Retail Store Manager
Role Type: Full Time / Permanent
Location: The Cigar Box EDINBURGH
Salary: Negotiable depending on experience
About Us
The Dormant Distillery Company operates The Cigar Box one of Edinburghs longest-standing and most specialist tobacconists, located on the Royal Mile. Our shop offers a carefully curated selection of premium cigars, pipe tobaccos, and smoking accessories, providing our customers with expert guidance and an exceptional retail experience. Were looking for a Retail Store Manager to lead day-to-day store operations, raise the bar on customer experience, and drive sustainable commercial growth.
The Role
The Retail Store Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of The Cigar Box, ensuring exceptional customer experience and a smooth, compliant, and commercially focused retail operation. The role sets clear standards across sales, purchasing, merchandising, and team leadership, while safeguarding compliance and store security.
Responsibilities
Team Leadership
Recruit, onboard, train, and supervise retail staff.
Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture.
Set clear goals, coach regularly, and conduct timely reviews.
Delegate effectively to deliver efficient daily operations.
Customer Service
Ensure consistently high standards of service and hospitality.
Resolve customer enquiries and issues promptly and professionally.
Maintain and improve service standards and feedback loops.
Sales & Revenue
Implement sales plans to meet targets and KPIs.
Track performance, analyse trends, and take action on insights.
Drive upsell and cross-sell opportunities in line with brand values.
Inventory Management
Maintain optimal stock levels and accurate records.
Ensure safe, correct storage to minimise loss and damage.
Run regular audits and minimise shrinkage through controls.
5) Merchandising
Deliver visually strong, legally compliant displays.
Align layouts and POS with current campaigns and promotions.
6) Operational Efficiency
Streamline routine processes and improve ways of working.
Monitor costs and manage within agreed budgets.
Embed best practice across opening, closing, cash, and compliance routines.
7) Compliance & Security
Ensure adherence to company policies and procedures.
Maintain robust security to protect people, product, and property.
Stay current with legal requirements (especially tobacco display and advertising) and ensure full compliance in-store
8) Digital Growth: & Social Media
Partner with Marketing/E-commerce to grow traffic, conversion, and average order value through aligned in-store and online activity.
Support product listings and content quality (descriptions, imagery, availability) and flag priority lines and new arrivals.
Contribute to a simple content calendar for The Cigar Box across social channels; provide product insights, stories, and assets from the shop floor.
Align promotions across store, web, and social; signpost online services.
Share customer insights and frequently asked questions to inform campaigns and range decisions.
9) Purchasing
Analyse the market for trends, customer demand, and competitor activity.
Review sales data to optimise range, pricing, and margin.
Source and negotiate with suppliers aligned to brand/quality standards.
Balance competitive pricing with margin targets; minimise excess and loss.
Collaborate with retail managers to ensure stock is legally displayed and properly stored.
About you
* Experienced retail supervisor/manager, ideally in a specialist environment.
* Genuine interest in cigars/tobacconist products (or strong willingness to learn).
* Confident people leader: coaching, rota planning, delegation and performance management.
* Commercially astute with good grasp of KPIs, margin and stock control.
* Strong eye for merchandising and store standards.
* Process-driven, organised and calm under pressure.
* Comfortable collaborating on website content and basic social media activity.
* Flexible to cover weekends, late trading and events.
* 18+ (legal age to sell tobacco products in the UK) and right to work in the UK.
Working pattern & benefits
- Hours: 40 per week across a 7-day rota (weekend and occasional evening/event cover).
- Perks: Staff discount, workplace pension, on-the-job product training, and opportunities to engage with industry events.
How to apply
Please include your CV, and a short cover note telling us why this role and The Cigar Box appeal to you.
Please note we receive a high volume of applications and may not be able to respond to everyone. If you are shortlisted, we will contact you to discuss next steps.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive team.