retail vacancies

Jobs / Retail

Global head of retail

A little bit about us
Monocle is a global affairs, business and lifestyle brand comprising a monthly print edition, 24-hour radio station, website, retail network and book imprint. 

Headquartered in Zürich with our operational hub in London, we have four overseas bureaux, more than 30 correspondents around the world and operate a growing global network of shops in addition to a thriving ecommerce business. 

On the retail side our products are developed by our in-house team alongside the best partners and manufacturers. Available via eight free-standing shops, wholesale accounts and pop-ups, our offer extends to three Monocle cafés across Zürich and London. Monocle’s retail division employs a team covering our shops in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Toronto, Los Angeles, Zürich, Merano and London – and via monocle.com. 

What we are looking for
This role is based in London. Entrepreneurial, strategic and dynamic, you will be leading the global retail team, driving our global business through your initiative – and with a growing unique selection of products. You will understand luxury consumer behaviour, be fully versed on the Monocle brand and bring our unique retail concept to life globally, both organically and via strong external partners. The ideal candidate will combine experience in the luxury industry with an offline/online retail background, a global mindset and a track record of managing and building a high-performing global team. 

What the role looks like day to day
The head of retail will lead the development of this business across all aspects, including building a strong organisation, growing our bespoke selection of products, fine-tuning and rolling out our offline and online presence and building strategic partnerships to accelerate growth in a profitable way. You will work closely with the CRM manager, head of supply chain and the senior Monocle team.

Key responsibilities

Building the organisation
- Lead and grow a globally dispersed team of about 40 people, including a central team in London and shop staff around the globe.

Expanding selection and growth
- Expand the range of bespoke offerings, especially through brand partnerships and establishing a meaningful range of Monocle-branded merchandise, developed and designed in-house.
- In close collaboration with the design and commercial teams, the task is to drive global awareness of Monocle as a retail brand and to bring our unique selection to the notice of our curious global audience.

Driving the Monocle retail business across channels
- Franchising and licensing: In addition to our owned and operated Monocle shops, this role will explore the opportunity to license or franchise this concept to external partners.
- Ecommerce: While we have an established and growing online shop, there is an opportunity to step-change Monocle’s online sales.

Key requirements
- Experience in luxury online/offline sales and marketing
- Hands-on ecommerce experience
- Experience leading and growing a diverse team on a global scale
- A commercial, opportunity-driven and start-up mindset
- The desire to contribute to a culture of innovation and collaboration
- The ability to be resourceful, strategic and highly organised
- Excellent communication and analytical skills
- Fresh ideas – and the drive to make them a reality
- An international background and awareness of Monocle

Jobs / Retail

Retail manager

Monocle is the renowned global affairs and lifestyle magazine, 24-hour radio station, website, retailer and media brand. Monocle is headquartered at iconic Midori House in Marylebone, London and in Zürich, Switzerland.

Monocle has more than 30 correspondents all around the world, and operates a global network of shops in addition to a thriving e-commerce business.

Our global team is currently over 200 strong. Some full time and others freelancers, they come from and are based all around the globe and are all seen as an extension of the brand. They are vibrant, knowledgeable and eager to go the extra mile.

Monocle’s Retail division employs a world-wide team across shops in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Toronto, Los Angeles, Zurich and London and Online. Our selection is focused on a curated range of brand collaborations from Japan, the US, the UK, Switzerland, Italy and France with many items being limited editions. We market those products in close collaboration with our editorial content to bring the selection to life online and in our shops.

What we are looking for
Entrepreneurial and dynamic, you will manage our retail operations in Tokyo. You will understand luxury consumer behaviour and know how to attune a message to local and international customers.

What the role looks like day to day
The Retail Manager will take ownership of step-changing Monocle’s operations in Japan across a series of functions – sales, product scouting and co-ordination, and training a team. More than just a point of contact for our customers and subscribers, you will be a brand ambassador for Monocle. You will have a broad perspective and define customer experience in our Tokyo shop in collaboration with all Midori House retail functions.

This role is based in Tokyo – reporting to the Head of Retail, based in London.

