Retail Operations Manager / General Manager
Location: Long Island, NY (100% Onsite)
Employment Type: Full-TimeAbout the Opportunity
Our client is a well-established, upscale retail destination on Long Island, offering a beautifully curated selection of home décor, plants, outdoor furnishings, gifts, floral, and seasonal merchandise. We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Retail Operations Manager / General Manager to oversee all aspects of the business, drive profitability, lead a high-performing team, and support continued growth. This is an exciting opportunity for an entrepreneurial retail leader who combines strong financial and operational expertise with a passion for merchandising, customer experience, and business development.
Key Responsibilities
Business Operations & P&L Management:
Oversee all day-to-day business operations, ensuring efficiency, profitability, and exceptional execution.
Take ownership of P&L performance, including revenue, expenses, labor costs, margins, and profitability.
Develop and manage budgets, financial forecasts, and operational strategies.
Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve margins, and streamline processes.
Manage vendor relationships, purchasing, inventory controls, and overall operational efficiency.
Leadership & Team Development:
Lead, mentor, and develop teams across sales, merchandising, customer service, and operations.
Oversee hiring, training, scheduling, performance management, and employee development.
Establish clear performance expectations and accountability.
Foster a collaborative, customer-focused, and results-driven culture.
Maintain a visible, hands-on leadership presence throughout the business.
Sales, Merchandising & Customer Experience:
Develop and execute strategies to drive sales growth and improve overall store performance.
Ensure an exceptional customer experience across all departments.
Oversee visual merchandising, product presentation, and seasonal displays.
Monitor sales trends, customer preferences, and product performance.
Partner with buying and merchandising teams to optimize product assortments and inventory.
Marketing & Business Development:
Develop and support marketing initiatives to increase brand awareness, customer traffic, and revenue.
Collaborate on digital marketing, social media, email campaigns, promotions, and special events.
Identify opportunities for community partnerships, customer engagement, and new revenue streams.
Plan and execute seasonal marketing strategies and in-store experiences.
Monitor industry trends and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities.
Inventory & Seasonal Operations:
Oversee inventory planning, replenishment, stock management, and loss prevention.
Manage seasonal transitions, ensuring appropriate staffing, inventory, and operational readiness.
Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to maintain product availability and presentation standards.
Ensure operational consistency across indoor and outdoor retail environments.
Qualifications:- 7+ years of progressive experience in retail management, general management, or business operations.
- Proven P&L ownership and financial management experience required.
- Strong background in team leadership, hiring, training, and performance management.
- Demonstrated success driving revenue growth and improving profitability.
- Experience overseeing marketing initiatives, merchandising, and customer engagement.
- Strong knowledge of inventory management, purchasing, vendor relations, and retail operations.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Entrepreneurial, proactive, and comfortable operating in a hands-on environment.
- Ability to work onsite on Long Island.
- Preferred Industry Experience
- Candidates with backgrounds in the following industries are especially encouraged to apply:
- Home décor and home furnishings
- Luxury lifestyle and specialty retail
- Floral, garden centers, and nurseries
- Outdoor living and seasonal merchandise
- Gifts, design-focused retail, and boutique environments
- While experience in these categories is preferred, we welcome accomplished retail leaders from other industries who bring strong business acumen, operational expertise, and a proven record of success.
The Ideal Candidate:
We're looking for a true business operator, not simply a store manager.
The ideal candidate has successfully managed a retail business or significant operation, understands the financial drivers behind profitability, and knows how to build, motivate, and hold teams accountable.
This individual should be equally comfortable analyzing a P&L, developing a marketing strategy, improving operational processes, and engaging with customers on the sales floor.
Above all, we're seeking someone who brings an owner's mentality, strong leadership, creativity, and the ability to take an established business to the next level.
