Head of Retail

Head of Retail

Competitive Salary plus performance bonus and fantastic benefits

Our of Head of Retail

We are seeking a dynamic and motivated retail professional to lead The Newt’s 3 shops - The Farm Shop, The Home and Garden Shop and The Creamery Shop. As Head of Retail, you will be responsible for the seamless end-to-end operation of our stores, overseeing customer service, sales, visual merchandising, and day-to-day operations. A natural leader, you’ll 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

• Drive sales performance across all three retail locations, ensuring financial targets are met or exceeded.
• Lead by example on the shop floor, delivering exceptional customer service and creating memorable experiences.
• Ensure stores are consistently well-stocked through close collaboration with the Merchandising team.
• Partner with the Visual Merchandising team to maintain high visual standards, promote seasonal ranges, and optimise layouts and point-of-sale displays.
• Inspire and motivate the retail team, fostering a positive, professional, and customer-focused environment.
• Deliver ongoing training in product knowledge, systems, sales techniques, and company policies to support team development.
• Support seamless collaboration between front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
• Oversee all retail operational procedures, including scheduling, appraisals, recruitment, and appearance standards. Manage stock rotation, stock counts, waste reduction, sampling processes, and till discrepancies.
• Proactively handle customer complaints, focusing on improving service and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, Food Safety, and Health & Safety standards.
• Stay informed on industry trends and competitor activity to support product positioning and commercial decision-making.
• Contribute to long-term retail strategy and expansion planning in line with brand vision.
• Monitor and manage retail budgets, including staffing, supplies, and operational costs.
• Promote and implement environmentally responsible retail practices in alignment with The Newt’s values.

What we're looking for

• Proven retail leadership 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, shopfloor 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.
• A genuine and personal interest in food, homeware and design.

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…