Posted 8 days ago

Store Manager

Card Factory
Pay Estimated pay: £22.9k-29.4k per year

Location Bolton, BL1 1BU
Contract time Full time

The Breakroom Take

5.4

Rated 5.4 out of 10, based on 604 employees who took the Breakroom Quiz

See all job reviews

  • People enjoy this job
  • Recommended by students
  • Recommended by parents
  • Respectful managers
  • Proper breaks

About Card Factory

Card Factory is a retailer. They sell greetings cards, wrapping paper, gifts and balloons.

Job description from Card Factory

Overview

Job Introduction


Store Location: Bolton Market Street

Store Hours: 42.50

With a real focus on customer experience and colleague development, our Store Managers are key to driving the success of our stores. As a store manager, you will be responsible for delivering commercial growth and developing a team culture of putting the customer at the heart of everything we do.

Main Responsibilities

  • You will have overall responsibility for the running of the store, focusing on customer experience, colleague development, and delivering commercial growth in line with our 5-year strategy.
  • Putting the customer at the heart of everything we do you will develop a team of colleagues who live and breathe our customer promise and actively seek ways to delight our customers.
  • You will coach, train and develop colleagues within your store harnessing their strengths and building on development areas.
  • Be proactive in recruiting a team of Assistant Managers, Team Leaders, and Sales Assistants that reflect our values, behaviours with the required skill set to meet our business needs.
  • Make commercial decisions around stock availability and merchandising.
  • Actively seek contact with key stakeholders to gain a wider understanding of the business
  • Providing constructive and beneficial feedback to the store team, District and Regional Managers around store performance and business opportunities to encourage continual growth.

The Ideal Candidate

  • You will be as passionate about celebrating our customers’ life moments as we are
  • Have previous experience as a store manager within a retail environment working collaboratively with wider stakeholders across the business
  • Have experience in leading and developing a team of colleagues
  • Be prepared to work towards KPIs in a fast-paced environment

About the Company

Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greetings cards, dressings, and gifts with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland.  In 2020 we launched our exciting 5-year business strategy including our vision of becoming a true Omni-channel retailer.  This strategy sees significant investment into our colleagues across the business creating multiple opportunities to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our exciting journey. 

In return, we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.

Benefits

  • Pension
  • 15% Card Factory colleague discount in-store and online
  • Save As You Earn scheme
  • Financial Wellbeing Support
    • Financial Education Tools
    • Salary Advance
  • Seasonal incentive schemes
  • Retail Management Apprenticeship Programmes with local providers with access to a virtual internal network for learning together
  • Discounted gym membership, mobile phone contracts, and car leasing
  • Discounts across 100’s of UK retailers
  • Employee Assistance Programme – access to tools to support mental, physical, and financial wellbeing
  • Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption leave

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role describes you and your career aspirations, click apply now.

For any questions email: vacancies@cardfactory.co.uk (we do not accept CVs/Applications via email)

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received. We advise applying early to avoid disappointment as applications will be reviewed regularly.

No agencies, please.

Sportswift Ltd T/A Card Factory

Job insights from Breakroom

Retail store and shop managers

Retail managers look after stores, staff and sales ensuring that targets are met

What you’ll do as a retail store and shop manager

  • Serve and advise customers
  • Look after staff and rotas
  • Manage deliveries and stock
  • Handle customer payments, complaints, returns and refunds
  • Keep the store clean and tidy
  • Be responsible for sales targets and goals

Is it right for you?

This job may involve:

  • Dealing with customers
  • Standing
  • Using a computer
  • Wearing a uniform
  • Physical activities
  • Managing people
  • Anti-social hours

Map

Bolton, BL1 1BU

A map of the rough location for this vacancy

What employees say

Pay

    Good
  • Most people are paid a living wage

    Do Card Factory pay managers enough to live on?

    Most people are paid a living wage.

    How we know this

    92% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.

    Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2022 and August 2024.

