Executive Retail Recruitment 
A newly created role:
We have a fantastic newly-created opportunity for someone to join our team as General Manager and be responsible for the overall success of Wallace Cotton.
About the business:
Wallace Cotton are a family-owned bed linen and homeware business founded in 2006. We have grown into one of New Zealand’s leading bed linen brands with eight retail stores across the country and a thriving online business.
Inspired by nature, we believe in delivering beautiful designs, enduring quality and living with a little luxury every day. Our range is carefully considered, designed with purpose and produced in small batches to lessen our impact on the environment. Our collections are designed in New Zealand by our in-house team and we carefully select our international textile partners for their ethical and sustainable practices.
Our customer base of passionate bed linen fans have been enjoying Wallace Cotton in their homes worldwide for more than 15 years.
About this new role:
As our new General Manager, you will be responsible for achieving key objectives under the following areas of responsibility:
- Sales and Business Strategy
- Leadership and People Management
- Financial Reporting
- IT and Stakeholder Management
- Health, Safety and Wellbeing
You will enjoy driving excellence and leading the business with a strong commercial and people focus. You’ll be setting and executing the annual business, sales and people strategies in collaboration with the Directors. Your role will also include controlling gross margin and expenses in order to meet profitability targets and fostering an inclusive, transparent and one team culture across all divisions of the business.
In this varied and highly influential role, you will have eight direct reports spread across our retail, production, design, marketing, e-commerce, trade and wholesale, and finance teams
Your qualifications, experience and attributes:
- Extensive experience in a similar role, managing a retail business and responsible for financial performance and revenue growth .
- Exceptional strategic thinking skills with an emphasis on continuous improvement to drive efficiencies, growth and business excellence.
- Strong commercial acumen
- An authentic leadership style that is pragmatic and collaborative
- A natural influencer with the ability to build credibility quickly
- A results-driven focus on keeping ahead of changing market demands
- Strong relationship management skills
- Proven success at building high performing teams in similar roles
- Ideally, you have a keen interest in the homeware / lifestyle industry
What is on offer:
The opportunity to lead a successful New Zealand owned business with a generous salary package and great team discounts.
If you are curious to explore this role further or find out more, please apply now in confidence.
You can contact Jodi Linder at The Switch Agency directly on 021 191 8807
I have worked with Jodi off & on for 10 years now and have always been impressed at the time and care Jodi takes to get to know her clients and their current needs. I have lost count of the number of great people Jodi has sent my way and know I can rely on her to find excellent people!
Melissa Quirk GM People and Culture, Overland|Merchant 1948
Jodi would have to be the best recruitment specialist that I have worked with, always finding not only the best candidates but the best culture fit, in what was a challenging labor market in New Zealand. Jodi operates with great integrity, honesty and is a true professional.
Libby Sanderson Retail Director, Adidas Group
Jodi is a highly professional business woman who always delivered fantastic results. She is consistent in her delivery of service and has a deep understanding of recruitment in NZ.
Kerry Lila General Manager, Hallensteins Brothers
We have worked with Jodi over the last 7 years – Jodi took time to understand our business and our needs to ensure she presented the right candidates, efficiently and effectively every time!
Jacqui Coombes Director HR&NZ, Bunnings Australia and New Zealand