Retail Manager / Store Manager (Home Furnishings)
Company : Room & Board
Location : Oak Brook, IL, 60523
Job Type : Full Time / Part Time
Date Posted : 1 January 2026
Overview
You're a passionate retail store manager with a focus on customer service and leading high performing and engaged teams. Come, bring your passion for leadership to a retail culture that is different by design!
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Retail Leadership Associate / Store Manager to join our leadership team in our Oakbrook showroom. As a Retail Leadership Associate / Store Manager with Room & Board, you’ll lead and mentor a team of high-performing design and sales professionals, guiding them to deliver exceptional customer experiences. You will balance strategic thinking with hands-on engagement, leading with empathy and rigor. While driving operational excellence, you’ll spend time on the floor interacting with customers and design associates.
This position requires an agile leader comfortable navigating both the big picture and the details. You'll work with a 3-person leadership team, inspiring and managing a team of approximately design/sales, visual merchandising, and inventory associates in our over 18,000 sq. ft. flagship metro showroom, a vital part of the community since 1997. Together, you’ll help create an environment that blends inspirational room settings, home décor, and a full-service design center.
Schedule:
Tuesday-Saturday, with Sundays and Mondays off or Sunday-Thursday with Fridays and Saturdays off (rotation and hours vary to meet the needs of the business)
Showroom location:
2525 West 22nd Street
Oakbrook, IL 60523
Our showroom hours:
Monday - Friday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
As a Retail Leadership Associate / Store Manager, you'll share your talents in the following ways:
As a Retail Leadership Associate, you’ll be expected to think strategically while also engaging directly with customers and design associates on the floor. You’ll use your deep understanding of customer needs and the Room & Board product assortment to maximize the showroom experience. Passionate about our design aesthetic, you will integrate it into the customer experience and create memorable store events that not only deepen relationships with existing customers but also attract new ones. You will be a key player in developing and executing a strategic business plan, adapting to the ever-changing needs of the market.
The experiences you’ll draw from and the qualifications you’ll bring as a Retail Leadership Associate / Store Manager:
- A minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in a customer-centric retail environment, with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams. Successful Retail Leadership Associates have found that this position offers greater autonomy and the opportunity for more strategic depth compared to traditional store management, with a retail culture designed to be different. Experience managing multiple stores is a plus.
- A proven ability to coach and develop talent, with a focus on mentoring and cultivating leadership skills in your staff members. You are dedicated to enriching the lives of your team by helping them grow both personally and professionally.
- A strong ability to manage details and stay organized while maintaining high standards, with a belief that your success is directly tied to the development of the team you lead. You know that people development and empowering your team is key to achieving your goals.
- A passion for working on the sales floor, engaging with customers, and fostering relationships. You are hands-on and always ready to be in the trenches with your team.
- A communication style that inspires and motivates. You set clear expectations, provide timely and specific feedback, and recognize staff achievements in meaningful ways. You lead with transparency, explaining the rationale behind decisions and ensuring the team understands the impact of those choices.
- A champion for the business, you build strong relationships with partners outside your store and educate them on market trends, collaborating to drive success across all areas of the business.
What you’ll find as a Retail Leadership Associate /Store Manager:
- Salary: $70,000 - $80,000 + / yr. (depending on skills/qualifications)
- Benefits that focus on holistic well-being. The whole person matters, not just the one who shows up for work. That’s why we invest in holistic well-being that supports and encourages you to live a full life. Besides a competitive paycheck, we offer several awesome perks to help you thrive in every aspect of life. Picture this: three weeks of paid vacation, a generous 401(k) match, profit-sharing, and a whole bunch of cool extras. We're talking about benefits that cover you from head to toe – physically, emotionally, and financially.
- Meaningful work. We create a meaningful work experience by empowering everyone to contribute, taking pride in everything we do, and making the world sustainable, inclusive and beautiful.
- A culture of respect. We sustain a culture of respect by relying on our shared values, building supportive and kind teams, and ensuring all voices are heard and celebrated
To view our benefits in detail and to learn more about our culture, please visit our career site at https://www.roomandboard.com/careers.
Application Deadline: The position will remain open until filled; there is no specified deadline.
Room & Board is a modern furniture and home decor retailer committed to creating beautiful, well-made products while providing exceptional customer service. Our mission is to help people create homes they love through timeless designs, sustainable practices, and a focus on quality craftsmanship. Visit https://www.roomandboard.com/about-us to learn more.
Room & Board is an equal employment opportunity employer. Our policy is not to unlawfully discriminate against any applicant or staff member on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, disability, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We also prohibit harassment of applicants and staff members based on any protected category, characteristic or status. It is also our policy to comply with all applicable state, federal and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
As an applicant, you have rights under Federal Employment Laws, and your state may offer additional protections. To view applicable laws, visit our partner site.
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Frequently asked questions
Oak Brook's retail market, especially in home furnishings, sees steady demand for experienced retail managers who can blend leadership with customer engagement. The competition is moderate, favoring candidates with a strong track record in team development and showroom operations, reflecting the area's upscale retail environment.
Though no strict certifications are mandated, having credentials in retail management or customer service excellence can enhance credibility in Oak Brook. Familiarity with regional retail trends and leadership development programs tailored for the Illinois market are also valued among home furnishings retailers.
Managers in home furnishings must blend product knowledge with design sensibility, ensuring customer experiences reflect both style and function. Unlike general retail, this role demands a strategic balance of sales leadership and aesthetic presentation, requiring deep engagement with design teams and inventory specialists.
Retail management in home furnishings often offers broader strategic involvement, including merchandising and design collaboration, which can accelerate leadership growth. This sector values creative problem-solving alongside sales metrics, opening doors to regional managerial or specialty retail leadership roles.
At Room & Board, managers actively mentor design and sales teams while maintaining hands-on customer interaction on the floor. This blend of strategic planning and frontline engagement fosters a unique leadership style focused on team empowerment and personalized customer experiences.
Candidates should anticipate embracing Room & Board's emphasis on sustainable, timeless design and a culture that values holistic employee well-being. Leadership here means driving operational excellence while championing community-focused showroom experiences reflective of the brand's ethos.
Room & Board fosters a respectful, inclusive culture encouraging managers to grow professionally through mentorship and strategic roles. The company invests in holistic benefits and empowers managers to lead with transparency, cultivating a collaborative environment unique to its Oak Brook showroom.
The salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $80,000 annually, reflecting experience and qualifications. This is competitive within Oak Brook's home furnishings retail sector, aligning well with the area's cost of living and market standards for experienced retail leadership.
Home furnishings managers often coordinate closely with design experts and visual merchandisers to create engaging showroom environments. Their role extends beyond sales targets to include curating customer journeys that emphasize style, quality, and personalized service, differentiating them from general retail managers.
A frequent misunderstanding is the belief that retail managers only handle sales. In home furnishings, managers also lead creative teams, oversee inventory details, and orchestrate customer events. The role demands a blend of strategic insight, operational rigor, and empathetic leadership.