The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts
323 Franklin Road, Highlands, North Carolina 28741
Retail Manager: Visual Arts
Come Share the Vision. An excellent opportunity for a person with an artistic eye, entrepreneurial thinking, and customer service orientation. Join our team of arts professionals committed to making the visual arts a vibrant and vital part of the HighlandsCashiers Plateau.
Job Description
Title: Retail Manager: Visual Arts
Reports to: Executive Director
Classification: Exempt, Full-Time (typically Tuesday-Saturday with variation during high season and key retail holidays).
Salary Range, depending on qualifications and experience: $40,000-$45,000
Description:
The Retail Manager oversees all aspects of retail at The Bascom; this includes The Shop and its commissionbased artists’ program, and the management of sales receipts from ceramics studio sales and exhibition sales. The Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining a curated collection of works of high quality that respond to the interests of our diverse audiences, including art collectors, homeowners, tourists, and other artists. In addition, the Manager ensures a personalized, concierge-level shopping experience for all customers, supported by engaging, visually attuned retail displays of works of art. Additional requirements include inventory management, the daily receipts process, and training of other staff and volunteers
Responsibilities:
Relational and Entrepreneurial
• Maintain excellent ambassadorship of The Bascom through artist relations, overall guest experience, and responsiveness in person and over phone and email.
• Promote and maintain a consistently high level of customer support through sales at multiple price points, and through special retail opportunities designed to engage clients.
• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing to relay key retail events and opportunities, and to provide storytelling about retail opportunities via our advertising channels.
• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing to develop ideas for merchandising branded items
• Correspond and manage logistics with 200+ artist vendors and new inquiries throughout the year. Cultivate artists’ commitment to The Bascom through providing opportunities and support in their efforts to promote their work.
• Maintain and further develop strategic relations with off-campus retail partners.
• Strategize and support the Director of Development and the Director of Marketing to recognize opportunities for cultivating and stewarding patrons and partners in the work of The Bascom.
Curatorial• Take lead on curating The Shop art selections, drawing on input from the creative staff (Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, Director of Exhibitions, Director of Ceramics, Director of Marketing).
• Collaborate with the curator of The Atrium Series to make selections and design visually appealing displays.
• Team with Director of Exhibitions and Director of Ceramics, and the Deputy Executive Director to create retail opportunities for artists engaged across Bascom activities.
• Coordinate inventory so that retail goods complement exhibitions and educational programs to maximize visibility of The Bascom mission.
Managerial and Operations
• Plan, coordinate, organize, and execute overall management and operations of the retail shop and its subsidiary retail channels.
• Process all sales of artwork from exhibition galleries, Atrium Series, off-campus retail partnerships and The Bascom Shop with accuracy and completeness.
• Develop, refine and execute strategies for merchandising, inventory systems, shop-related supplies, staffing to ensure a smooth operation.
• Manage artist applications and contracts and keep accurate inventory records.
• Coordinate with the Director of Finance and Administration to maintain, develop, and improve retail processes including budget, sales and financial procedures, and inventory management
Other Duties
• As assigned. As a small staff, there are times when the entire team or parts of the team collaborate to complete one-time projects or to complete special assignments necessary to the functioning of the organization.
Additional Job Requirements
• The person in this position needs to frequently move about the space in order to interact with visitors.
• The person occasionally needs to climb a ladder to arrange artwork, gallery displays, and light fixtures.
• Must be able to move objects, including fragile art works, and sometimes weight-bearing loads.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with visitors and clientele about prices and purchases, and with artists about inventory and sales. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must be able to examine works of art and assess their condition and describe the techniques, materials, and styles used by artists, and to communicate this information to clientele.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including some nights, holidays, and weekends.
Qualifications:
Required
• 3 or more years of retail experience with progressive responsibilities.
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage multiple audiences (including donors, members, and the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a team setting
• Demonstrated ability to handle numerical information, maintain accurate records and production of reports.
• Experience with or demonstrated ability to learn software systems including MS Office Suite (Excel and Word) and point-of-sale and inventory systems (we currently use Square and Rose Consignment software).
Preferred
• Visual arts background
• Visual merchandising, marketing, and facility with social media.
• Experience in a gallery or high-end retail setting
• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree
To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume to Karin Peterson, Executive Director (kpeterson@thebascom.org). No phone inquiries.