Full time Permanent
Founded in 2010, POP MART is a market-leading entertainment company and a global champion of designer toy culture. Through global artist development, IP operations, and designer toy culture evangelism, we have built an integrated platform covering the entire designer toy value chain. Besides our original and iconic IPs such as Molly, Hirono, Skullpanda, and LABUBU, POP MART collaborates with top-tier toys and lifestyle brands including Disney, Universal Studios, and Sanrio to create collectible art toys featuring their iconic characters.
In the UK&I region, we operate over nine stores and over five Robo Shops (vending machines for POP MART products). With our ambitious growth plan, we continue to expand our retail network by opening new stores in London and nationwide.
Lead and optimise the UK’s existing retail operations while planning retail expansion into Ireland
Manage day-to-day store operations with a focus on execution, customer experience, and commercial results
Work cross-functionally with regional and headquarters teams to ensure alignment in planning, merchandising, and retail standards
Contribute to the evolution of one of the most culturally dynamic and creative retail brands in the collectible space
A structured bonus/commission scheme in line with the company’s and the individual’s performance
Comprehensive training and development programs
Regular team social events
Paid rest breaks
The Head of Retail, UK and Ireland is responsible for leading and optimising POP MART’s physical retail operations across both countries. With the UK already established as a key market, this role will focus on driving store performance, enhancing customer experience, and expanding retail leadership. This position carries retail P&L accountability and requires close collaboration with HQ and regional functions to ensure consistent brand standards and operational excellence.
This role offers a unique opportunity to take ownership of POP MART’s retail operations in one of the most important European markets. It requires a hands-on retail professional with solid experience in store operations, team management, and supporting market expansion. Retail Operations and Store Performance
Oversee the end-to-end management of physical retail stores, ensuring strong execution, operational efficiency, and high customer engagement
Define and monitor key retail KPIs, including store sales, foot traffic, conversion rates, and customer satisfaction
Implement best practices to optimize store efficiency, reducing operational bottlenecks and improving sales execution
Lead store teams and area managers to maintain brand consistency, sales excellence, and customer service quality
Ensure compliance with global retail standards across all store locations, aligning with corporate brand and customer experience strategies
Develop and execute the local merchandising strategy, ensuring an optimized product mix across stores, vending machines, and e-commerce
Analyse sell-through rates, inventory levels, and customer demand trends to enhance stock planning and replenishment
Maintain high visual merchandising standards in physical stores and vending machines to maximize customer engagement
Provide insights to headquarters regarding local product trends and consumer preferences to influence future product development
In-store Customer Experience
Drive initiatives to enhance the customer experience across all physical retail locations
Ensure store teams deliver a consistent, high-quality, and engaging brand experience
Execute localized marketing campaigns, in-store activations, and brand engagement initiatives
Support customer retention through excellent in-store service and meaningful offline touchpoints
Financial and P&L Management
Maintain P&L ownership for retail and vending machines, ensuring revenue growth and cost efficiency
Monitor financial performance metrics, implementing corrective actions to improve profitability across all retail channels
Work with finance teams in Opex management to ensure accurate reporting, budget control, and expense planning
Evaluate store expansions and vending machine rollouts based on performance data and growth objectives
People Leadership and Retail Team Development
Build and develop a high-performing retail team, ensuring strong leadership across stores and omnichannel operations
Oversee recruitment, training, and career development programs to cultivate skilled retail professionals
Foster a culture of accountability, customer-centricity, and innovation within store and retail teams
10+ years of senior retail management experience, preferably in designer toys, luxury retail, or fast fashion
~ Strong expertise in P&L management, budgeting, and financial planning
~ Deep understanding of brand-building, consumer engagement, and retail marketing strategies
~ Strong negotiation and relationship management skills, particularly in real estate and retail partnerships
~ Fluent in English in both written and verbal communications
~ Based in London with occasional travel to other European cities, and Beijing Headquarters
~ Permanent right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship
Knowledge of the UK and Ireland scape, particularly in lifestyle or collectibles retail