- Employment
- Full-time
- Seniority
- Manager
- Compensation
- $31.25–33.65/hour
- Department
- Retail & Boutique Operations
- Posted
- Nov 5, 2026
About Aesop
Aesop makes skin, hair and body care, fragrances and scents for the home. It began in a Melbourne hair salon in 1987 and joined L’Oréal in 2023.
Aesop seeks a Store Manager to lead commercial performance, develop talent, deliver the customer experience and oversee store operations in Chicago. This is a permanent, full-time, on-site role with a regular Tuesday-to-Saturday schedule, including opening and closing shifts, subject to business needs; the manager spends 80% of the working week on the shop floor. The hourly range is $31.25–$33.65, with eligibility for a monthly sales-performance incentive.
Role & Responsibilities
- Define and communicate SMART quarterly performance goals for the store and team in collaboration with the Retail Business Manager.
- Develop and manage monthly commercial plans for each Retail Consultant, tracking and measuring performance to drive results.
- Lead daily briefings to align priorities and targets, share feedback and communicate updates.
- Apply a merchant mindset, understand key business drivers and demonstrate organisational agility to meet and exceed commercial targets.
- Activate tactical campaigns and integrate new products through in-store training to improve KPI performance and support behavioural change.
- Share best practices with fellow Store Managers and contribute to the market’s commercial success.
- Monitor and manage team performance with the Retail Business Manager and Trainer, using training, feedback and performance coaching to uphold capabilities and values.
- Spend 80% of the working week on the shop floor observing and coaching the team.
- Partner on talent development and succession plans to promote growth and retention.
- Inspire and enable the team to deliver the Aesop customer experience through role modelling, observing team and customer interactions, and providing ongoing training, feedback and coaching.
- Analyse Voice of the Customer data and act on customer feedback to enhance the in-store experience.
- Collaborate with Marketing, Visual Merchandising and the Retail Business Manager on strategic planning and execution of visual merchandising and marketing initiatives.
- Participate in recruiting Retail Consultants, selecting candidates aligned with Aesop culture and the store’s needs.
- Approve Retail Consultant induction and probation, ensuring required capabilities are achieved.
- Ensure efficient store operations, prioritising time on the shop floor with customers and consultants.
- Uphold Aesop retail standards, including grooming guidelines and the five-senses experience.
Qualifications
- At least 4 years of experience successfully leading and motivating a team in a customer- and sales-focused retail or hospitality environment.
- Excellent commercial acumen and the ability to define, role-model and monitor behaviours that achieve sales targets and KPIs.
- A natural ability to lead the creative art of selling through exceptional conversations and cross-category sales.
- Skilled in coaching, providing feedback and building teams that drive employee and customer retention.
- Work full time on-site on a regular Tuesday-to-Saturday schedule, including opening and closing shifts; the schedule may change according to business needs.
- Able to work on the sales floor for extended periods, walk up and down a flight of stairs and/or ladder as necessary, and regularly lift up to 25 lbs.
Skills
Experience
At least 4 years leading and motivating a team in a customer- and sales-focused retail or hospitality environment.
Workplace
This position is based in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Explore jobs in Illinois or in the USA.
Compensation
The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 31.25 to USD 33.65 per hour.
Benefits
Eligible for a monthly sales-performance incentive; vacation and, depending on locality and local laws, paid time off or paid sick leave; access to L’Oréal’s internal shop for discounted products; learning and development opportunities including unlimited e-learning, Lunch & Learn sessions and mentorship programs; Employee Resource Groups; mental health and wellness programs.
Culture
In an Aesop store, consultants demonstrate products and help visitors choose a routine. The architecture varies by location, down to the materials used around the demonstration basin.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Aesop, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Retail Store Manager», «Boutique Manager», «Store Leader», «Retail Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.