Key responsibilities:

Operations:
– Managing employees and overall operational efficiency of the shop and expanding sales productivity
– Interviewing and hiring new staff
– Training employees on sales, product, inventory, reporting, customer service
– Ensuring staff is on its best behaviour, appropriately representing the company, and maintaining a positive attitude
– Scheduling rota strategically
– Maintaining the shop in optimum state ensuring it is clean and meticulously merchandised
– Reaching out to existing customers and creating new sales opportunities
– Communicating with staff, customers, other stores, and other departments in person, over the phone, and by email
– Maintaining inventory and ordering new stock when necessary
– Reporting on the shop’s and product productivity
– Making sure the site is meeting financial targets
– Inspiring the retail team with a positive attitude and enthusiasm
– Having sufficient product knowledge and customer service skills to help all customers with their questions
– Maintain all POSM replenished and fresh

Upgrade Customer Experience
– Identify key areas of improvement and create a seamless experience
– Drive a local customer-retention scheme in line with available CRM tools and customer data
– Maintain and promote a high level of service at all times
– Deliver consistently excellent customer service
– Manage local conversations pre, during, and post the customer lifetime cycle

Commercial activity
– Identify key areas of improving information in communications to the local market
– Adapt an omni-channel approach and assist customers with buying subscriptions or products from our web shop, when needed
– Organise monthly promotional events linked to new product and editorial content
– Actively work to increase local subscriber base via promotions, events and partnerships

Product development
– Scout, source and coordinate fresh local product with the Chairman and the Product Development Manager

Key requirements:
– Previous sales or customer-service and CRM experience in a premium environment
– An undergraduate degree in hospitality is desirable but not essential
– Excellent presentation skills
– Excellent understanding of the luxury market
– Excellent verbal and written communication skills
– Ability to lead and motivate a team and achieve results through influence and problem-solving; you will understand the needs of premium customers
– Flexible attitude and positive approach to change
– Energetic, self-starter and proactive
– Fluent in Japanese, Excellent English skills and Korean is a plus

Jobs / Retail

Retail manager

Monocle is the renowned global affairs and lifestyle magazine, 24-hour radio station, website, retailer and media brand. Monocle is headquartered at iconic Midori House in Marylebone, London and in Zürich, Switzerland.

Monocle has more than 30 correspondents all around the world, and operates a global network of shops in addition to a thriving e-commerce business.

Our global team is currently over 200 strong. Some full time and others freelancers, they come from and are based all around the globe and are all seen as an extension of the brand. They are vibrant, knowledgeable and eager to go the extra mile.

Monocle’s Retail division employs a world-wide team across shops in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Toronto, Los Angeles, Zurich and London and Online. Our selection is focused on a curated range of brand collaborations from Japan, the US, the UK, Switzerland, Italy and France with many items being limited editions. We market those products in close collaboration with our editorial content to bring the selection to life online and in our shops.

What we are looking for
Entrepreneurial and dynamic, you will manage our retail operations in Hong Kong. You will understand luxury consumer behaviour and know how to attune a message to local and international customers.

What the role looks like day to day
The Retail Manager will take ownership of step-changing Monocle’s operations in Hong Kong across a series of functions – sales, product scouting and co-ordination, and training a team. More than just a point of contact for our customers and subscribers, you will be a brand ambassador for Monocle. You will have a broad perspective and define customer experience in our Hong Kong shops in collaboration with all Midori House retail functions.

This role is based in Hong Kong – reporting to the Head of Retail, based in London.

Key responsibilities:

Operations:
– Managing employees and overall operational efficiency of the shop and expanding sales productivity
– Interviewing and hiring new staff
– Training employees on sales, product, inventory, reporting, customer service
– Ensuring staff is on its best behaviour, appropriately representing the company, and maintaining a positive attitude
– Scheduling rota strategically
– Maintaining the shop in optimum state ensuring it is clean and meticulously merchandised
– Reaching out to existing customers and creating new sales opportunities
– Communicating with staff, customers, other stores, and other departments in person, over the phone, and by email
– Maintaining inventory and ordering/ transferring stock when necessary
– Reporting on the shop’s and product productivity
- Reconciliating and reporting on sales accounting and stock inventory
– Making sure the site is meeting financial targets
– Inspiring the retail team with a positive attitude and enthusiasm
– Having sufficient product knowledge and customer service skills to help all customers with their questions
– Maintain all POSM replenished and fresh

