Head of Retail
- Portland, OR
- Direct Hire
- Onsite
- Specialty Retail – Arts & Crafts
What you should know: Are you a hands-on retail leader who knows how to build a strong team, improve operations, and turn business goals into results?
Our client, a family-owned specialty retailer in the art industry, is looking for a Head of Retail to lead its retail operation, develop its team, and help grow a business that has been serving the art community for generations. This is an opportunity for a people-oriented leader who enjoys creating structure, solving problems, improving performance, and making a tangible impact on a healthy business.
As a family-owned company, our client takes pride in personal relationships, dependable service, and helping customers bring their creative ideas to life. They’re looking for someone who shares those values and can pair a genuine commitment to customer service with the business acumen and leadership skills to run an efficient, profitable operation.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead Retail Operations
- Own daily store operations, ensuring the retail environment is organized, well-stocked, welcoming, and running efficiently
- Establish consistent procedures and workflows that improve accountability, reduce errors, and support business growth
- Take initiative in resolving operational challenges and making sound day-to-day decisions
- Oversee weekly operation of the classroom, studio, and workshops, ensuring smooth programming
Build and Develop a Strong Team
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of 4-6 retail employees
- Set clear expectations, manage performance, and address staffing and employee concerns constructively
- Strengthen hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and performance management practices so the team can operate confidently and independently
Drive Sales and Profitability
- Monitor sales trends, product performance, margins, labor costs, and inventory turnover
- Identify ways to increase sales, improve merchandising, manage costs, and strengthen overall performance
- Use reporting and business insights to inform decisions and keep the team focused on results
Improve Inventory, Systems, and Processes
- Oversee inventory accuracy, replenishment, product presentation, and pickup processes
- Partner across departments to coordinate inventory needs, ensure a smooth flow of product & information
- Improve operational procedures, documentation, training materials, and use of business systems
Your areas of knowledge and expertise:
Classroom & workshop programming experience
- Model a welcoming environment for all, from beginning hobbyists and students to professional artists, schools, and manufacturers
- Management of customer concerns: Continually look for ways to improve the shopping experience
- Operational oversight: Instructor coordination, supplies, and classroom/workshop readiness
- Strong partnership with office and marketing teams to support educational programming, improve the student experience, and identify opportunities to expand offerings
Retail operations experience: A track record of managing retail operations, preferably in specialty retail, a family-owned business, or a similarly hands-on environment.
People leadership: Experience developing employees, setting expectations, managing performance, and building a reliable, accountable team
Business acumen: An understanding of retail sales, margins, labor costs, inventory management, merchandising, and profitability
Operational discipline: The ability to develop practical procedures, improve workflows, reduce errors, and create consistency
Sound judgment and initiative: Confident decision making, problem resolution, and priority management
A hands-on approach: A willingness to work alongside the team while keeping an eye on the bigger picture
Comfort with technology: Experience using POS systems, inventory software, and business reporting tools
Bonus points for: Experience in creative specialties such as art supplies, ceramics, or other specialty retail.
Compensation and Benefits:
- Hourly – $90,000 – $95,000/year DOE. Full-time hours guaranteed.
- Health & Dental Insurance (we pay 70%, employee pays 30%). Please note – There is a 90-day probationary period for benefits to kick in.
- PTO – Based on job tenure and since there are 5 employees over 20 years, there is not much flexibility on this (1 year = 64 hours, 3 years = 88 hours, 5 years = 128 hours, 10 years = 168 hours)
- Paid Holidays (7 = New Years, Memorial Day, 4thof July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday (company throws this one in as extra), Christmas)
- 401(k) matching (company match up to 4%)
- Profit share, dependent on year (Company has been able to do profit share for the past 7+ years)
- Company-wide discounts
- Work-life balance (no overtime / 2 days off in a row)
Mulberry Talent Partners is dedicated to connecting exceptional talent with exciting opportunities. By applying for this position, you will also be considered for other open positions within our network. If you are already part of our community, we encourage you to reach out directly to one of our recruiters regarding any specific roles that catch your eye!
