Retail Manager

Manager – Growth & Expansion | Scratch & Dent Home Improvement Outlet

Location: Dubuque Iowa

Type: Full-Time

Compensation: Competitive base salary performance bonuses tied to sales growth path to equity/ownership as we scale

About Us

We launched our scratch-and-dent retail outlet in May 2025, offering deep discounts on appliances, furniture, flooring, and home improvement items — the same quality customers expect from Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Menards, but at outlet prices. Our annual revenue is strong., We’re a young, bootstrapped business with huge potential. Our goal: hit higher revenue levels quickly, then expand to 10 stores in 10 years across the Midwest.

We need a driven leader to take ownership and accelerate this growth — someone who thrives in an early-stage environment and wants to build something big.

The Role

This is not a maintenance store manager job. You will step in as the key leader, take full P&L responsibility for our Dubuque flagship, build the processes and sales engine needed to double revenue, and prepare the business for rapid multi-store expansion. You’ll go from running one location to overseeing a growing chain.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive aggressive sales growth: Lead us from current levels to substantially higher revenue through better merchandising, inventory sourcing, local marketing, and customer acquisition.
• Build scalable processes and SOPs from the ground up — operations, inventory management, loss prevention, merchandising, and customer experience that can be replicated in future stores.
• Recruit, train, coach, and motivate a commission-based sales team; run contests and set stretch targets to create a high-energy selling culture.
• Own the full P&L: track and improve sales, margins, labor, and profitability month-over-month.
• Support future expansion: Once the flagship is optimized, help with new store planning, team building, and system rollout.
• Roll up your sleeves alongside the team while building long-term structure.

What We’re Looking For

• 3–5 years of retail management experience in home improvement, appliances, furniture, scratch-and-dent outlets, or big-box (Lowe’s, Home Depot, Menards experience strongly preferred).
• Proven track record of growing sales and building processes in a small or early-stage retail environment.
• Experience leading and motivating commission-based sales teams — you know how to make salespeople hungry and accountable.
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to create structure while delivering quick wins.
• High ambition and resilience — you see the potential in turning a young store into a multi-unit operation.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary with meaningful bonuses directly tied to revenue growth and profitability milestones.
• Path to equity/ownership as the business scales to multiple stores.
• Full benefits (health, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO).
• Direct access to the owner and real autonomy to make decisions and drive change.
• The chance to build and own a meaningful piece of a growing retail chain — not just manage a single location.

If you’re a battle-tested retail operator who gets excited about doubling a young business and scaling it aggressively, we want to hear from you.

To Apply:

Submit your resume and a short note answering:

1. What’s the biggest sales growth you’ve driven in a previous role?

2. Why are you excited about helping scale an early-stage scratch-and-dent outlet?

Serious growth-minded candidates only. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: Up to $205,203.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance

Application Question(s):

• Have you directly managed a retail store with a commission-based sales team?
• Please describe your experience as a General Manager or similar leadership role in:

1. An automotive dealership AND/OR
2. A furniture or appliance retail business with commissioned sales staff

Include:

• Size of the sales team you led
• Monthly revenue volume
• Your role in hiring, training, and holding sales staff accountable to performance

Note: Applications without this specific experience will not be considered.

Ability to Relocate:

• Dubuque, IA 52003: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $205,203