Visitor Center Retail Manager

Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation•Philadelphia, PA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Philadelphia Visitor Center is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to welcoming visitors and connecting them with all the incredible experiences, people and places that make Philadelphia a world class destination. The Visitor Center supports its mission by operating retail gift shops at 5+ center city visitor centers and event-based pops. The Visitor Center is seeking a dynamic, hands-on Philadelphia Visitor Center Retail Manager to create and implement our annual retail strategy, and lead in sourcing, merchandising, inventory, and seasonal retail marketing strategies across a fast-paced network of high-traffic visitor centers. Located at Center City Philadelphia’s hottest tourism hubs, our 5+ visitor center locations have active gift shops that require regular replenishment and active inventory management. We are looking for an experienced retail professional who can seamlessly bridge the gap between sourcing great products, ensuring supply chain efficiency and delivering front-end visual appeal. This role required active management of daily sales data to actively manage merchandise sales and celebrate the best and most on-tend Philly souvenirs and retail experiences. The retail manager will set and execute an annual retail strategy that reflects new seasonal product lives; sources and promotes hot local vendors; and uses data to ensure the right products are sourced, ordered, and delivered at the right time to maximize value and offer visitors the perfect Philly momento to bring home to remind them of their visit. The manager will optimize inventory levels to meet fluctuating seasonal tourist demands and lead the merchandising efforts that turn passersby into customers. From convenience items to the latest trends, the retail manager will provide fresh engaging products, displays, and promotional features that deliver on the Philadelphia Visitor Center’s Brand Promise.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in museum or visitor center retail management environment—ideally within a high-volume Philly-area tourism destination.
Proficiency with modern POS (Point of Sale) and inventory management software poweruser (e.g., Shopify Plus, SAP).
Strong skills in Microsoft Excel required for data analysis.
A valid driver’s license and a clean driving record are required.
Ability to lift up to 40 lbs frequently, stand/walk for extended periods, and comfortably load/unload apparel shipments.
An understanding of what drives souvenir shoppers—speed, impulse, presentation, and clear sizing.
Ability to thrive when navigating traffic delays, sudden rushes, or unexpected inventory shifts.
Ability to build strong relationships with both warehouse teams and front-line retail staff.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Experience driving light commercial vehicles (like transit vans or box trucks) in urban environments is a major plus.

Responsibilities

Set seasonal sales strategy for all retail operations across the Visitor Center based on location, audience, trends, and organizational needs.
Deliver monthly and quarterly updates on progress toward delivering annual sales goals.
Develop seasonal merchandising strategies and new items for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter Philly merchandise and souvenirs.
Analyze daily and weekly sales trends across all retail locations to predict inventory needs, accounting for peak tourism seasons, local events, and weather shifts.
Maintain optimal stock levels at each storefront to prevent stockouts of high-demand items while minimizing overstock and footprint clutter in compact retail spaces.
Conduct regular physical inventory counts and reconcile data within our inventory management system to minimize shrinkage and ensure data accuracy.
Coordinate and execute the daily/weekly transport of apparel from the central warehouse to various retail locations, navigating busy urban traffic and strict delivery windows.
Oversee deliveries and third-party couriers, ensuring partners and colleagues are updated on delivery timelines and status.
Streamline the check-in process at the store level so new stock moves to the sales floor as quickly as possible.
Design and implement high-impact visual merchandising displays tailored to a diverse tourist demographic for each location.
Work with visitor center site managers to ensure apparel is properly sized, folded, hung, tagged, and steamed according to brand standards to maximize visual appeal and drive impulse buys.
Provide detailed images and information about new merchandise to front line staff; support PR and marketing of new merchandise; and lead creative efforts to collaborate with local creators/retailers.