Store Manager, IKEA Klang Valley

The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. We do this by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. We operate in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand – and have an ambitious expansion plan to bring a little bit of Sweden to new markets in the region. We are part of the Ikano Group of companies and the only IKEA franchisee owned by the Kamprad family that founded IKEA.

We also develop, own and operate Shopping Centres that are anchored by IKEA and create walkable communities by including residential, office and other types of real estate in our development plans.

We work towards making sustainability a natural part of our everyday work. We are active in our communities, driving and supporting social initiatives that benefit children, women and the environment.

Lead and grow IKEA Klang Valley as a strong and relevant market for the many people by driving commercial growth, operational excellence, people development and an inspiring customer experience across all customer meeting points.
The Store Manager plays a key role in strengthening the totality of the market through close collaboration across functions, leading with IKEA values, and creating sustainable long-term business growth.

Purpose of Job:

I am overall responsible for developing IKEA in the local store market, where the IKEA Store is one of my means to do this – it is not just about running and operating the IKEA Store. I build, lead and develop IKEA and The IKEA store in my local market in accordance with the IKEA vision, IKEA business idea and the IKEA Human Resources Idea to secure the short, medium and long­term growth, and profitability of our business. I do this by leading and inspiring my team to create and implement a store business plan that combines our national priorities with the local needs, thereby communicating a coherent and consistent message to our customers and local market consumers. My aim is to:

• grow our market share by making my IKEA store more accessible to the many people and encouraging existing customers to shop more frequently over time and new consumers to become regular customers. An excellent shopping experience is always top of mind.
• secure a competent and highly performing team and to attract develop and inspire our co-workers in order to position the IKEA retailer as the best employer in our local market.

Assignment:

Consumers/Customers

• I broaden our customer base, by positioning the IKEA retailer as the leader in life at home in my local market. I do this through securing a consistent implementation of the IKEA Concept and showing the depth and breadth of the IKEA range through relevant, affordable, functional, inspiring and sustainable home furnishing solutions.
• I take the IKEA national business plan and ensure our store plan is aligned to this while meeting our local consumer needs. Our aim is to communicate a consistent message to our consumers and sell the benefits and uniqueness of the IKEA idea, attracting consumers to our stores, and supporting the conversion of visitors into loyal, long-term IKEA customers.
• I ensure we actively work towards fulfilling the four tasks of the IKEA store: o to act as a highly efficient, and staffed, sales mechanism

o to show home furnishing solutions full of inspiring home furnishing ideas

o to serve as a well-qualified home furnishing specialist

o to provide a day out for the whole family.

• I regularly walk the store at different times of day and take the opportunity to actively engage with our customers and co-workers, I use the insights I gain from this to work with my team to help improve the shopping experience for our customers.
• I actively promote our social and environmental commitment in the local market and work with my team and our customers to understand how, together, we can contribute to sustainability.
• I work with my management team to ensure our stores are always safe, secure and healthy environments for visitors and co-workers.
• I am the IKEA spokesperson in my local market. It is my responsibility to ensure that our external communication reflects the IKEA vision and values.

Commercial

I lead, manage and inspire my team to grow our business with sustained long-term profitability. I do this by:

• working with my management team to ensure we identify and capitalise on business opportunities in our local market in order to grow our market share. I do this in line with our commitment to creating a sustainable life at home and being a good neighbour.
• securing the co-ordination of the store business plan process. I lead and inspire my team to work together to ensure that the store is steered towards common IKEA directions and objectives and that we identify and capture local potentials and opportunities. I secure the implementation of this plan and lead the follow-up and analysis of results. We use these insights to influence and guide our future plans.
• understanding our local market demographics, the economy, our competitors, consumers’ living situations and shopping behaviours. I use this knowledge to adapt costs and resources in order to meet our agreed financial goals, while growing our long-term profitability.
• working with my team and the country retail manager to evaluate our performance, in order to constantly improve our operational efficiency, which will benefit our customers and our business. I use benchmarking and best practice to achieve this.
• working with my team and my country retail manager to secure the effective implementation of tools, working methods and proven solutions and following up on these in order to maximise their impact and benefit.
• securing that we invest in projects that give a good return on investment. I do this by working with the country retail manager and my service office colleagues. We analyse the benefits and costs of proposed investments to ensure we effectively prioritise our investment plans in line with country priorities.
• ensuring we comply with our local and national legislative obligations.

People

• I am the leader of the IKEA HR direction in IKV stores. My responsibility is to create an environment where the IKEA culture is strong and where the diversity of our customers and co-workers is valued.
• I ensure that we focus on effective recruitment, competence development and job knowledge so that as a store we have well-informed, commercially focused co-workers who can support the retail processes.
• I provide an inspiring and motivating direction for my team and engage them fully in the tasks of becoming leaders in life at home and generating sales growth.
• I am committed to the development of my team and together we create their individual personal development plans to reflect their business and personal development needs. I support them in achieving these goals.
• I delegate responsibility to my team members to help them grow and develop, according to their individual ability and experience.
• I create an environment of trust by encouraging open, constructive, honest, two-way feedback with my team and other colleagues.
• I actively lead and ensure that I have in place a living succession plan.
• I set clear goals and expectations, and make time to follow these up with my team.
• I reward good performance and take action to improve poor performance.
• I encourage my managers to work as a team and network between stores in order to share good examples and successes.
• I actively work to encourage clear communication and co-operation between my managers and their matrix partners at the Service Office in order to share good examples that will support our overall store development.
• I am responsible for my own development and look to my manager and my matrix for support in improving my competence.

Financial

• I ensure our store business plan supports the country business plan and focuses on our global commercial priorities.
• I set key performance indicators (KPIs) for my team based on the achievement of our country goals in the team’s specialist areas.
• I constantly monitor our performance against IKEA objectives and agreed goals. I adapt and take action accordingly to achieve them.
• I evaluate the return on investment of any store initiatives to ensure value for money and the achievement of our stated objectives.
• I ensure all store initiatives grow our business and support the sustaining of long-term profitability.
• I control costs by working in a lean, simple and cost-conscious way using good examples and encouraging my team and my colleagues to discover even more effective ways of working.
• I secure that purchasing is made according to the principles defined in the Purchase Policy:

• Operational participation in procurement projects
• Compliance of Retail Purchase Toolkit (if applicable), IWAY and signed agreements

• Experience of working in a commercial role in the IKEA organisation, including previous IKEA store experience in a management role.
• Well-developed analytical and numerical skills.
• An ambassador for the IKEA Brand who works in a way that reflects the IKEA values.
• Proven ability to use commercial competence to capitalise on short- and long-term business opportunities. Proven record of consistently meeting agreed budgets and goals, and working on plans over several years. Proven ability to prioritise and organise personal work tasks and the work of others in order to make the most efficient use of time available.
• A thorough understanding of profit and loss and the key performance measurements used in IKEA stores to plan, follow up and steer the business.
• Proven ability to set expectations and provide clear direction.
• Ability to quickly understand local market conditions and capitalise on opportunities.
• Ability to engage a receiver by creating a passion for our plans. Ability to inspire others to see possibilities. Demonstrates clear communication and coaching skills.
• Experience of adapting to different styles of working to get the best out of all team members (situational leadership).
• Proven ability to confront and manage poor performance.
• Ability to communicate confidently and clearly in English.
• Ability to stimulate and create healthy competition.
• Computer proficient.