Retail Store Manager

etail Store Manager

Countryside Flower Shop, Nursery & Garden Center

Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Job Type: Full-Time | On-Site
Pay: $23.00–$26.00 per hour, based on experience and qualifications

About Countryside

Established in 1959, Countryside Flower Shop, Nursery & Garden Center is a family-owned business that has proudly served our community for more than 65 years.

Our retail store offers a unique shopping experience featuring home décor, gifts, seasonal merchandise, garden supplies, and specialty products.

We are looking for an experienced, motivated, and hands-on Retail Store Manager to lead our retail team, oversee daily operations, drive sales, and maintain exceptional standards throughout our store.

The ideal candidate is a confident leader who takes initiative, develops employees, solves problems, and follows through on responsibilities. This position requires someone who enjoys being actively involved in store operations and takes pride in delivering results.

Key ResponsibilitiesStore Operations & Leadership

• Oversee daily retail operations to ensure the store runs efficiently.
• Maintain a clean, organized, fully stocked, and customer-ready environment.
• Establish daily priorities, delegate assignments, and ensure work is completed accurately and on time.
• Actively supervise employees and maintain productivity throughout the workday.
• Conduct daily store walks to identify operational needs and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain organized sales floors, stockrooms, checkout areas, and workspaces.
• Proactively identify and resolve operational concerns.
• Lead by example and work alongside employees as needed.

Employee Management & Accountability

• Lead, coach, train, and motivate retail employees.
• Establish clear performance expectations and consistently enforce company policies.
• Provide ongoing employee feedback and performance evaluations.
• Address attendance, productivity, customer service, and conduct concerns promptly.
• Document performance issues and corrective actions.
• Issue routine corrective warnings according to company policies.
• Maintain professional boundaries and promote a positive, accountable workplace.
• Coordinate serious disciplinary matters with ownership and HR.

Final written warnings, suspensions, and terminations require ownership approval.

Scheduling & Labor Management

• Create and manage weekly employee schedules.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels based on business needs, customer traffic, and seasonal demand.
• Manage labor hours within established budgets.
• Monitor employee attendance, punctuality, breaks, and overtime.
• Handle time-off requests, call-offs, shift changes, and employee coverage.
• Adjust staffing to maintain efficiency and customer service.
• Ensure compliance with company scheduling policies and applicable labor regulations.
• Plan ahead for staffing needs during busy retail periods.

Sales & Financial Performance

• Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly retail sales.
• Work toward established sales goals and performance targets.
• Review sales reports and identify opportunities to improve results.
• Monitor labor expenses and productivity in relation to sales.
• Coach employees on product knowledge, customer engagement, and suggestive selling.
• Identify ways to improve sales performance and operational efficiency.
• Minimize unnecessary expenses, merchandise damage, and inventory loss.
• Communicate performance results and recommendations to leadership.
• Develop action plans when performance falls below expectations.

Inventory Management & Order Processing

• Monitor inventory levels and identify replenishment needs.
• Prepare merchandise orders and reorders for ownership approval.
• Place orders with approved vendors after authorization has been received.
• Track purchase orders, shipments, backorders, and deliveries.
• Oversee accurate merchandise receiving, pricing, and inventory entry.
• Verify shipments against purchase orders and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate inventory records.
• Identify damaged, missing, or slow-moving merchandise.
• Ensure new merchandise is processed and stocked promptly.
• Participate in inventory counts and loss prevention procedures.

Merchandise selection, purchasing decisions, and vendor approval remain under ownership's direction. Additional ordering authority may be granted as experience and trust are established.

Cash Handling & Register Operations

• Oversee cash register operations and transaction accuracy.
• Ensure opening and closing procedures are completed correctly.
• Verify cash drawer counts and daily reconciliations.
• Oversee preparation and secure handling of bank deposits.
• Investigate shortages, overages, and transaction discrepancies.
• Monitor refunds, voids, discounts, and adjustments.
• Train employees on proper cash handling and point-of-sale procedures.
• Maintain accurate cash reports and records.
• Report unexplained discrepancies promptly to ownership.
• Coordinate with accounting when necessary.

Recruitment & Employee Development

• Identify staffing needs and recommend additional hiring.
• Review applications and conduct employee interviews.
• Evaluate candidates and provide hiring recommendations to ownership.
• Assist with onboarding and training new employees.
• Develop employee skills through ongoing coaching and training.
• Maintain appropriate interview and employee documentation.

All final hiring decisions, employment offers, and terminations are approved by ownership.

Merchandising & Store Presentation

• Maintain attractive, organized, and fully stocked retail displays.
• Ensure merchandise is properly priced, signed, and displayed.
• Follow established merchandising plans and visual standards.
• Monitor product presentation and replenishment needs.
• Maintain high standards for cleanliness and store organization.
• Communicate merchandising concerns and recommendations to ownership.

Customer Service

• Create a welcoming and professional shopping environment.
• Ensure employees provide friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive customer service.
• Handle customer complaints and resolve concerns professionally.
• Train employees on customer engagement and product knowledge.
• Maintain consistent service standards throughout the store.
• Encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.

Management Communication & Reporting

• Communicate daily operational needs through established company leadership.
• Attend scheduled management meetings prepared with meaningful updates.
• Report sales performance, labor hours, staffing concerns, and operational issues.
• Track completed assignments, outstanding responsibilities, and upcoming priorities.
• Identify problems and recommend solutions.
• Coordinate with other Countryside departments as needed.
• Follow ownership direction and ensure company decisions are implemented.
• Maintain accurate operational records and documentation.

Qualifications

Required

• Retail management or supervisory experience; three or more years preferred.
• Strong leadership and employee management skills.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities and maintain employee accountability.
• Experience with scheduling, labor management, and retail operations.
• Knowledge of inventory procedures, cash handling, and retail sales reporting.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with point-of-sale systems and basic computer applications.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Professional judgment, reliability, and a strong work ethic.
• Willingness to be a visible, hands-on leader.

Preferred

• Experience in specialty retail, home décor, gifts, garden centers, or similar environments.
• Experience supervising teams during high-volume seasonal periods.
• Familiarity with inventory receiving and purchase order processing.
• An interest in plants, gardening, and seasonal merchandise.

Garden center experience is helpful but not required.

Schedule & Physical Requirements

• Full-time, on-site position.
• Weekend availability required.
• Flexibility during peak seasonal retail periods, including spring and the holiday season.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to assist with stocking, merchandise handling, and physical store responsibilities, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.

Compensation

$23.00–$26.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

The position includes a 90-day performance review focused on leadership, store operations, employee accountability, and overall job performance.

What Makes a Successful Countryside Retail Manager?

We value managers who lead by example, take initiative, and hold themselves and their teams accountable.

A successful manager keeps the store running smoothly, communicates effectively, makes sound decisions, develops employees, and ensures responsibilities are completed without constant oversight.

We are looking for an individual who understands that strong retail management requires organization, professionalism, teamwork, and consistent follow-through.

Join Our Team

If you are an experienced retail leader who enjoys working with people, taking ownership of daily operations, and contributing to the success of a growing family-owned business, we encourage you to apply.

Countryside Flower Shop, Nursery & Garden Center is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: $23.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person