Retail Store Director

Tandy Leather Factory•Queens, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Store Director leads the store’s sales, profitability, customer experience, talent development, and operational excellence. The role builds the location as a destination for the leathercraft community through exceptional customer experiences, partnerships, and a culture of learning. Working with a high degree of autonomy and business judgment, the Store Director partners with corporate leaders across functions, provides operational insight, pilots new initiatives, and contributes to the future of Tandy’s retail experience. The Store Director leads by example, develops high-performing teams, and represents the Tandy Leather brand. The Store Director oversees store performance and business planning, delivers a high-quality customer experience, develops local community partnerships, and leads workshops and other educational events. The role recruits and develops employees, supports succession planning, and collaborates with corporate teams to test and improve retail programs, services, merchandising, technology, and processes. The Store Director also develops and shares knowledge of leathercraft techniques, materials, tools, and products, and supports leathercraft education in the store and community. The position is located in Queens, New York, and reports to the Zone Manager. It requires a high school diploma or equivalent, at least five years of progressive retail leadership experience, and willingness to work varied schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on business needs. Physical requirements include extended periods of standing and moving, lifting merchandise and fixtures up to 30 pounds, and bending, kneeling, crouching, climbing ladders, reaching overhead, and performing repetitive retail and merchandising tasks.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
At least five years of progressive retail leadership experience, with demonstrated success leading high-performing teams.
Proven ability to drive sales, profitability, customer experience, and operational excellence.
Strong financial and business acumen, including experience managing budgets, expenses, inventory, and business performance.
Ability to work independently and exercise sound business judgment and strategic decision-making.
Exceptional leadership, coaching, and talent development skills.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to collaborate with field and corporate teams.
Ability to build local community partnerships and represent the company professionally.
Passion for leathercraft, craftsmanship, or creative hobbies, and willingness to develop deep knowledge of Tandy Leather products and the leathercraft community.
Passion for customer service, continuous learning, and developing others.
Willingness to work varied schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on business needs.
Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn company systems.
Ability to stand and move for extended periods; lift and move merchandise and fixtures up to 30 pounds; stoop, kneel, crouch, climb ladders, reach overhead, and perform repetitive retail and merchandising movements.
Close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead all aspects of store performance, including sales, profitability, expenses, inventory, and customer experience.
Develop and execute business strategies and quarterly plans to drive sustainable sales growth and long-term profitability.
Exercise independent business judgment while aligning decisions with company strategy.
Ensure execution of company initiatives, operational standards, merchandising, and visual presentation.
Identify opportunities to improve business performance through innovation, operational excellence, and customer insights.
Maintain accountability for four-wall financial performance while balancing immediate execution with long-term growth.
Deliver an exceptional customer experience consistent with Tandy Leather brand standards.
Build customer relationships through product knowledge, creative solutions, and personalized service; represent the brand professionally.
Build relationships with leathercraft guilds, schools, makers, artists, veterans’ organizations, community partners, and local businesses.
Develop and lead outreach initiatives, workshops, demonstrations, classes, special events, and community experiences to grow awareness and business.
Recruit, hire, develop, coach, and retain a high-performing team.
Foster accountability, continuous learning, collaboration, and professional growth; provide feedback and development opportunities.
Develop future leaders, create succession plans, and maintain a talent pipeline for the flagship location.
Partner with cross-functional corporate teams on strategic initiatives and pilot and evaluate new programs, services, merchandising strategies, technologies, and operational processes.
Provide actionable operational insights and recommendations, and share successful practices and learnings across the retail fleet.
Develop and maintain knowledge of leathercraft techniques, materials, tools, and Tandy Leather products.
Promote product expertise and leathercraft education through team learning, classes, demonstrations, workshops, and community engagement.
Stay informed about emerging leathercraft techniques, products, and trends.