POSITION TITLE: Retail General Manager (GM) & Wine Manager
DEPARTMENT: Operations
REPORTS TO: Owner(s)
SUPERVISION EXERCISED: All employees associated with the retail establishment
POSITION OVERVIEW
The General Manager/Wine Manager oversees all daily business operations, financial performance, and staff management for our premier wine and beer retail establishment. The primary goal is to drive profitable sales growth while maintaining strict compliance with federal, state, and local alcohol laws. This General Manager/Wine Manager must act as a local tastemaker, curating an exceptional inventory and fostering an educated, customer-centric retail environment.
The Wine Manager portion of this position is responsible and accountable for all aspects of the wine department, including selling, buying, inventory, support staff, education, and marketing.
The GM/Wine Manager will oversee, instruct, and uphold all the companies’ values and policies related to, but not inclusive of: hospitality and guest service, safety standards, sales, administrative and financial procedures, inventory control, maintenance/cleanliness, and employee engagement. The GM/Wine Manager is a constant coach that inspires employees and guests.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Guest Service
- Ensures that all guests feel welcomed and are given responsive, friendly and courteous service at all times.
- Focuses on inclusion and belonging for all team members and guests.
- Responds to complaints, taking any and all appropriate actions to turn dissatisfied guests into returning/happy guests.
- Plans and executes special customer events focused on liquor tastings, and other specialty events drawing customers to the retail establishment and builds loyalty.
Team Building
- Upholds the company’s Values and Mission Statement.
- Maintains and promotes the company’s culture of inclusiveness and belonging.
- Promotes a spirit of positivity and team centered approach to the hospitality and retail experience at all times.
- Creates a notion of fairness by following company guidelines, job descriptions and training programs and by maintaining healthy boundaries with team members.
- Provides direction to team members regarding operational and procedural issues.
- Directs the hiring process, supervision, development, and termination of employees.
- Conducts orientation of new employees.
- Leads ongoing training programs regarding wine regions, beer styles, flavor profiles, and food pairings.
- Develops team members by providing ongoing feedback, establishing performance expectations, taking corrective action for violations of protocol, and by conducting performance reviews.
Operations & Marketing
- Creates weekly work schedules to ensure optimal floor coverage during peak retail hours.
- Manages shifts which includes, but is not limited to: daily decision making, daily scheduling needs, operational planning, while upholding standards, product quality and cleanliness.
- Implements marketing initiatives, social media promotions, and seasonal sales strategies to increase foot traffic.
- Oversees purchasing, manages distributor relationships, coordinates stock levels, and organizes high-margin product displays.
- Ensures 100% adherence to all alcohol distribution regulations, age-verification policies, and local licensing laws.
- Maintains store cleanliness, visual merchandising standards, safety procedures, and Point of Sale (POS) system functionality.
- Through distributor/supplier relations and research, remains aware of market trends, new and/or allocated products, etc. while understanding and fulfilling guests’ preferences and expectations.
- Responsible for all aspects of ordering, inventory and organization of all retail items, and identifies ways to operate more efficiently, cut costs and drive revenue.
- Fills in where needed to ensures guest service standards and efficient operations.
Finance & Administration
- Adheres to company standards and service protocols to increase sales and minimize costs, including beverage, supply, utility and labor costs.
- Manages budgets, tracks daily sales, analyzes profit and loss (P&L) statements, and controls labor costs.
- Responsible for ensuring that all financial (invoices, P&L, inventory) and personnel/payroll related administrative duties are completed accurately, on time, and in accordance with company policies and procedures. Ability to accurately read/interpret data.
- Controls cash and other receipts by adhering to cash handling and reconciliation procedures.
- Ensures that end of day receipts is correct and deposited to the bank according to protocol.
- Ensures all daily, weekly, monthly and yearly reporting requirements are met.
Facility Safety
- Responsible for the maintenance of the retail establishment.
- Ensures that proper security procedures are in place to protect team members, guests and company assets. Follows OSHA Standards at all times.
- Ensures a safe working and guest environment to reduce the risk of injury and accidents. Completes accident reports promptly in the event of a guest/employee injury.
- Fully understands and complies with all federal, state, county and municipal regulations that pertain to health, safety and labor requirements of the establishment, team members and guests.