Upgrade Customer Experience
– Identify key areas of improvement and create a seamless experience
– Drive a local customer-retention scheme in line with available CRM tools and customer data
– Maintain and promote a high level of service at all times
– Deliver consistently excellent customer service
– Manage local conversations pre, during, and post the customer lifetime cycle

Commercial activity
– Identify key areas of improving information in communications to the local market
– Adapt an omni-channel approach and assist customers with buying subscriptions or products from our web shop, when needed
– Organise monthly promotional events linked to new product and editorial content
– Actively work to increase local subscriber base via promotions, events and partnerships

Product development
– Scout, source and coordinate fresh local product with the Chairman and the Product Development Manager

Key requirements:
– Previous sales or customer-service and CRM experience in a premium environment
– An undergraduate degree in hospitality is desirable but not essential
– Excellent presentation skills
– Excellent understanding of the luxury market
– Excellent verbal and written communication skills
– Ability to lead and motivate a team and achieve results through influence and problem-solving; you will understand the needs of premium customers
– Flexible attitude and positive approach to change
– Energetic, self-starter and proactive
– Fluent in English, Cantonese and/or mandarin is a plus

Jobs / Retail

Shop sales associates (full-time/part-time)

We are looking for part-time and full-time sales associates for our expanding network of retail shops in Hong Kong. The Monocle Shop stocks a mix of exclusive collaborations, archive of the magazine and a collection of products from our favourite companies and craftsmen around the world.

Successful candidates will have a keen interest in world affairs, business and design, and act as an ambassador for our brand. Experience of premium retail sales, a friendly manner and a passion for delivering excellent service are all essential traits. Proficiency in oral and written English is essential and knowledge of Cantonese or Mandarin would be an advantage.

Jobs / Retail

Shop sales associate (part-time)

We are looking for a part-time sales associate for The Monocle Shop located in the charming surroundings of the Little Italy district. The shop stocks a mix of exclusive Monocle collaborations, copies of the magazine (both the latest edition and back issues) and a collection of products from our favourite companies and craftsmen around the world.

Successful candidates will have a keen interest in world affairs, business and design, and act as an ambassador for our brand. Experience of premium retail sales, a friendly manner and a passion for delivering excellent service are all essential traits. Proficiency in oral and written English is essential and knowledge of an additional language would be an advantage.

Jobs / Retail

Shop sales associate (part-time)

We are looking for a part-time sales associate for The Monocle Shop on George Street in London's Marylebone. The shop stocks a mix of exclusive Monocle collaborations, copies of the magazine (both the latest edition and back issues) and a collection of products from our favourite companies and craftsmen around the world.

Successful candidates will have a keen interest in world affairs, business and design, and act as an ambassador for our brand. Experience of premium retail sales, a friendly manner and a passion for delivering excellent service are all essential traits. Proficiency in oral and written English is essential and knowledge of an additional language would be an advantage.

Jobs / Retail

Shop sales associate (part-time)

We are looking for a part-time sales associate for The Monocle Shop in Tomigaya, Shibuya. The shop stocks a mix of exclusive Monocle collaborations, copies of the magazine (both the latest edition and back issues) and a collection of products from our favourite companies and craftsmen around the world.

Successful candidates will have a keen interest in world affairs, business and design, and act as an ambassador for our brand. Experience of premium retail sales, a friendly manner and a passion for delivering excellent service are all essential traits. Proficiency in oral and written English and Japanese is essential.

Jobs / Retail

Shop sales associate (part-time)

We are looking for a part-time sales associate for The Monocle Shop on Zürich's Dufourstrasse. The shop stocks a mix of exclusive Monocle collaborations, copies of the magazine (both the latest edition and back issues) and a collection of products from our favourite companies and craftsmen around the world.

Successful candidates will have a keen interest in world affairs, business and design, and act as an ambassador for our brand. Experience of premium retail sales, a friendly manner and a passion for delivering excellent service are all essential traits.

Proficiency in oral and written German and English is essential and knowledge of an additional language would be an advantage. Applicants need to have the right to work and live in Switzerland.

Jobs / Retail

Shop sales associate (part-time)

We are looking for a part-time sales associate for The Monocle Shop, opening in Culver City, Los Angeles in October 2018. The shop will stock a mix of exclusive Monocle collaborations, copies of the magazine (both the latest edition and back issues) and a collection of products from our favourite companies and craftsmen around the world.

