Area Manager

AREA MANAGER – BELGIUM Think Twice | Baltic Textile Trading BV

Location:
Antwerp, Belgium | Regular travel across Belgium Contract: Full-time, 35 hours/week Start: As soon as possible About Think Twice Think Twice is an international vintage retailer built around a unique second-hand fashion concept, where fashion, affordability and sustainability come together. Every piece is unique, offering customers the excitement of discovering something they won't find anywhere else. With a strong focus on circular fashion and making second-hand the first choice, Think Twice operates a growing network of stores across Belgium and the Netherlands. We are now looking for an Area Manager – Belgium to help us strengthen our retail operations and continue to deliver an exceptional customer experience across our stores. The Role As Area Manager, you will be responsible for the overall commercial and operational performance of a portfolio of 6–8 Think Twice shops, directly leading their Shop Managers, who together oversee approximately 50 employees across the area. You will combine people leadership, commercial performance, stock management and operational excellence, spending the majority of your working week in stores. Your portfolio will typically include shops across major Belgian cities, including Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Leuven, Hasselt and Mechelen. Store assignments may change over time based on business needs. What does the role involve? Commercial & Retail Performance Take ownership of sales, costs, profitability and overall performance across your portfolio. Monitor and analyse key retail KPIs, identify opportunities and implement clear action plans to improve performance. Analyse sales and product performance and translate insights into assortment, merchandising and stock-flow decisions. Ensure stores consistently deliver strong customer experiences and meet Think Twice brand and commercial standards. Prepare and review daily and weekly reporting in Excel and use data to drive decisions. Contribute to budgeting, forecasting and cost management for your portfolio. Stock, Assortment & Merchandising Take ownership of the flow of second-hand stock from warehouse to shop across your portfolio. Plan assortments and place warehouse orders, balancing store capacity, local customer demand, sales performance and available stock. Manage the fast-paced five-week cycle, from the launch of a new collection through to sale, and all over again. The pace is demanding and requires resilience, strong prioritisation and decisiveness. Use sales performance, stock levels and local customer behaviour to make informed ordering and allocation decisions. Ensure shops are well supplied, commercially merchandised and aligned with Think Twice guidelines. Work closely with the supply/warehouse team to identify stock needs and resolve supply issues quickly. People Leadership Directly manage and develop Shop Managers across your portfolio. Coach Shop Managers to become confident, accountable and effective leaders of their teams. Set clear expectations, monitor performance and address performance issues when necessary. Work closely with HR on recruitment, onboarding, training, employee development, performance management and retention. Support Shop Managers in building motivated, capable and customer-focused teams. Review staffing plans and shop schedules to ensure appropriate coverage and productivity. Operations & Standards Drive operational excellence across your shops, including inventory accuracy, cash handling, stock loss, health & safety and opening/closing procedures. Ensure consistent execution of Think Twice operational and brand standards. Identify operational challenges proactively and work with relevant teams to find effective solutions. Support new shop openings, refits and other retail projects, ensuring timelines and standards are met. Collaborate closely with HR, warehouse/logistics, finance and senior management to achieve portfolio objectives. Leadership & Presence Spend the majority of your working week in stores, providing hands-on leadership and support. Be present during key trading periods, new collection launches, sale periods, events and other commercially important moments. Build strong relationships with Shop Managers and teams across your portfolio. Travel regularly across Belgium; the role is typically four days per week in stores and one day per week in the Antwerp office. What we're looking for You are a hands-on retail leader who combines strong commercial thinking with genuine people leadership. You are comfortable moving between data, stock, customers and people, and you know how to turn plans into results. You will ideally have: 3+ years of experience managing retail operations, ideally across multiple locations in apparel, footwear or a comparable fast-paced retail environment. Experience managing and developing Shop Managers or other retail management teams. Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to understand KPIs, identify trends and turn data into action. Strong Microsoft Excel skills and confidence working with sales and operational reporting. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment. A hands-on, pragmatic and calm approach, with strong follow-through and accountability. Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to remain focused and effective in a fast-changing, high-pressure retail environment. A genuine interest in fashion, vintage and second-hand retail, and an appreciation for the role of circular fashion. Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills. A full driving licence and willingness to travel extensively across Belgium. Excellent Dutch and English. French is a plus. What success looks like Your shops consistently achieve their commercial and operational objectives. Shop Managers take ownership of their stores and continue to grow as leaders. Stock flows efficiently from warehouse to shop and each five-week cycle is executed successfully. Teams are well staffed, engaged and equipped to deliver excellent customer experiences. Think Twice standards are consistently visible across the portfolio. You identify problems early, act decisively and turn data and observations into measurable improvements.

What we offer
A full-time position of 35 hours per week, with weekends generally free. A competitive salary based on experience and qualifications. Company laptop, phone and subscription. Meal vouchers after 3 months of service. 35% discount on all vintage. Additional benefits in accordance with Belgian legislation and company policy. Performance-related bonuses according to company policy. A varied, hands-on role with significant autonomy and responsibility. The opportunity to play a key role in the continued development of a distinctive second-hand fashion business.

How to apply
If you believe you are the right person for this role, please send your CV and cover letter in English to recruitment@think2.be with the subject line “Area Manager Belgium – Think Twice.” All applications will be treated confidentially.