Area Manager - Western Cape

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has open up at Faithful to Nature for an Area Manager to oversee and manage all retail store operations within the Western Cape region. This includes the strategic expansion of retail locations, effective recruitment, development and training of staff, and efficient daily operations. While maintaining a strong focus on store procedures, this individual must be well versed in areas of people development, customer service , sales, visual direction, cost management and administrative functions. The role requires a proactive and hands-on leader with excellent communication and operational execution abilities, focused on growth, consistency in brand representation and customer experience.

About Faithful to Nature

Faithful to Nature is a market leader in natural product retail, guided by our purpose of ensuring that the products we consume don’t harm our own health, the health of our planet or our communities. We sell selected health, food, body & beauty and related products, both online and via our rapidly growing network of stores. From our humble beginnings, we’ve grown to service thousands of loyal customers across South Africa, through a focus on doing the right thing wherever we can. Faithful to Nature is part of the Silvertreebrands group of purpose-driven consumer and digital brands, including UCOOK, Pet Heaven and SKOON.

Key Responsibilities

Retail Expansion & Team Growth

• Actively support and execute retail growth strategies in the Western Cape region.
• Identify new store opportunities and assist in the launch and operational setup of new stores.
• Contribute to and implement strategic retail initiatives as guided by the company’s marketing plan.
  Sales Performance & Customer service.

• Drive and achieve regional and individual store sales targets in the region.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on store KPIs including stock turns, basket size, and staff productivity.
• Conduct regular store visits and audits to ensure visual merchandising standards, stock takes, stock levels, and customer service excellence are maintained.
• Work directly with team members to model successful sales techniques and customer service savvy in accordance with sales training objectives.
• Maintain awareness of local market conditions and competitive analysis.
• Manage Customer feedback effectively to enhance store performances and productivity.
• Maintain strong communication channels between the stores and central office.

Wage Cost and Profitability

• Maintain and monitor wage cost and budgeting controls.
• Analyse company productivity and time sheets in an effort to react quickly and accordingly to sales fluctuations within the region.
• Ensure effective asset protection controls in the region.
• Maintain effective stock control management in line with company benchmarks.

Visual and Marketing Standards

• Ensure successful implementation and maintenance of marketing and visual directives, as per company direction.
• Maintain effective merchandise management control through liaising with head -office and the head of Retail.
• Ensure corporate directives are implemented efficiently and timorously.

People & Skills Management

• Motivate store teams to meet the highest standards of customer service excellence in accordance with sales training objectives.
• Provide store management with planning strategies that combine company growth objectives with employee career aims.
• Ensure the successful recruitment, training and development of teams in all areas of store operations.
• Develop, evaluate and maintain set store productivity goals through effective training programs, providing ongoing feedback and regular performance evaluations.
• Effectively communicate, update, and manage rosters for all stores within the region.
• Manage and resolve staff issues, including disciplinary actions, performance management, and conflict resolution in consultation with HR and the Head of Retail.
• Foster a positive team environment and drive employee engagement, motivation, and development.
• Ensure that all team members are duly trained in health & safety awareness and reporting procedures.
• Ensure all team members receive consistent product knowledge and customer service training and feel part of the overall company culture.
• Maintain strong communication channels between the stores and central office.

Administrative & Strategic Oversight

• Provide ongoing feedback to the Head of Retail and respective support departments.
• Conduct regular store visits and prepare reports of your findings, including development of action plans for improvement.
• Stock management and feedback managed to ensure the stores are optimally stocked and stocks are managed.
• Ensure all store operations audits are conducted in accordance with set timelines and areas of opportunity identified in audits are followed up on.
• Maintain compliance with company policies, health and safety regulations, and labour legislation.
• Systematically complete and analyse daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports. (i.e. sales, wage cost, merchandise, incentives).

Qualifications and Experience

• 5+ years’ experience in a multi-store retail management role.
• Proven track record in expanding retail footprints and managing teams across various locations.
• Strong recruitment and training experience within a retail environment.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• A passion for the wellness industry and alignment with Faithful to Nature’s values.

Other Competencies

• Strong leadership and people development abilities.
• High emotional intelligence and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Proactive, hands-on, and solutions-oriented.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving retail environment.
• Strong communicator with attention to detail and follow-through.

KPIs

• Sales & Revenue: Achievement of regional sales targets and revenue growth per store.
• Store Expansion: New store openings successfully completed on schedule.
• Staffing & Training: Successful onboarding, and training.
• Roster & Operational Control: Accuracy and timeliness of roster management and shift coverage.
• Customer Experience: Customer satisfaction scores and in-store experience ratings.
• Team Performance: Staff turnover rate, engagement survey results, and performance appraisals.
• Compliance: Store compliance with company policies, merchandising standards, and labour regulations.
• Reporting & Communication: Timeliness and accuracy of regional reporting and issue escalation.

Current group benefits:

• Matching Company Retirement Fund Contributions.
• Discounts across the Silvertree portfolio group.