EMPREGO

General Manager-retail

Yorkshire Caravans and Motorhomes LTD-Doncaster, United Kingdom

GENERAL MANAGER - RETAIL

YORKSHIRE CARAVANS AND MOTORHOMES LTD

Location: Bawtry, near Doncaster

Senior Leadership Role

Yorkshire Caravans of Bawtry is one of the UK’s leading caravan, motorhome, and outdoor leisure businesses.
We have over 100 years of heritage, a substantial customer base, significant retail space and one of the largest caravan and motorhome operations in the country.
We also believe our leisure shop and awnings business is underperforming its potential.
We currently generate approximately £3 million of retail and on line sales.
Our target is £7 million within two years.
We are looking for an exceptional commercial retail leader to create the plan, build the team and deliver the result.
This is not a Store Manager position.
This is a retail transformation role.

THE CHALLENGE
Your first responsibility will be to understand the existing business and create a detailed, commercially credible two-year growth plan to increase retail sales from £3 million to £7 million.
Then you will be responsible for delivering it.
You will have significant autonomy, direct access to the owners and senior leadership team and the ability to fundamentally reshape the retail operation.
The scope of the role will not only include our leisure retail business and awnings but also the Yorkshire Caravans parts division.
At the same time, you will oversee the major refurbishment and redevelopment of our existing retail space.
The challenge is to transform the store while continuing to grow sales.
We are looking for someone who understands that retail space is an asset.
Every square foot should have a purpose.
Every category should justify its position.
Every supplier relationship should create value.
Every product should earn its place.

THE £3M TO £7M PLAN
You will personally create and own a detailed growth strategy covering:

  • Sales growth by category
  • Sales per square foot
  • Category participation
  • Gross and net margin growth
  • Stock turn and stock investment
  • Average transaction value
  • Customer conversion
  • New product categories
  • Parts growth
  • Supplier strategy
  • Overseas sourcing and direct importing
  • Own-brand and exclusive product opportunities
  • On line customer ordering and integration with retail
  • Seasonal events and promotions
  • Retail space monetisation
  • Team structure, training and development
  • This will not be a presentation that sits in a drawer.It will become the operating plan for the retail business.You will report progress against the plan weekly and monthly and will be accountable for its delivery.COMMERCIAL OWNERSHIP
  • You will take full commercial and operational responsibility for the retail, awnings and parts businesses.
  • You will own the P&L.
  • You will be expected to know the numbers.
  • Not approximately.
  • You should understand what is selling, what is not selling, where margin is being made, where stock is ageing and where the next commercial opportunity exists.
  • You will use data to make decisions quickly.
  • You will be expected to challenge historical buying decisions, supplier relationships, product ranges and the use of retail space.
  • If a category is not performing, you will fix it, move it or remove it.
  • If a better product can be sourced, you will find it.
  • If we can buy better, we expect you to buy better.
  • If there is a new commercial opportunity, we expect you to pursue it.OVERSEAS SOURCING & MARGIN GROWTH
  • You may have experience working with manufacturers and suppliers in China, Europe or other international markets.

  • You will identify opportunities to:

  • Source products directly from manufacturers

  • Improve buying margins
  • Develop exclusive product ranges
  • Create own-brand opportunities
  • Reduce unnecessary layers within the supply chain
  • Negotiate improved supplier terms
  • Build long-term strategic manufacturing relationships
  • We do not simply want to sell more products.We want to improve the quality of our sales and significantly increase profitability.RETAIL SPACE SHOULD MAKE MONEY
  • Our retail space is a commercial asset.
  • We want someone who understands how to monetise it.
  • You will develop commercial partnerships with major suppliers and brands.

  • This may include:

  • Branded retail areas

  • Supplier-funded shop fits
  • Shop-in-shop concepts
  • Exclusive brand partnerships
  • Promotional spaces
  • Product launch areas
  • Seasonal brand activations
  • Paid supplier positioning
  • You will be comfortable sitting across the table from major suppliers and demonstrating why access to our customers and our retail space has significant commercial value.We want our suppliers investing in our growth alongside us.THE STORE TRANSFORMATION
  • You will oversee a significant refurbishment and redevelopment of our retail store.
  • You will work with the ownership team, designers, contractors and suppliers to create a modern, high-performing retail environment.
  • The objective is not simply to make the store look better.
  • The objective is to make