Assistant Store Manager Reporting To: Store Manager Location: York Contract Type: Full time / Permanent Who are Bird & Blend Tea Co.?  Bird & Blend Tea Co. is an eco-conscious, people-focused, award-winning & B Corp-certified Tea Mixology company on a mission to spread happiness & reimagine tea! Bird & Blend was set up & is run by Krisi & Mike, who met whilst studying Politics (of all things!) at university.  Building Bird & Blend from scratch while staying true to their ethos & values has been Krisi & Mike’s passion for over 10 years. From the early days of packing tea in their bedroom & attending markets, to now, with an awesome team, multiple retail stores & a thriving international online store, Bird & Blend is leading the way in tea innovation in the UK. Bird & Blend has grown out of a core belief in doing business in a better way. This is ultimately our why - it’s why we are in business & what we believe in. Of course, we want to welcome as many people as possible into our Magical World of Tea but fundamentally it’s what we care about other than great tea that makes us magical. You can read heaps more information about us and our mission here: https://www.birdandblendtea.com/pages/our-story  About this Role: As an Assistant Store Manager at Bird & Blend, you'll be the heart of our customer interactions, listening, engaging, and helping customers find the best products for their needs and building memorable relationships to encourage customer loyalty. Partnering with the Store Manager, you'll lead, develop, and motivate our team, ensuring our customers enjoy exceptional and inclusive shopping experiences that truly reflect our brand values and contribute to our success. Working full-time on-site, including weekends and some evenings, you'll provide essential operational, administrative, and leadership support, maintaining our impeccable standards. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop valuable people management skills, build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and inspire a high-performing team in a dynamic and friendly environment. What are the responsibilities? * Customer Experience: Cultivate a store culture that's all about the customers, making every interaction exciting and memorable, encouraging customer loyalty.  * Motivate and Inspire: Encourage team members to achieve individual and collective goals. * Coaching: Provide feedback and coaching to enhance individual and store performance. * Recruiting and Training: Assist the Store Manager in recruiting, inducting, training, and developing a high-performing team that fosters a positive store environment. * Sales Objectives: Work together with the Store Manager to achieve sales targets and KPIs, while also implementing strategies aimed at boosting sales growth and improving the overall customer experience. * Daily Operations: Oversee daily store operations, including opening and closing procedures. * Staff Rotas: Organise and oversee team schedules to ensure there is enough cover on the shop floor at all times. * Merchandising Standards: Support the Store Manager to maintain high visual merchandising standards, ensuring the store always looks exciting, inviting, and accessible. * Sustainability: Use your passion for the environment to support B&B in reaching impact goals set out in the sustainability and impact strategy and lead your team to do the same. (We're a B-Corp!) * Stock Management: Assist with managing stock efficiently to optimise stock levels, minimise discrepancies, and ensure products are readily available. * Stock Takes: Arrange, plan and execute stock takes with the Store Manager. * Events: Lead and host store and local events, including evening events, to make them enjoyable and memorable for our customers. * Sampling: Motivating and leading the team to get out there to spread the word about our delicious teas, whether greeting customers with a sample, outside of the store, or at external events. * Build Connections: Foster relationships within the local community to increase footfall and successful store events and activities About you: * People Management Experience: Previous experience in a management role or similar within a customer service environment. * Brand Ambassador: Proudly represent our brand and culture, embodying our values and inspiring your team to do the same. * Sales Skills: Proven track record of effective selling skills and the ability to drive commercial outcomes. * Team Leadership: History of successfully participating in and leading a team, fostering an inclusive and positive work environment. * Communication and Problem-Solving: Strong communication, problem-solving, and visual merchandising skills. * Product Enthusiasm: A genuine passion for our product and the confidence to share your enthusiasm with customers and the team. * Customer Service Skills: Strong understanding of customer service with the ability to build rapport and connect with customers confidently. * Professionalism: Foster a professional, fair, and kind relationship with customers and colleagues. * Empathy: Demonstrated ability to use empathy to manage interpersonal relationships effectively. * Open Mindset: A curious and open-minded approach, with the ability to understand others, listen without judgement, and embrace diverse perspectives. * Flexible Availability: Flexibility in availability is essential. Shifts may vary weekly, requiring adaptability to cover different days and times including weekends and some evenings. * A commitment to excellence: Going above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction, store standards and team happiness are second nature to you. Are there any perks? Of course there are, for all the hard work you will get: * We are proud to be a Sunday Times Best Places To Work 2024 employer. * Friendly and supportive team culture: Enjoy working alongside a team of like-minded individuals who value collaboration, camaraderie, and fun in the workplace. * Membership of company pension scheme (if applicable): Secure your financial future with enrollment in a company-sponsored pension scheme, ensuring peace of mind and financial stability in retirement. * Holiday accrual that grows with loyalty: Enjoy 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays ) as a token of appreciation for your dedication and loyalty to the organisation, providing you with ample opportunities for rest and relaxation. This entitlement increases with service. * Your birthday off! * Life Insurance & Income Protection: providing financial security and peace of mind for you and your families. * Health Cash Plan: after one year service we will enrol you into our Health Cash Plan which will allow you to claim back money for dental, optical, prescription charges etc. Specific information on this scheme will be shared with you all.. * Life Happens Leave: Sometimes life can throw unexpected challenges our way, we offer paid leave specifically dedicated to these situations to provide employees with the time and space needed. * Complimentary drinks and snacks: Stay refreshed and energised throughout the day with a variety of free drinks and snacks provided in the office. * Monthly tea allowance and generous staff discount: Indulge in your favourite teas while benefiting from a discount on company products, fostering a culture of enjoyment and appreciation. * Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential and professional mental health support services to prioritise your well-being and address any personal or work-related challenges. * Bike to Work and Electric Vehicle Schemes: Take advantage of a sustainable transportation option, contribute to environmental conservation, and benefit from tax-efficient savings. * Paid volunteer days: Make a positive impact in our community by participating in volunteer activities during dedicated paid volunteer days, fostering a culture of corporate social responsibility and giving back. * Dog-friendly office: Bring your furry friend to work and enjoy a pet-friendly environment that promotes work-life balance and companionship. * We also have enhanced family friendly policies, offer flexible working and are always open to discussing your individual circumstances! We are committed to equality of opportunity for all, applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you throughout the application or interview process please let us know.