivity – turn, assortment mix, markdowns, shrink control
• Present financial performance updates to leadership.

1. Operations, Store Standards & Asset Management (15%)

Ensure efficient daily operations that support a best-in-class retail environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily store operations and ensure store readiness before opening.
• Manage stockroom organization and inventory flow maintaining backroom standards.
• Ensure FIFO (first in first out) processes are strictly adhered to where appropriate.
• Monitor lighting and replace fixtures as needed and coordinate facility maintenance requests.
• Manage store supplies.  
• Optimize fixture utilization and coordinate seasonal floor moves.
• Manage receiving procedures and ensure accurate inventory transfers.
• Maintain security standards and support loss prevention initiatives.

Maintain compliance with all casino, Tribal and regulatory policies.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management, Merchandising, Marketing or related field preferred.
• Equivalent retail leadership experience may be considered.

Experience

• 5 years retail management experience.
• Buying and merchandising experience required.
• Experience managing a retail P&L.
• Inventory planning experience.
• Experience supervising employees.
• Experience using retail POS systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.

Technology Requirements

Proficiency with:

• Retail POS systems (Agilysys/Infogenesis)
• Inventory management software (Redrock)
• Microsoft Excel (intermediate)
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Outlook

Physical Requirements

• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Lift up to 40 pounds.
• Climb ladders.
• Move fixtures and merchandise.
• Work evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Perform physical merchandising and floor set activities.