What Does a Boutique Manager Do?

A boutique manager usually has numerous responsibilities pertaining to the operation of a retail business. They include ensuring that the shop runs as it should on a daily basis and working toward customer satisfaction. A person with this job will usually hire and fire staff members, as well as handling their training. He or she also is responsible for handling inventory, pricing and the display of the store's merchandise, as well as monitoring cash flow, depositing cash and checks, and processing payroll. He or she also may handle the creation and implementation of store promotions.

Typically, a boutique manager has the job of hiring people to work in the store. Depending on the size of the boutique and its payroll budget, this may include hiring an assistant manager, sales representatives and cashiers. The boutique manager also is usually responsible for training the employees he hires and ensuring that they follow store policies. Likewise, a person with this title also may have the job of processing payroll. In many cases, a boutique manager also has to fire employees when they do not perform well or in the event that the company needs to downsize.

A boutique manager also is often responsible for displays of merchandise throughout the store. For example, this person may have the job of designing window displays that draw customers into the shop and stimulate them to buy. He or she usually also has the task of arranging the merchandise in the store so shoppers can find want they want while also viewing merchandise they didn’t enter the store to buy but may still find interesting. For instance, if a shopper enters a boutique looking for a dress, the boutique manager also may make sure purses, jewelry and other accessories are in the customer’s line of sight.

The daily opening and closing of the store also is frequently the responsibility of the boutique manager. This means making sure the store opens and closes on time each day by being present or making sure another employee is present at these times. In some cases, a person with this job may even have the responsibility of setting the times and days the store will operate each week. These decisions are typically affected by the area in which the boutique is located as well as when its target market is most likely to visit the store.

When a person takes on a job as a boutique manager, he or she usually handles a wide range of tasks required for running the shop on a daily basis. This may include greeting customers and handling complaints and requests, making sure items for sale are appropriately priced, and creating promotions to encourage people to enter the store and make purchases. He or she also may keep track of sales, exchanges and returns, as well as the movement of money into and out of the boutique. Additionally, he or she is usually responsible for ensuring that the shop's cash and checks make it into the store’s bank account.