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Any Retail Managers Here? I'm In Need Of Advice
I'm currently a FT sales associate at a luxury brand chocolate boutique which I helped launch 9 months ago. Yesterday the staff was informed that our Assistant Manager who only works weekends has resigned and leaves at the end of the month. My DH and friends are encouraging me to let my boss know that I'd like to be considered for the soon-to-be vacant position. I'd still be a FT salesperson during weekdays and an Asst. Manager on Saturdays/Sundays only.
I think I'm pretty well positioned to be promoted since our staff is very thin and Corporate is reluctant to hire new employees, even managers. Also I received a glowing performance review last month. Our store lease expires on New Year's Eve and we're struggling to stay afloat. I suspect the boutique will permanently shut down at the end of 2011.
I'm only lacking confidence about learning the nuts and bolts of management: payroll, inventory, ordering products for the store, sales reports, etc. But my DH and friends say that given my solid background in retail I can learn how to run the stores without much difficulty.
I'd like to hear from managers here how I should negotiate my promotion if upper management agrees. I'm making $12/hour now and am realistic that I won't get a huge raise by only work weekends. But since I have more retail experience and length of time with the Company than both my assistant managers put together, how much of a raise should I ask for?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Re: Any Retail Managers Here? I'm In Need Of Advice
I've been in retail for 8 years. There are a few things I'm concerned about in your post.
1. Do you plan on working 7 days a week? As a full time associate working 5 days a week and then being an AM for 2 days that is a lot of work. Also, does the AM have any responsibilities or is just a MOD position when the store manager isn't there? I've never worked somewhere with a part time AM.
2. You admit that the store is not doing well. What are your plans if they do not re-sign the lease? Are there other stores you can transfer to? Depending on your future with the company I would ask to learn the "nuts and bolts" of the company. Payroll, ordering, inventory, and reports are easy to learn and are just about the same everywhere you go. Learn these tasks and then put them on your resume.
3. It never hurts to let the store manager know you are interested in the position, or at least the responsibilities. I can't recommend a raise amount, because frankly, you are making more than some department managers in my company.
Thanks for your response, mrs.jls.
No, I wouldn't work 7 days a week. If I was promoted to AM I'd work 3 weekdays plus Saturday and Sunday. AM duties are to open/close the store and register, count money, make deposits at the bank, fax the daily sales report to accounting and assist in customer service. That's pretty much it.
Before this resignation happened, I've been looking for a new FT retail job. I have several applications out there and have been though 1 interview. Since the store probably won't be here in January, I've started my search now. And I'd like to get some managerial experience under my belt and put it on my resume, as you say.
Frankly I'm not sure about the raise idea. It may be impossible or my boss might offfer me a small one. I'll find out this week when I approach her about the promotion.
My store has always had at least 1 AM. Our FT general manager quit last Xmas and 2 salespeople were suddenly promoted to co-assistant managers if that makes any sense. They only work weekdays. Now with our weekend AM leaving next week the company must find a way to fill that void. I just hope that they consider me AM material.
I agree...and same with pay...i don't know what to tell you...I'm a associate manager and you make more than I do! We have associate managers (hourly) then assistant store managers then the store manager. I can do everything that they can do but I don't work as much as they do and I don't work 6 days a week during the holiday like they do. I use to be an assistant but when I came back from maternity leave I wanted to spend more time at home so I took a lower level position. But even at assistant I was only making a few $$ an hour more than you and prob putting in ALOT more hours!