Do you have experience running a retail store focused on strong performance and steady growth?
Not just stays organized, not just keeps things running, but drives sales, builds a strong team, and improves the business over time.
At Ottawa Valley Air Paddle, we're growing quickly across retail, e-commerce, and tourism. Our store is the hub where customers experience the brand firsthand, and this role is responsible for making sure that experience converts into confident purchases and long-term customers.
You will run the day-to-day operation of the retail floor, online order fulfillment, and demo centre. You will lead a team of up to 10+ staff and take ownership of the systems, standards, and performance of the store.
The bar is simple: if the owners disappear for a month, the store should grow, not struggle.
Why You'll Love Working With Us
- Real Ownership: You will have full responsibility for how the store operates and performs
- Build, Not Just Maintain: Your ideas will be implemented and tested, not buried
- Direct Access: Work directly with the founder - fast decisions, no corporate layers, no bureaucracy
- Growth Opportunity: This is a role for someone who wants to build systems, lead a team, and improve a business over time
- Benefits Plan: Comprehensive benefits included
- Staff Perks: Access to top-tier outdoor gear, events, and experiences
Your Role As the Retail Store Manager, you are responsible for both how the store runs and how the store sells.
You will create a consistent, high-performing retail environment where customers are guided to the right products, staff are confident and accountable, and operations run without friction.
You are not just managing tasks, you are driving outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Store Operations, Sales & Customer Experience
- Set and maintain high standards for merchandising, presentation, and customer experience
- Drive a structured in-store sales process that improves conversion and average order value
- Coach staff to confidently guide customers to the right purchase, not just answer questions
- Ensure every customer, in-store or online, receives a consistent and professional experience
- Identify missed sales opportunities and improve how the team engages customers
Staff Management & Development
- Hire, onboard, train, and develop a team of permanent and seasonal staff
- Build a coaching culture with regular feedback, clear expectations, and no surprises
- Hold team members accountable while building a positive, high-performance environment
- Develop strong staff who can take ownership and grow within the business
Inventory Management & Merchandising
- Manage receiving, stock control, and inventory accuracy
- Ensure merchandising reflects what is in stock, what is seasonal, and what needs to move
- Use product placement and displays to actively drive sales
- Identify slow-moving inventory and bring solutions, not just reports
Online Order Fulfillment
- Own fulfillment operations, ensuring accuracy, speed, and packaging quality
- Coordinate with the e-commerce side to ensure orders are processed correctly and on time
- Improve fulfillment workflows to reduce errors and increase efficiency
Budget & Financial Awareness
- Manage store-level expenses with clear decision-making logic
- Understand costs, flag variances, and bring informed recommendations
- Operate with an awareness of how daily decisions impact profitability
Technology & Systems
- Own the reliability and effectiveness of POS, inventory systems, and store tools
- Identify operational bottlenecks and improve systems and workflows
- Ensure the store runs efficiently through better processes, not just effort
Community & Brand Presence
- Support and execute in-store events, demos, and seasonal promotions
- Be a credible, visible representative of OVAP in-store and during events
- Help bring the brand to life through customer interactions and experiences
What Success Looks Like
At 90 Days:
- The store runs smoothly without constant owner involvement
- Staff performance has noticeably improved
- The sales process is consistent across the team
- Customers are being actively guided to purchase, not left to browse
- Inventory is accurate and merchandising is intentional
- You are making decisions independently and driving results
At 12 Months
- The store performs predictably without owner involvement in daily operations
- Sales performance has improved through better conversion and average order value
- The team is strong, accountable, and able to operate without you for periods of time
- Training and systems are documented and repeatable
- Merchandising and product placement are actively driving revenue
- You are consistently identifying and implementing improvements to the business
- Who We're Looking For
Must-Have
- 3+ years managing a retail store as the primary manager
- Proven ability to lead a team and improve staff performance
- Experience driving sales, not just managing operations
- Strong understanding of retail metrics and store performance
- Experience managing budgets and making financially informed decisions
- Demonstrated ability to build and improve systems and processes
- Comfortable with retail technology, POS systems, inventory management, and fulfillment
Nice to Have
- Experience in specialty or outdoor retail
- Familiarity with Shopify or similar e-commerce platforms
- Experience managing a seasonal or tourism-influenced retail operation
Compensation & Details
- Salary: $40,000 – $76,000
- Bonus: Performance-based, tied to store revenue, sales metrics, and operational execution
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits plan included
- Reports To: Founder
- Schedule: Full-time, year-round (includes weekends during peak season)
- Paid time off
How to Apply
Send your resume along with a short paragraph answering this question:
Describe a store you managed that ran better because you were there. What specifically did you build or change, and how did you measure it?
Applications without this response will not be reviewed.
Send to: [email protected]
About Ottawa Valley Air Paddle (OVAP)
Ottawa Valley Air Paddle is your destination for premium outdoor gear, guided paddling experiences, and community-driven events. Based in Arnprior on the Rideau Canal, we help people connect with the outdoors through retail, education, and unforgettable on-the-water experiences.
From helping someone choose their first kayak to running large-scale events like PaddleFest, everything we do is focused on making outdoor exploration more accessible and more enjoyable.
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