Job Description
Job DescriptionWhere We Came From
Topdrawer began as a collaboration between two entrepreneurs: Peter Dunn, a Boston-based brand builder and entrepreneur, and Akira Ito, the fourth-generation owner of Itoya, Japan’s most revered design and stationery house. They shared a belief that well-made tools, designed with care and built to last, could help people live more thoughtfully and creatively.
Topdrawer’s first shop opened in Tokyo, rooted in a tradition of craftsmanship and daily ritual. From there, we expanded to the U.S., beginning with a small storefront on Union Street in San Francisco. Today, Topdrawer includes locations in Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. We open in walkable neighborhoods with soul, not malls or shopping centers. Always near bookstores, design schools, good coffee, and galleries. Places where creative people walk.
Our products reflect the influence of Japanese precision, European materials, and American practicality. They are made with restraint and intention, and designed to last for years.
Our Shops
Each Topdrawer shop is designed to feel like a creative studio: part gallery, part toolshed, part library. A quiet space filled with useful, beautiful objects you didn’t know you needed until you saw them.
Our stores belong in neighborhoods with history, conversation, and culture—not in places designed for transactions. We staff them with people who care about the objects we sell and the creative people we serve. We stand ready to help you on your next project or plan for your next journey, and frequently host atelier events and workshops.
Our Sales Managers at Topdrawer are the leaders of our stores and the core drivers of our brick-and-mortar business. Their main objective is to steer performance and build strong relationships with their community, from recruiting and developing a creative team to achieving financial results through excellent customer service. Our Sales Managers truly understand the nomadic lifestyle and believe that “durability is sustainability.” They strive to get the right tools in the hands of creatives to ensure they can create their best work.
Core Company Competencies:
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Action-Oriented: Full of energy and willingness to take practical action.
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Customer Focused: Dedicated to establishing effective relationships.
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Career Oriented: Driven to take ownership of own professional development.
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Composure: Ability to remain calm under pressure.
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Decision Making/ Quality: Makes timely, informed decisions.
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Creative: Develops fresh ideas that provide solutions and results.
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Teamwork: Fosters a collaborative community.
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Ethics and Values: Share Topdrawer’s ethics and values of being honest, responsible, and respectful.
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Raising the bar: Generates ideas for improvement and always goes the extra mile.
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Empathy: Genuinely seeking to understand and respect others’ perspectives and emotions.
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Edge: Takes calculated risks to improve performance.
What you’ll do:
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Communicate and uphold Topdrawer’s mission, vision, and values to the store team.
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Support customer engagement initiatives through product knowledge and sales training.
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Assist in maintaining operational excellence and ensure store standards are met.
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Support with managing store P&L, including payroll, budgets, and shrink reduction.
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Demonstrate strong product knowledge and offer helpful advice to customers.
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Collaborate with the sales team to help achieve growth and meet sales targets.
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Encourage customer participation in Topdrawer’s rewards program.
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Contribute to the development of business plans and strategies to meet KPI goals and sales objectives.
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Assist in the recruiting, coaching, and development of the store team.
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Participate in performance monitoring and support team members with ongoing development.
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Help execute visual merchandising guidelines and store directives.
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Assist in conducting ongoing sales and customer service training for the team.
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Help set individual sales goals each day and provide guidance to team members.
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Monitor team performance, provide feedback, and celebrate successes.
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Observe competitive campaigns and events, and assist with planning promotional activities.
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Build strong customer relationships, supporting VIP segmentation efforts.
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Identify opportunities for improvement within the business and contribute to action plans.
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Perform other duties as needed to support the smooth operation of the business.
Experience you’ll bring:
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BS/MS degree in business or a related field experience
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5+ years of proven sales experience
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5+ years of retail experience
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3 years of leadership experience
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Positive, self-starting attitude
Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes:
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Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail.
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Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced and team-oriented environment.
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Good understanding of developing lifelong customer relationships.
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
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Self-motivated, able to work independently, and know when to seek guidance.
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Basic skills in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
Benefits Full-Time:
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Generous Employee Discount
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Vacation and Sick Leave
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Paid Holidays
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Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
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Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care
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Company-Paid Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), and Life Insurance
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401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Matching
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Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Options
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Commuter Benefits
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Monthly Sales Commission Opportunities