BALENCIAGA Store Director | Selfridges

Job description

About us Cristóbal Balenciaga founded the House in 1917 in his home of Spain. In 1937, he established the brand in Paris, designing its collections there until 1968. Cristóbal Balenciaga had a reputation as a couturier of uncompromising standards and was referred to as "the master of us all" by Christian Dior and as “The Couturier of the Couturiers” by Gabrielle Chanel. The ultra-modern shapes were trademarks of the house. While the brand’s identity is firmly rooted in its highly conceptual prêt-à-porter collections, its leather goods, footwear, and accessories experience worldwide success as well. Among the archetypal products of the House are its handbag collections. A new focus on the development of Balenciaga ready-to-wear collections for men was quickly established as highly successful. Since October 2015, Demna has designed both men’s and women’s collections as the artistic director. The Balenciaga House, part of the Kering group since 2001, is one of the most influential names in fashion.

BALENCIAGA Store Director

We are currently seeking a Store Director at Selfridges who will report to the Retail Manager.

Your opportunity

To develop the store's turnover by managing the sales team, expanding the customer-base and establishing customer loyalty, employing Balenciaga's sales strategy and image.

How you will contribute

Business development:

·  Develop and maintain strong business relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders to maximise business opportunities and working efficiencies
·  Define, execute and monitor the store action plan to achieve sales targets and KPIs
·  Optimise the relationship with the Department Store to ensure efficient and commercial partnership
·  Understand and monitor local business environment including market trends and competition
·  Proactively define opportunities for growth and execute actions accordingly
·  Communicate high quality relevant feedback to HQs/HO and/or store team

Talent leadership and development:

·  Create and maintain a positive work environment, consistent with Balenciaga behaviours
·  Build trust and rapport so the team respect you as a strong, fair, reliable leader
·  Provide a clear vision of the goals for the overall team and for the individuals
·  Identify, attract, recruit, develop and retain talent
·  Create and monitor development plans for store management and store teams, driving professional growth through ongoing training and coaching

Brand promotion:

·  Behave as a Balenciaga Ambassador, sustain and promote the culture of the brand internally and externally
·  Ensure Balenciaga Signature and Client experience are executed and consistent over time
·  Lead by example conveying Balenciaga behaviours towards clients
·  Know your clients and prospects (quantitative and qualitative) to define action plans
·  Attract and recruit new clients from personal network and external partners
·  Develop clienteling mindset and client's loyalty and retention from beginners to VICs

Process management:

·  Ensure that all the processes are compliant with legal, safety, security, internal requirements, sustainability, HR guidelines
·  Align oneself with ‘best practice’ and coach the team to respect this way of working
·  Ensure execution of Retail Excellence guidelines in the store
·  Supervise inventory activities and warehouse stock
·  Challenge and improve current processes sustaining the growth and ensure efficiency and effectiveness

KPIs (including bit not limited to)

·  Business: sales density, conversation rate, UPT, cross selling rate, transactions
·  Team: sales productivity, training completion rate, turnover rate, staff satisfaction
·  Client: local retention rate, CEE
·  Process: CRM, Omnichannel, back of house

Who you are

·  Sustained successful experience in a managerial position in luxury Retail industry
·  Inclusive leadership style and entrepreneurship
·  High sensitivity to client experience and loyalty
·  Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and inspire
·  Precise, innovative, highly organised, adaptable, dynamic
·  Highly available and responsive with a natural curiosity and proactiveness to redefine
·  Product and Fashion sensitivity

Why work with us?

This is a fabulous opportunity to join the Balenciaga adventure and to actively contribute to the development of the business by becoming part of a thriving Atelier in a global Luxury Group that offers endless possibilities to learn and grow.

Balenciaga is committed to thriving your professional development within the House or in the Kering group. We empower leaders to create, build and sustain high performing teams that excel in execution. We guide every employee to reach their full potential in a stimulating and fulfilling workplace environment.

Diversity Commitment

Balenciaga is committed to fostering a diverse workforce. We believe that diversity in all its forms - gender, age, nationality, culture, disability, sexual orientation… - enriches the workplace and our client experience. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome all applications and select our talents based on competencies and in alignment with our brand behaviors. Setting people for success is what we live for. It is part of our interview process to discuss with you how to excel in our company.

·  Full time
·  Europe
·  United Kingdom