    Why this matters

    Everyone should be paid enough to live on.

    The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.

    The current rates are £12.00 per hour, and £13.15 per hour in London.

    Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.

  • Needs improving
  • Most people are paid below market rates

    Do Card Factory pay managers market rates?

    Most people are paid less than average for their job.

    How we know this

    83% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.

    Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.

  • Needs improving
  • Most people don’t get paid breaks

    Do managers at Card Factory get paid breaks?

    No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.

    How we know this

    100% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.

    Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    A good job should have paid breaks.

    You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.

  • Needs improving
  • Most people don’t get sick pay

    Do Card Factory pay managers sick pay?

    No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.

    How we know this

    97% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.

    Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.

    At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.

    This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.

  • Needs improving
  • Most people do unpaid extra work

    Do managers at Card Factory do extra work that they don't get paid for?

    Yes. Lots of people do unpaid extra work.

    How we know this

    76% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.

    Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2022 and July 2024.

    Why this matters

    Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.

Hours and flexibility

    Good
  • 4+ weeks notice of shifts

    How much notice do managers get of their shift pattern at Card Factory?

    Most people get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.

    How we know this

    • 0% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
    • 0% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
    • 24% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
    • 76% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.

    Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2022 and July 2024.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.

    This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.

  • Good
  • Most people don’t worry about their hours

    Do managers at Card Factory worry about hours?

    Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.

    How we know this

    100% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.

    Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2021 and January 2023.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.

    A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.

    This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.

  • Okay
  • Can be hard to change shifts

    How easy is it for managers at Card Factory to change shifts?

    Some people find it hard to change shifts.

    How we know this

    53% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.

    Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2022 and July 2024.

    Why this matters

    A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.

  • Good
  • Easy to book holiday

    How easy is it for managers to book a holiday at Card Factory?

    Most people find it easy to book holiday.

    How we know this

    86% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.

    Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between October 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.

  • Good
  • Shifts don’t get changed at short notice

    Do Card Factory managers change managers shifts at short notice?

    Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.

    How we know this

    86% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.

    Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2022 and July 2024.

    Why this matters

    If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.

  • Okay
  • Some people find it hard to take sick leave

    How easy is it for managers to take sick leave at Card Factory?

    Some people find it hard to take sick leave.

    How we know this

    65% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.

    Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.

    A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.

  • Okay
  • Only some parents say it’s good

    Is working as managers at Card Factory good if you have caring responsibilities?

    Only some parents and carer say this is a good place to work.

    How we know this

    38% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.

    Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2022 and July 2024.

    Why this matters

    Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.

Workplace

    Okay
  • Only some people feel treated with respect

    Do managers at Card Factory feel treated with respect by their managers?

    Some people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers.

    How we know this

    39% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managers.

    Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.

  • Okay
  • Only some people get proper breaks

    Do managers at Card Factory get proper breaks?

    Some people don’t get proper breaks.

    How we know this

    53% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.

    Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.

  • Needs improving
  • Most people are stressed

    Is it stressful for managers to work at Card Factory?

    Most people feel stressed here.

    How we know this

    79% of people say they often feel stressed at work.

    Based on data from 39 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.

    Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.

  • Okay
  • Only some people enjoy their job

    Do managers at Card Factory enjoy their jobs?

    Only some people enjoy their job.

    How we know this

    38% of people report they don’t enjoy their job.

    Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

  • Okay
  • Only some people recommend their team

    Do managers at Card Factory recommend working with their team?

    Only some people recommend working with their team.

    How we know this

    38% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.

    Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    A good job means enjoying the place where you work.

    The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.

    If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.

  • Okay
  • Only some people get enough training

    Do managers get enough training when they start at Card Factory?

    Some people did’t get enough training when they started.

    How we know this

    66% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.

    Based on data from 38 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.

    This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.

    It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.

  • Okay
  • Only some people get support to progress

    Are managers given support to progress at Card Factory?

    Only some people are given support to progress here.

    How we know this

    In the last year, 46% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.

    Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2022 and August 2024.

    Why this matters

    A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.

    This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.

  • Needs improving
  • Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening

    Do managers think Card Factory head office understands what's happening where they work?

    Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.

    How we know this

    97% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.

    Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.

    To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.

  • Okay
  • Only some people feel well informed by head office

    Do managers feel well informed about how Card Factory is doing?

    Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.

    How we know this

    35% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.

    Based on data from 37 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between September 2022 and September 2024.

    Why this matters

    At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.

    You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.

Find out more about working at Card Factory

What Card Factory employees say about their job

  • Best thing

    Manager and Team were friendly and pretty easy to work with
    Good job for students or if you have a second job
    Good notice of shifts beforehand
    Customers on the whole are pretty nice (though this may depend which store you work at)

    Worst thing

    Very little hours, you hardly get over your contract which can be as little as 4-8 hours, the pay was pretty disappointing unless you cover a lot of shifts
    Only paid minimum wage but the higher ups expected us to care about things that lost "them* money such as refunds
    Could be very dull, a lot of the same work weekly (Fixing cards, cashiering)
    Short staffed, a lot of being on shop floor being with customers by yourself

    8.7

    Card Factory Sales assistant, September 2024

  • Best thing

    Its a fairly laid back job and people are really nice

    Worst thing

    Hours can be really bad and pay isn't great

    4.2

    Card Factory Team leader, August 2024

See more reviews
  • Best thing

    Great team ( NOT the manager )

    Worst thing

    Rubbish pay for the amount of work and responsibilities. Lack of communication between head office/management to stores and team leaders. Clear favouritism. Last minute rota changes. Lack of sick pay. Messages after hours. Company only cares about the money not the staff.

    2.6

    Card Factory Team leader, July 2024

  • Best thing

    My team, I love the team I work with.

    Worst thing

    Pay and management. Company I'd to much on the money money money and not staff

    2.1

    Card Factory Team leader, April 2024

  • Best thing

    it's not too much work. it's the best kind of a job.

    Worst thing

    the supervisors can be very mean and can leave all the work up to you at times instead of helping out

    3.9

    Card Factory Employee, March 2023

  • Best thing

    - easy shifts
    - hardly any rude customers

    Worst thing

    - my manager was so horrible, type of person where she spoke to you. On her bad days she wouldn’t even speak to you, I only felt not stressed when she wasn’t there.
    - was also harassed by my manager if i was caught not doing something, was once told of for not doing something after I had just stood up from refilling, literally just moved away from it and was looking to see if it all looked okay (this is all obviously personal experience)
    - also had no staff room
    - boring shifts

    4.7

    Card Factory Sales assistant, December 2022

  • Best thing

    It’s a face paced environment, some of the best things is the customers! One special moment can brighten your day! The work family also makes things more enjoyable

    Worst thing

    How much you do for what you get paid for, you find yourself often working incredibly hard multitasking and breaking a sweat, card factory workers are grafters but sometimes it can get too much and there is a lot of expectations to keep in a short and busy period of time

    5.0

    Card Factory Sales assistant, July 2022

  • Best thing

    Fun and fast paced job to have always something happening and changing for the better of the customer and employee.

    Worst thing

    Complaints aren't dealt with quickly enough

    5.0

    Card Factory Employee, September 2021

  • Best thing

    Great team to work with, everyone tried to help where they can including managers.

    Worst thing

    Managers can’t do anything about people who always phone in sick and never turn up. Head office expects you to survive on a 4 hour minimum wage contract, they don’t understand the amount of effort and work it takes to keep a store running nor do they see the abuse we have to take from customers.

    5.5

    Card Factory Sales assistant, June 2021

  • Best thing

    My manager is great and we have a good team. I can change shifts if urgent

    Worst thing

    Big workload, sometimes picking up other people's slack

    6.8

    Card Factory Keyholder/supervisor, August 2020

  • More reviews from Card Factory employees

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