Retail Store Manager (Snowboard, Outdoor & Lifestyle)
Location: Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: $75,000 $85,000 annually, based on experience
Work Setting: On-Site
About the Role
An independent specialty retail shop located on Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake, Los Angeles is seeking a highly capable, product-driven Store Manager to own the full day-to-day operation of a curated retail store carrying a mix of snowboards, surfboards, streetwear, technical outerwear, hardgoods, and related lifestyle/outdoor gear.
This is not a passive sales floor role and it is not a big-box retail environment. This is a small, high-standard, independently operated shop with a curated assortment and a customer base that values authenticity, product knowledge, taste, and credibility.
The ideal candidate is an experienced specialty retail leader who is also an active or previously active snowboarder. Snowboarding credibility is non-negotiable. This person should understand the product, the culture, and the customer, while also having the operational discipline to manage staff, inventory, merchandising, vendor communication, sell-through analysis, and daily store performance.
What You'll Own
The Store Manager will be responsible for running the business day to day, including store operations, staff leadership, merchandising, inventory performance, and vendor communication.
Key responsibilities include :
- Own the full day-to-day operation of a roughly 900 sq. ft. specialty retail store.
- Manage opening and closing procedures, floor leadership, store standards, and customer experience.
- Hire, train, schedule, and lead a small retail team.
- Create a positive, accountable, high-performance team environment.
- Oversee staff scheduling, labor management, and payroll reporting.
- Lead merchandising, floor sets, and product presentation with an emphasis on product storytelling, not simply stocking shelves.
- Maintain a visually compelling and brand-aligned retail environment.
- Track inventory, receiving, merchandising, cycle counts, and replenishment needs.
- Monitor sell-through, product performance, sales trends, conversion, and average transaction value.
- Identify what is moving quickly, what is underperforming, and when dead inventory needs to be addressed before it becomes a larger issue.
- Make thoughtful rebuy and product performance recommendations to ownership.
- Work directly with ownership on buying decisions, replenishment, and product strategy.
- Manage purchase orders, internal accounts, vendor communication, and day-to-day brand and rep relationships.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with brand partners, sales reps, and vendors.
- Support the store's presence within the Silver Lake, Eastside LA, snowboard, surf, outdoor, and lifestyle communities.
- Assist with store activations, events, partnerships, social media, and brand presence as needed.
Who You Are
The right person for this role is both a strong retail operator and a genuine product person.
You should be:
- An active or previously active snowboarder with real credibility in the category.
- Fashion-forward, brand-aware, and interested in the intersection of snow, surf, outdoor, streetwear, and lifestyle retail.
- Genuinely interested in technical outerwear, hardgoods, apparel, gear, and product details.
- Someone who enjoys learning, comparing, and "nerding out on product.
- Comfortable speaking with reps, brands, vendors, and customers as a knowledgeable peer.
- Detail-oriented with numbers, reporting, sell-through, inventory, and product performance.
- Capable of reading a sell-through report and taking action from it.
- A natural team leader who can hire, train, coach, and hold people accountable.
- Entrepreneurial, proactive, and comfortable working directly with ownership.
- Community-minded and able to represent the store authentically.
Qualifications
Required
- Active or previously active snowboarder.
- 3+ years of retail management experience preferred.
- Prior experience hiring, training, scheduling, and managing a retail team.
- Strong customer service, leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Experience with inventory management, retail operations, merchandising, and product performance tracking.
- Familiarity with POS systems, inventory systems, and retail reporting tools.
- Ability to work weekends, evenings, and some holidays as needed.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage both people and numbers.
- Ability to work on-site in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.
Strongly Preferred
- Experience in snowboard, ski, outdoor, technical apparel, surf, streetwear, elevated boutique, or specialty retail.
- 1+ years managing a specialty retail store or similar curated retail environment.
- Buying or assistant buying experience.
- Strong taste level and interest in brands, product curation, and assortment planning.
- Experience working with vendors, reps, purchase orders, and replenishment.
- Visual merchandising, floor set, or brand marketing experience.
- Local connections within Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Eastside LA, or the broader Los Angeles creative/outdoor community.
- Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
- $75,000 $85,000 annually, depending on experience.
- Employee product discounts.
- Direct access to ownership in a small, entrepreneurial environment.
- Opportunity to grow with the business.
- Opportunity to help shape the store's product, team, community presence, and long-term retail strategy.
