Squishable is a close-knit team of designers, artists, pop culture-fanatics, and lovers of all things adorable. Together we create the cutest, cuddliest, (and sometimes downright unusual) plush and lifestyle products in the world. With the millions-strong Squishable fan community cheering us on (and a lot of cupcakes, coffee, and karaoke) we make people say "awww." Our offices are in a sunny Soho loft in NYC, and downtown Washington DC.
General Manager, Flagship
Department: Stores
Reports To: District/Regional Manager
Status: Exempt/Full-Time
The Role:
At Squishable, products and people are at the core of why we do what we do every day. We strive to create a customer experience that is based on sharing our love and passion for the brand while building long-lasting relationships with our customers…turning friends into fans. As we experience rapid growth, we are looking for career-driven leaders who are obsessed with creating a unique and exceptional customer experience.
Beyond great products in great stores, we need great people to represent the brand where it matters most…in front of our customers. These leaders will be a part of shaping the voice and character of the Squishable store experience.
The ideal candidate will be a natural-born leader who loves the store experience. They will be passionate, driven, and highly organized with a desire to bring happiness to people’s lives. Additionally, they will be confident, creative, bright, friendly, adaptable, and able to consistently perform at the highest level. Candidates must be well-spoken and confident in their ability to interact with people at all levels while remaining calm and organized at all times.
Responsibilities:
Leadership
- Create a positive environment that the team is excited to come into, be challenged by, and contribute to.
- Be proactive, a solution, and a decision-maker.
- Communicate business needs and team updates to leadership in a productive and concise manner.
- Lead by example, uphold and implement Squishable standards with your team.
- Create an environment where knowledge is shared, teams are informed and engaged, and feedback is provided through regular touch bases, monthly meetings, etc.
Team Development
- Network, recruit, hire, onboard, and develop a well-rounded team that excels in customer service, selling, merchandising, operations, and team management/leadership.
- Consistently provide feedback to ensure growth, change, and results in your team. Challenge and guide your leadership team to do the same with their respective teams.
- Create succession to encourage individual drive and development, upward mobility, and engagement.
- Take responsibility and ownership of how each person on your team needs to be challenged to grow. Tailor a development plan accordingly per individual.
Customer Experience
- Exemplify and uphold a positive, unique customer experience and ensure all team members can successfully execute the Squishable experience. Maintain a customer-first environment.
- Actively manage all training of your team on the customer experience.
- Have your finger on the pulse of your sales floor and take ownership of all customer experiences.
Business Management and Planning
- Drive top-line sales growth while managing expenses such as labor percent, supply budget, etc. to company standard.
- Identify ways to increase your store’s business and build brand awareness in your community.
- Recognize the importance of planning and ensuring schedules are well thought out, posted at least two weeks in advance, and relay critical business events/needs/information.
- Possess a strong business acumen and be able to present your business to a room full of strangers.
Visual Merchandising
- Update store weekly based on inventory levels and best sellers while teaching the team to take the initiative to do the same.
- Ensure your team can uphold and is well-versed in visual and product standards.
- Ensure a visual focus is implemented weekly to drive business in your community.
Operational Excellence
- Know your store numbers, KPI’s, best sellers, and business statistics. Teach key leadership the importance of knowing and tracking their business.
- Ensure seamless store operations and compliance with all Squishable standards.
- Own your inventory and ensure it is being accurately managed by staff.
- Store cleanliness standards are implemented and met on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
Other Qualifications
- Two plus years of relevant management experience in a high volume, fast-paced, challenging, and creative customer-facing retail environment; preferably in a General Manager role.
- Passion for people! A dynamic and engaged leader who has a passion for empowering, inspiring, motivating, teaching & developing team members.
- Exceptional organizational and communication skills with the ability to effectively balance priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced, ever-changing, and highly entrepreneurial environment.
- Feedback is a gift! Ability to provide constructive feedback and recognition to every team member, to ensure we have an open and transparent culture of high-performance standards.
- High emotional intelligence with the ability to work with, and manage diverse teams by being highly empathetic, intuitive, self-motivated, and driven.
- Teams Win! Has to be a team player who fosters a collaborative and engaged teamwork environment.
- Being a Brand Ambassador, with excellent knowledge of and commitment to Squishable’s vision, culture, and standards.
- Willing to work a flexible schedule including early mornings, nights, overnights, weekends, and holidays as needed
- College degree preferred
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software
- Capability of lifting items around 25 pounds.
Salary Starts at $58,000-66,000
Benefits:
- Health, Vision, Dental Insurance
- Long/Short term disability
- Paid Time Off
- Employee discount
At Squishable.com, Inc. we value, celebrate, and support diversity and inclusivity across our community and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skillsets. We do not discriminate against any applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.
CCPA disclosure notice here.
What We Do
They're giant, round, fuzzy, stuffed animals. Hug them.™
Squishable is a technology company with a toy habit. We use our nontraditional backgrounds to make adorable plush – food, animals, mythological creatures, and some that defy classification! Everything we do is centered around audience input - the sites we code, the tools we build, and the stuff we create. More than half of our products are fan-designed.
Over the last decade we have released more than three million Squishables to their new homes in the wild. Here at Squishy HQ in Soho in New York City, we’re creating things that help people help us make the world a cuter place.