Merch Connection Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Are you passionate about retail, leadership, and making a difference in your community? Rockford Art Deli (RAD) is looking for an experienced and motivated Retail Store Manager to join our growing team! We’re a fast-growing screen printing and retail shop that creates custom apparel for incredible clients while showcasing our own unique designs in our retail space. If you’re ready to take ownership of a dynamic retail environment and thrive in a creative, fast-paced setting, this could be the perfect role for you!

Who We Are

Rockford Art Deli is a custom screen printing and apparel shop in downtown Rockford, IL, built around local relationships and community-first design. We work with individual customers, local nonprofits, and businesses across the region.From custom event tees to ongoing B2B merch programs and we care as much about how people feel in our shop as we do about the print on the shirt.

As the Retail Store Manager at RAD, you’ll wear many hats and play a pivotal role in ensuring our retail operations run smoothly. Here’s a snapshot of your key responsibilities:

• Drive Sales Success: Own RAD’s retail sales numbers by tracking performance, reporting to ownership, and adjusting strategies to meet targets.
• Inventory Management: Oversee inventory from start to finish, including receiving, stock levels, cycle counts, shrink control, and reordering in partnership with production.
• Team Leadership: Hire, train, schedule, and coach a stellar retail team, including Senior Retail Associates and Retail Associates.
• Customer Experience: Set and uphold exceptional service standards so every customer interaction reflects the RAD experience.
• Event Planning: Organize in-store events, pop-ups, and community activations, managing staffing and logistics.
• Visual Merchandising: Develop and execute visual merchandising strategies for seasonal drops, promotions, and product launches.
• Operational Excellence: Manage Shopify POS operations and use sales/traffic data to guide decisions.
• Custom Orders & Wholesale Support: Oversee custom order workflows, keep customers informed, and support wholesale accounts to ensure timely B2B order fulfillment.
• Team Scheduling & Payroll: Manage the retail team’s schedule and payroll accuracy in partnership with ownership.
• Problem-Solving: Be the go-to person for on-the-floor challenges, from staffing gaps to escalated customer issues.
• Shop Standards: Maintain shop cleanliness, safety, and opening/closing standards across the team.
• Social Media : Help the create director and retail team with social media stories, photos and videos.

We’re seeking someone who brings a mix of experience, leadership, and a passion for small business. Here’s what we’re looking for in our ideal candidate:

• Experience: 3+ years of retail management experience, ideally in a small business or independent retail setting.
• Sales & Inventory Expertise: A proven track record of hitting sales goals and managing inventory with precision.
• Leadership Skills: Strong ability to hire, train, and hold a team accountable with kindness and clarity.
• Customer Focus: Outgoing and customer-oriented, you lead by example and set the tone for the floor.
• Tech Savvy: Comfortable using POS and reporting tools (Shopify experience is a big plus).
• Event & Wholesale Knowledge: Experience planning events or working with wholesale/B2B workflows is a plus.
• Organized & Detail-Oriented: Able to juggle competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Community Connection: Rockford-area roots or a genuine connection to the local community are a bonus.
• Flexible & Adaptable: Willing to work a flexible schedule, including some weekends and event days.

• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Comfortable lifting up to 30 lbs (product boxes, merchandise racks).
• Able to move around the sales floor and stockroom throughout a shift.

At Rockford Art Deli, we value our team and offer benefits to support you, including:

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Access to a 401K plan
• Employee discounts on our amazing products

At RAD, we’re more than just a retail shop we’re a community hub for creativity, local art, and small business. We believe in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and fun work environment where your ideas and leadership can shine. If you have a passion for apparel, print, and making an impact in your community, you’ll feel right at home here.

Ready to take the next step in your retail career? Apply today to join the RAD team and help us create something amazing together!

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