Our Retail Experience Manager
As Retail Experience Manager, youll be the face of our brand in-stores. Youll oversee all daily store operations, manage and inspire the team, and create a best-in-class experience at The Newts Farm Shop, Home & Garden, and Creamery locations. This is a hands-on leadership role: youll spend most of your time on the floor, driving service, coaching staff and making sure every customer leaves happy.
A natural leader, youll foster a positive, driven environment for our team and inspire them to achieve their goals. You should have a genuine passion for food, homeware, clothing, and design, and consistently represent The Newt brand with pride. Reporting into the CEO-Commerce, this role is based on-site across our retail stores and is supported by Store Managers, Supervisors, and a Visual Merchandiser.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead and manage the retail team to deliver outstanding daily operations.
* Drive a customer-first culture, ensuring every guest receives warm, attentive service.
* Recruit, train and develop team members to be brand ambassadors for The Newt
* Drive sales performance across all three retail locations, ensuring financial targets are met or exceeded.
* Uphold the highest standards of care and respect for product presentation and handling, working alongside our visual merchandiser.
* Monitor and manage retail budgets, including staffing, supplies, and operational costs.
* Promote environmentally responsible retail practices in alignment with The Newts values.
* Oversee stock management and food safety standards.
* Collaborate with central teams on promotions, marketing activations, and new product launches.
* Be an on-the-ground problem solver and motivator every day.
What we can offer
* A positive workplace environment with opportunities to develop both personally and professionally.
* Stay in shape with our complimentary use of our gym and wellbeing classes
* Look after your wellbeing with complimentary access to our Spa and swimming pools and our exclusive benefit of 50% off Spa Treatments.
* Enjoy shopping in both our shops on estate and online with 30% discount for all our colleagues and free delivery for any online purchases.
* Discover exclusive perks with our Discounted hotel stays for staff, accompanied by a fantastic 30% discount at our restaurants.
* Complimentary garden membership for the Newt and our partner gardens including the Eden Project, Kew Gardens and The Lost Gardens of Heligan
* Complimentary staff meal each shift crafted by our dedicated kitchen team, often featuring fresh produce from our estate.
* We value your hard work and recognise your achievements through our colleague recognition programme Newt Awards with the opportunity to achieve a variety of amazing rewards including a complimentary Hotel Stay.
* Support from our Employee Assistance Programme for both yourself and your family
* A team that knows how to have fun with regular team engagement activities including Fun Squad events, which include activities such as Go-Karting and Wine Tasting, to name but a few.
* Up to 30 days annual leave each year for our full-time team
What are we looking for
* Passionate about food, people, and creating memorable experiences.
* Proven retail management experience within premium, customer focused environments ideally across food, homeware or lifestyle retail.
* A strong appreciation for quality and provenance with an intuitive understanding of what makes a considered and elevated retail experience
* Demonstrated ability to drive commercial performance while upholding brand values and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
* Natural leader with the ability to inspire, develop, and retain a high-performing team, with a hands-on, shop-floor presence.
* Strong understanding of visual merchandising principles, stock flow, and customer journey design.
* Comfortable with data and systems able to use sales analytics and digital tools to make informed decisions.
* Impeccable standards in presentation, product care, and operational efficiency.
* Excellent communicator both with customers and internal teams with a calm, confident, and warm presence.
* Organised and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across locations without compromising on detail.
* Flexible - happy to work early mornings, evenings, weekends if needed.
Where you'll be working - Our Retail Stores
?Our physical retail spaces are an integral part of the member experience when visiting The Newt, offering a high-end retail experience specialising in the sales of our own products as well as celebrating local craftsmen and suppliers from Somerset and beyond.
The Farm Shopspecialises in the sales of estate pillars of wine, cyder, cheese, butchery, deli and bakery items. We have a walk-in cheese room with the finest British cheeses, a butchery counter with its own Himalayan pink salt wall for ageing meats, and freshly harvested vegetables from our fields.
Our House & Garden Shopboasts a selection of fine living items from our own scented range to a wide range of products sourced from local artisan suppliers.
The Creameryat Castle Cary railway station is our newest retail outlet and our first outside of The Newt estate, combining both food and homeware.
Who are we - The Newt in Somerset
Nestled within an expanse of rolling fields and steeped in ancient history, our luxury country estate stands as a haven of refined elegance, inviting guests to explore acres of captivating gardens, meandering pathways, and enriching exhibitions - accessible 364 days a year for our members. Our hotel extends a warm welcome, offering a home-away-from-home experience where impeccable service flourishes in an ambiance of unassuming sophistication. Beyond the estate, the Newt's essence remains tangible, with our Ecommerce teams delivering our finest products to homes, while media and membership endeavours keep them informed of our latest developments. Behind the scenes, a tapestry of talented teams - from Housekeeping to HR, Finance to Farming - collaborates harmoniously, crafting an unforgettable journey of growth, development, and innovation, where every contribution creates unparalleled experiences.
AMRT1_UKCT