Successful candidates will have a keen interest in world affairs, business and design, and act as an ambassador for our brand. Experience of premium retail sales, a friendly manner and a passion for delivering excellent service are all essential traits. Proficiency in oral and written English is essential and knowledge of an additional language would be an advantage.

Applicants need to have the right to work and live in the US. Ability to work a flexible schedule that meets the business needs, including evenings and weekends also required.

Jobs / Retail

Retail Internship - 3 and 6 months

Monocle’s global network of shops is growing and we are looking for professional, enthusiastic and organised junior members of the team who have a flair for customer experience and enjoy a dynamic fast-paced environment. Candidates will report directly to the head of retail but will divide their time between product development, e-commerce and retail operations.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

– Assisting the product-development co-ordinator on sell-through numbers and production cycle
– Co-ordinating requests between shop managers and the various functions in Midori House
– Co-ordinating CRM initiatives online and in shops, maintaining the database of top clients
– Order fulfilment during peak times
– Working with the e-commerce department and reporting on weekly top sellers
– Covering occasional shifts in our George Street shop
– Monitoring third-party shop performance
– Monitoring stock holding and updating numbers online

The ideal candidates will have the following skills/experience:

Essential

– Strong desire to learn
– Well organised and detail-oriented with a passion for perfection
– Good written and verbal communication skills
– Sound knowledge of Monocle and the luxury-retail environment
– Ability to use one’s initiative and work well in a team
– Immaculate presentation

Desirable

– Fashion retail experience
– Experience of using Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Excel
– To apply, email your CV and cover letter, detailing why you’d like to join our team, to the address listed.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

Start date: Jan 2019
Job type: Full time
Duration: Three-month and six-month internships available

Jobs / Retail

Customer-relations assistant

Monocle employs a worldwide team across bureaux and shops in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Toronto, Los Angeles, Zürich and London.

The customer-relations assistant is responsible for co-ordinating and managing subscriber, retail and e-commerce issues. Entrepreneurial and dynamic, you will be seated in the core of the customer relations and CRM team, driving the relationship with our clients through your initiative.

The role involves looking after customer issues and striving to keep a high satisfaction rate. You will understand luxury consumer behaviour and how to attune a message to different markets and needs. More than just a point of contact for our subscribers and web shoppers, you will be a brand ambassador.

Key responsibilities:

Upgrade customer journey
- Deliver a seamless customer-care experience
- Maintain and promote a high level of service awareness at all times
- Work in an environment with other customer-relationship specialists to reach all proposed customer goals within a specific time frame

Deliver excellent customer care
- Deliver consistently excellent customer service in line with the company ethos, across email and telephone
- Ensure all customer issues are resolved in a timely manner
- Work to resolve issues raised by customers with regard to orders or returns
- Maintain and promote a high level of service awareness at all times
- Define communications before, during and after customer interaction

Commercial activity
- Assist customers with buying subscriptions or products from our web shop, provide product information and promptly communicate regarding orders
- Work to resolve issues raised by customers with regard to orders or returns
- Assist the finance department with customers’ security checks
- Support ecommerce clients and provide post-purchase follow-up

Key requirements:

• Experience in the premium retail and/or editorial market
• International background
• Excellent written and verbal skills
• Strong drive to help others
• Excellent organisational skills
• Forward thinking and proactive nature
• Fluent in English (other language skills are a distinct advantage)
• Minimum of two years’ experience in customer relations or front of house

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Martin at mv@monocle.com.

Jobs / Retail

Shop sales associate (part-time)

We are looking for a part-time sales associate for The Monocle Shop, opening soon in Milan. The shop stocks a mix of exclusive Monocle collaborations, copies of the magazine (both the latest edition and back issues) and a collection of products from our favourite companies and craftsmen around the world.

Successful candidates will have a keen interest in world affairs, business and design, and act as an ambassador for our brand. Experience of premium retail sales, a friendly manner and a passion for delivering excellent service are all essential traits.

Proficiency in oral and written Italian and English is essential and knowledge of an additional language would be an advantage. Applicants need to have the right to work and live in Italy.