Wine Manager
Assortment & Sourcing
· Work closely with TBG's senior management to seek out, order and maintain appropriate product and inventory levels of all wine.
Vendor Relations
· Build and maintain strong relationships with distributors and wine suppliers.
· Working with management, seek out and negotiate deals on appropriate wines for feature and display areas at least one quarter in advance.
· Negotiate pricing, terms, and featured product deals to meet target margins and secure limited or seasonal releases.
Financial Analysis & Strategy
· Evaluate product performance using key metrics such as Inventory Turnover Rate, GMROI, Days on Hand (DOH), Sell Through Rate, and Stock to Sale Ratio.
· Analyze sales, margin, top and bottom movers, and trends to create actionable plans that promote profitability and mitigate losses.
· Adjust product mix, pricing, and order volumes based on sales data, market trends, and profitability objectives.
Accurate Inventory Controls
· Manage wine inventory including rolling inventory counts, resolving discrepancies, flawed wine returns, and credit and/or product replacement.
· Leverage the POS and inventory management systems for real time tracking, managing returns and credits, and minimizing shrinkage.
Budgeting & Cost Control
· Monitor margins, turnover rates, and sales trends to guide purchasing decisions and maintain optimal stock levels.
· Collaborate with senior leadership to set and meet financial targets, identifying strategies to drive profitability and reduce losses.
Merchandising & Store Presentation
· Work with all employees in the placement, merchandizing, signage and organization of all wine.
Marketing & Promotion
· The Wine Manager serves as the face and spokesperson for the wine program.
· The Wine Manager will work closely with marketing in all aspects relating to the promotion, marketing, advertising, branding and sales of the wine program, from idea generation through execution.
· Schedule and maintain appropriate in store tastings and communicate with the marketing manager for promotion in media outlets.
· Communicate with the marketing department regarding new wines, blog features, wine news, in store wine tastings, features, signage requirements, etc.
· Plan, execute and attend functions and events that support out of store marketing efforts.
Other Duties
· Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS + REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience
· High school degree required; college degree preferred in like field.
· A minimum of three years retail and specialty beverage experience to include front-of-the-house operations, guest service training and operations management.
· Proficient with various technologies to include but is not limited to Microsoft Office Suite, Payroll and Point of Sale Systems.
· Proficient in the following dimensions of retail functions: purchasing, sanitation, security, company policies and procedures, inventory control, personnel management, recordkeeping, budgeting, and preparation of reports.
· Industry credentials such as Certified Sommelier, or Certified Cicerone are highly preferred.
· Must be eligible to work in the United States.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Proficient in the English Language.
· Ability to travel between various locations and to meetings.
Professional requirements
· Self-discipline, initiative, leadership ability and outgoing.
· Pleasant, polite manner and a neat and clean appearance.
· Strong guest service skills with a passion for retail/hospitality.
· Ability to motivate team members to work as a team.
· Must be able to handle pressures and recommend appropriate solutions to problems.
· Must possess good communication skills for dealing with diverse staff and customers.
· Possess excellent organizational, interpersonal, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.
Accountability
· Keeps corporate management staff promptly and fully informed of all issues (i.e. problems, unusual matters of significance and positive events) and takes prompt corrective action where necessary or suggests alternative courses of action.
· Adheres to job responsibilities and performance objectives.
· Maintains a favorable working relationship with all team members to foster and promote a cooperative and harmonious working climate which will be conducive to maximum team member morale, productivity and efficiency/effectiveness.
Physical Demands
· Expected hours: Up to 50+ hours per week. Hours may vary if manager must fill in for their team/manager or if emergencies arise.
· Ability to work nights, weekends and holidays.
· Ability to perform all functions at the retail level.
· Position requires prolonged standing, bending, stooping, twisting, lifting products and supplies weighing 45 pounds, and repetitive hand and wrist motion.
· Works in hot and cold environments.
· Works with various office equipment and answers phones.
· May be required to work at various locations on a limited basis.
Compensation: $80,000+
The Den and Bottles Fine Wine and Beer is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse, inclusive and belonging work environment.
We are devoted to providing our teams and guests with a culture of gratitude, respect, safety and belonging.
Pay: $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
