Our amazing Store Managers are responsible for all our store operations, from leading teams to providing a customer-centric environment. They efficiently organise and motivate colleagues to achieve targets, and ultimately ensure all our customers have a great shopping experience. We’re looking for store managers to join our teams, so if you’re looking for a new challenge, read on to find out more!
What experience is needed to be a store manager?
We have a proud history of building our colleagues' careers, helping our in-store staff develop their skills and working their way up the ladder so we can promote from within.
When hiring external candidates for store managers, however, we look for individuals with a customer-first approach, usually developed through previous retail experience. It’s also important that store managers understand the financial side of our business, so previous KPI exposure is extremely valuable.
We recently spoke to Jane Johnson, a Store Manager at Wickes in Dundee, who told us what life is like at Wickes, and what a typical day might look like as a Store Manager. Here’s what she told us about how Wickes has helped her gain her smile and laugh back:
Transferable skills that helped Jane become a Store Manager
“Prior to joining Wickes, I wanted to relocate from the South West to Scotland and the company I worked for at the time wasn’t able to support this.
When I saw Wickes was recruiting, it was a name that reminded me of my childhood; Saturday or Sunday afternoons following the parents around the store. I was aware that there was longevity to the company, and the job title excited me - I felt it played to my strengths having previously worked as a retail manager.
It wasn’t until my first day that it hit me that the industry I was joining was totally different to where I had previously worked; clothing and furniture aren’t quite the same as DIY or dream kitchens and bathrooms. However I’ve really settled into the role, and everyone across all the departments I have had contact with is immensely supportive.”
A typical day as a store manager at Wickes
“Being a Store Manager within Wickes is the most autonomy I have ever had; I’m able to run the store as my business. The culture that Wickes lives and breathes is liberating - I know it’s ok if I don't know all the answers, and I know no one minds if I ask a question.
You’ve all heard the cliches, ‘No day is the same…’, ‘Life is like a roller coaster…’, ‘Variety is the spice of life…’ etc. As a Store Manager, the day that I plan and prepare for is never the day I have, mainly because the role encompasses so many different responsibilities.
David Wood visited Wickes Dundee late in 2022 and he described Store Managers as the equivalent of CEOs of small businesses, a comment I have found hugely inspirational!
Achieving career success
“I think my biggest achievements so far have been being part of a re-fit within my first six months and becoming Store Manager within a year.
I was also nominated for and completed the BRC Emerging Leaders course. For me this was an immense confidence boost, just knowing that the company values and wants to invest in me, and allow me to experience new things, even though I am still relatively new.
I’m an ambitious person, and one day I would love to open a new store or take on project work that helps drive the company forward in becoming industry-leading within retail.”
Apply for a Store Manager job today
Finally, Jane provided some tips she’d give to someone thinking of joining Wickes as a Store Manager:
“Don't let the job title or industry allow you to form misconceptions. I took a leap of faith from perceived security and I am so proud of myself for showing I am still able to learn and grow and that there is so much more to me. Wickes gave me my smile and my laugh back.”
If you’ve been inspired by Jane’s story, and you want to take the next step on your career path, apply for a job as a store manager, or find out more about store operations at Wickes today.
