Store Manager — Karigarwala, Chester
Location: Chester city centre
Employment: Full-time (5 days/week, weekend availability required)
Start: ASAP
About Karigarwala
Karigarwala is a joyful craft-first brand celebrating artisanal techniques—from appliqué and Kashidakari to lac-turning and natural-dye textiles. Our Chester store is a cosy treasure trove of gifts, homeware and limited-edition design pieces made with heart, skill and sustainability.
The Role
We're looking for a hands-on Store Manager who loves craft, lives for great customer experiences, and can run a tight (but friendly) retail ship. You'll lead daily operations, champion visual merchandising, keep the team buzzing, and make sure every customer leaves with a smile and a beautifully wrapped parcel.
Key Responsibilities
* Customer experience: Welcome every guest, understand their needs, offer product stories, sizing and styling help; handle returns/exchanges gracefully.
* Gift wrapping & presentation: Expert, neat and speedy gift wrapping; maintain brand-standard packaging and seasonal displays.
* Operations & POS: Run Shopify POS smoothly (sales, discounts, exchanges), handle cash/card payments, end-of-day till reconciliation, and banking.
* Inventory: Receive stock, barcode/label, organise backroom, manage counts and discrepancies, create basic purchase/transfer orders.
* Visual merchandising: Plan and refresh windows and in-store displays aligned to campaigns and craft stories.
* Team leadership: Schedule rotas, train staff on products and service, run briefings, monitor performance and morale.
* Reporting: Daily/weekly sales, footfall insights, bestsellers/slow movers, and actionable ideas to improve conversion and AOV.
* Compliance & upkeep: Maintain H&S standards, store cleanliness and security; manage repairs and supplier visits.
* Community & events: Host craft demos/pop-ups, support collaborations and local partnerships in Chester.
Must-Have Requirements
* Experience: 2–4+ years in retail, preferably in crafts, design, homeware, fashion or lifestyle; at least 1 year in a supervisor/key-holder role.
* Customer care: Warm, patient communicator; confident handling VIPs, busy periods and tricky situations.
* Shopify POS: Comfortable with checkout flows, returns/exchanges, discounts, gift cards, and basic troubleshooting.
* Cash handling: Accurate till operation, floats, cash-up and banking.
* Gift wrapping: Pro-level wrapping and packaging finesse.
* Organisation: Strong time management; able to prioritise tasks and keep the backroom zen.
* Right to work: Eligible to work in the UK; fluent in English.
Nice-to-Haves
* Background or education in crafts, textiles, product/retail design, visual merchandising.
* Basic content skills: taking quick product photos/videos for social stories.
* First-aid/fire marshal certification.
* Familiarity with sustainability standards and ethical sourcing.
Schedule & Availability
* 40 hours/week across 5 days (including at least one weekend day).
* Flexibility for seasonal peaks, late-night shopping and events.
What You'll Love
* Competitive salary + performance-based bonus.
* Store discount and friends & family perks.
* Training on craft techniques and product storytelling.
* A creative, values-led workplace where your ideas matter.
How to Apply
Send your CV and a short note on why craft retail excites you to with subject line: Store Manager — Chester. If you have examples of visual merchandising or gift wrapping, include photos/links.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: £19,022.83-£35,164.00 per year
Expected hours: 10 – 20 per week
Benefits:
* Employee discount
* Store discount
Work Location: In person