General Manager at Ariat International in Bloomington, MN

About the Role

The General Manager (GM) serves as the strategic and operational leader of a high-volume Ariat Retail location, driving business performance, team development, customer experience, and operational excellence. This role leads a store generating $10M+ in annual sales and acts as the key connection between store leadership teams and the Corporate Retail organization.

The GM is responsible for creating a high-performing, customer-focused culture while ensuring execution across all aspects of the business, including sales growth, talent development, operational efficiency, merchandising standards, and inventory management. The ideal candidate is an inspiring leader who thrives in a fast-paced retail environment and is passionate about building strong teams and delivering exceptional brand experiences.

You'll Make a Difference By

Business Leadership & Store Performance

• Leading overall store performance, driving sales, profitability, and operational excellence
• Establishing clear goals, performance expectations, and accountability across all departments
• Analyzing business trends, KPIs, and retail performance metrics to identify opportunities and improve results
• Championing sales-driving initiatives, incentive programs, and customer engagement strategies
• Partnering with Corporate Buying and Retail Leadership teams to align assortments and inventory with local customer needs
• Supporting and participating in community outreach, local partnerships, and store events that elevate the Ariat brand

Customer Experience & Brand Standards

• Fostering a customer-first culture focused on delivering exceptional service and memorable shopping experiences
• Ensuring customer concerns and escalations are resolved quickly and professionally
• Maintaining best-in-class visual merchandising, presentation, and in-store brand standards
• Ensuring the sales floor is fully staffed, organized, and operationally ready to support business needs

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Recruiting, developing, and retaining high-performing leadership teams and associates
• Providing coaching, feedback, and ongoing development opportunities to Department Managers and store teams
• Conducting regular performance conversations, quarterly check-ins, and annual evaluations
• Building a positive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment that promotes engagement and accountability
• Ensuring staffing levels align with business needs and peak selling periods

Operations & Inventory Management

• Overseeing all day-to-day store operations, including payroll, scheduling, reporting, inventory accuracy, and compliance

• Ensuring timely completion of operational tasks, reporting requirements, and expense management

• Partnering with Corporate Retail teams to resolve operational, inventory, maintenance, and personnel issues

• Managing physical inventory processes, cycle counts, transfers, damages, and stock movement activities

• Maintaining compliance with company policies, procedures, and safety standards

Facilities & Vendor Partnership

• Serving as the primary contact for landlord and facility-related matters
• Partnering with vendors and internal teams to address maintenance, repair, and operational needs
• Ensuring the store environment remains safe, functional, and brand appropriate
• Assisting with other responsibilities based on business needs.

About You

• 5+ years of retail management experience leading high-volume, multi-department retail operations
• Experience in apparel, footwear, lifestyle, or specialty retail environments preferred
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop large teams
• Strong business acumen with experience managing sales performance, payroll, inventory, and operational KPIs
• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize and adapt in a fast-paced, dynamic retail environment
• Proficiency with retail POS systems, inventory systems, and Microsoft Office applications
• High school diploma or equivalent required; college degree preferred
• Valid driver’s license required

Schedule & Travel Requirements

• Full-time availability required, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak retail periods
• Occasional travel for meetings, training, events, or store support may be require
• Physical Requirements
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• Ability to regularly bend, reach, and move throughout the store environment
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Ability to maintain visual attention to detail in a retail environment

Reporting Structure

Direct Reports: Department Managers Indirect Reports: Team Leads, Sales Associates, Stockroom Associates

About Ariat

Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.

The hourly range for this position is $70,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year.

The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

Ariat’s holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):

• • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
    • Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
    • Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
    • 401(k) with company match
    • Bonus incentive plans
    • Team member discount on Ariat merchandise

Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email human.resources@ariat.com.

Please see our Employment Candidate Privacy Policy at http://www.ariat.com/careers to learn more about how we collect, use, retain and disclose Personal Information.

Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.