General Manager (Store 89 Topeka, KS)

About Westlake Ace Hardware

Ace Retail Holdings, the division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates the Westlake Ace Hardware chain, is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States.

Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, Westlake Ace Hardware has been in operation for over a century and operates over 150 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States.

Great people make Westlake stand out in our industry, and we are looking for individuals who strive for personal and professional growth, and who want to work with a company founded on (and still led by) our solid Core Values of :

Service, Passion, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence

General Summary

The General Manager is responsible for ensuring superior customer service in their store. They must develop associates at all levels, drive sales and profitability, and maintain effective expense and payroll budget management.

They will also ensure compliance with effective inventory management and merchandising practices and all Westlake policies and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Provide positive representation of Westlake Ace Hardware.
• Proactively assist customers in solving problems.
• Greet customers entering and throughout the store. Thank customers when finished and when they are leaving the store.
• Provide a friendly, outgoing demeanor; work well with customers as well as associates.
• Ensure all calls and pages are answered promptly, courteously and effectively.
• Handle customer complaints. Work to resolve problems with the customer and have Westlake’s best interest taken into consideration.
• Possess excellent product knowledge and knowledge of store layout and location of products.

Store Operations

• Ensure a positive, professional and safe work environment for all associates.
• Supervise the general operations of the entire store.
• Responsible for ordering and maintaining desirable product inventory levels to ensure store profitability in compliance with corporate objectives.
• Ensure compliance with all practices, policies and procedures necessary to manage inventory shrink. Monitor shrink numbers and take corrective actions.
• Manage and direct preventative maintenance and repairs in order to maximize and protect all physical assets (i.e. building, fixtures and equipment).
• Ensure receiving, checking in, stocking of merchandise for the store is being done completely.
• Responsible for maintenance of back stock levels.
• Oversee and assist with the daily maintenance, orderliness and cleanliness of the sales floor, stock room and outdoor merchandise areas.
• Provide assistance in the overall general maintenance of the store.
• Ensure forklift operations and receiving is completed in a safe and efficient way.
• Ensure weekly price changes are being completed.
• Ensure monthly cycle counts and negative on hand reports are being completed.
• Ensure signage is current in the entire store.
• Provide a clean and orderly sales floor, including end caps and ad goods merchandised.
• Ensure special orders and rain-checks are being completed properly.
• Ensure ad signage and products are ready for the customers.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Store Support Operations

• Responsible for the P & L and other corresponding reports.
• Assist District Manager with the budget process for sales and expenses.
• Manage payroll and other controllable expenses.
• Responsible for the implementation of Store Support programs.
• Attend trade shows and seminars with company guidance.
• Responsible for successful Loss Prevention, Safety and Internal Audits.
• Assist with special projects within the district as set forth by the District Manager.

Hiring and Training of Associates

• Conduct weekly management staff meetings.
• Ensure effective training and development of all associates.
• Recruit prospective associates for possible management positions throughout Westlake Ace Hardware.
• Manage and support the hiring, scheduling, reviewing, rewarding and coaching of all store associates including management.
• Actively recruit and promote the advancement of Westlake associates.

Leadership

• Become an integral part of the community in which you live and work through civic organizations and being community minded.
• Challenge all associates to think of ways to better merchandise product, control expenses and increase sales.
• Lead by example; be approachable by all associates and customers.

Other Essential Requirements

Ability to exhibit and incorporate our Core Values into daily decisions and interactions with others :

• SERVICE Amaze our customers, our associates and our communities by delivering on our helpful promise.
• PASSION Showing our love for the work we do, our customers, and our associates.
• RESPECT A humble appreciation that a diverse and inclusive workplace makes us a stronger and better company and that every person is unique and valued.
• INTEGRITY An authentic commitment to moral and ethical behavior.
• TEAMWORK Together we can achieve extraordinary things.
• EXCELLENCE A disciplined approach to achieve outstanding results through continuous improvement.

Minimum Skills, Requirements and Qualifications

• High School or GED equivalent.
• Must have previous retail management experience. Hardware experience preferred.
• Standing, walking, lifting (up to 25lbs) and climbing.

Compensation Details

Starting at $55,000 / yr