Store Manager - Maternity Cover

Store Manager

Reporting To: Retail Area Manager

Location: Bristol

Contract Type: Fixed Term - August 2026 - June 2027

Hours per week: 40

About Bird & Blend Tea Co.

Bird & Blend Tea Co. is an eco-conscious, people-focused, award-winning and B Corp-certified Tea Mixology company on a mission to spread happiness and reimagine tea.

Bird & Blend was set up and is run by Krisi & Mike, who met whilst studying Politics at university. Building Bird & Blend from scratch while staying true to their ethos and values has been Krisi & Mike's passion for over 10 years.

From the early days of packing tea in their bedroom and attending markets, to now with an awesome team, multiple retail stores and a thriving international online store, Bird & Blend is leading the way in tea innovation in the UK.

Bird & Blend has grown out of a core belief in doing business in a better way. This is our why - it's why we are in business and what we believe in. We want to welcome as many people as possible into our Magical World of Tea but fundamentally it's what we care about other than great tea that makes us magical.

You can read heaps more information about us and our mission here:

About this Role

As a Store Manager, you're the key to engaging with customers, listening to their needs, and guiding them to the right products. With your passionate and focused leadership, you'll inspire and develop your team to create memorable and inclusive customer experiences, driving the store's overall success.

You'll handle budgeting, plan marketing strategies, and build the store's customer base. You'll also coordinate the daily activities of your team, build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and inspire a high-performing team in a dynamic and friendly environment. We're looking for a dedicated professional who brings passion and excellence to everything they do.

This is a full-time role (40hr per week), which includes weekends and some evenings, operating an on-site working pattern.

Responsibilities

• Customer Experience: Ensure every visitor has an exceptional Bird & Blend Tea experience and foster a customer-focused culture with memorable interactions.
• Customer Focus: Become an expert on Bird & Blend products and values and handle escalated customer queries promptly.
• Sales: Drive your team to meet sales targets and KPIs and implement sales strategies with the Assistant Manager to boost not only sales but the customer experience.
• Motivate and Inspire: Lead, motivate and support your team to achieve individual and collective goals.
• Coaching: Provide feedback and coaching to enhance individual and store performance.
• Recruiting and Training: Recruit, induct, train, and develop a high-performing team that fosters a positive store environment.
• Daily Operations: Oversee daily store operations, including opening and closing procedures.
• Staff Rotas: Organise and oversee team schedules to ensure there is enough cover on the shop floor at all times.
• Merchandising Standards: Maintain high visual merchandising standards, ensuring the store always looks exciting, inviting, and accessible.
• Sustainability: Use your passion for the environment to support the company in reaching impact goals and lead your team to do the same.
• Stock Management: Manage stock efficiently to optimise stock levels, minimise discrepancies, and ensure products are readily available.
• Stock Takes: Arrange, plan and execute stock takes.
• Events: Lead and host store and local events, including evening events, to make them enjoyable and memorable for our customers.
• Sampling: Motivate and lead the team to share our teas with customers through samples both inside and outside the store and at external events.
• Build Connections: Foster relationships within the local community to increase footfall and successful store events and activities.

Qualifications

• People Management Experience: At least 2 years in a management role or similar within a customer service environment.
• Brand Ambassador: Represent our brand and culture, embodying our values and inspiring your team.
• Sales Skills: Proven track record of effective selling skills and the ability to drive commercial outcomes.
• Team Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and support a team in an inclusive and positive work environment.
• Communication and Problem-Solving: Excellent communication, problem-solving, and visual merchandising skills.
• Product Enthusiasm: Genuine passion for our product and the confidence to share your enthusiasm with customers and the team.
• Customer Service Skills: Excellent customer service with the ability to build rapport.
• Employment Relations: Experience in managing employee relations cases effectively.
• Professionalism: Foster a professional, fair, and kind relationship with customers and your team.
• Empathy: Ability to use empathy to manage interpersonal relationships.
• Open Mindset: Curious and open-minded approach, with the ability to understand others and embrace diverse perspectives.
• Flexible Availability: Shifts may vary weekly; adaptability to cover different days and times.
• A Commitment to Excellence: Going above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Approaching People: Confidently approach people with a sample inside and outside of the store.

Benefits

• We are proud to be a Sunday Times Best Places To Work 2024 employer.
• Friendly and supportive team culture: Work with a like-minded team that values collaboration and fun.
• Membership of company pension scheme (if applicable).
• Holiday accrual that grows with loyalty: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, increasing with service.
• Your birthday off.
• Life Insurance & Income Protection.
• Health Cash Plan after one year of service.
• Life Happens Leave: Paid leave for unexpected life events.
• Complimentary drinks and snacks.
• Monthly tea allowance and generous staff discount.
• Employee Assistance Programme for confidential mental health support.
• Bike to Work and Electric Vehicle Schemes.
• Paid volunteer days.
• Dog-friendly office.
• Enhanced family-friendly policies and flexible working options.

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all; applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender identity, race, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnerships. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the application or interview process please let us know.