Assistant Store Manager

Company Description:

Bargain Lane is a discount retail concept built on one simple idea: Unbeatable deals and Exceptional Savings. We operate three ways to save: our discount retail stores, where the treasure hunt happens in person; bargain bins, where the deepest deals live and diggers are rewarded; and online auctions, where bargain hunters can bid and win from anywhere. We sell overstock, returns, and liquidation merchandise, which means our inventory is always changing, always unpredictable, and always exciting for the right customer. We serve bargain hunters, families, and resellers who love the thrill of the find. This isn't polished, cookie-cutter retail. It's fast-moving, hands-on, and built for people who love the grind of making something work.

Role Description:

We’re opening a new Bargain Lane location in Indianapolis and we’re looking for a powerhouse Assistant Store Manager to partner with our Store Manager to build this location from the ground up!

As the Assistant Store Manager, your primary mission is to support the Store Manager in all areas of leadership, operational execution, and team development. You are the Store Manager's right hand. This is not a role for someone who wants to sit behind a desk or wait for a playbook. You will be actively on the floor, training staff in real-time, executing merchandising plans, and ensuring the store runs like a well-oiled machine even when the Store Manager is away.

Day to day, you’ll be the heartbeat of the sales floor—moving unpredictable inventory, coaching team members, driving daily sales, and maintaining high standards of accountability. If things get chaotic, you don’t panic; you roll up your sleeves and lead by example.

Our core value is People First—that applies to our customers, our team members, and our managers. We invest in the people who invest in us. The expectation is high, but so is the support!

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership Support: Partner directly with the Store Manager to lead, motivate, and manage the store team. Step up as the leader-on-duty in the Store Manager's absence, taking full ownership of operations.
• Team Development: Assist in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training a high-performing team. Provide real-time coaching on the floor to help team members grow.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee the daily receipt of unpredictable liquidation merchandise and overstock. Ensure product is priced correctly, processed quickly, and merchandised to maximize sales.
• Inventory & Loss Prevention: Support the Store Manager in driving down shrink, enforcing asset protection policies, and building a culture of accountability regarding inventory accuracy.
• Customer Experience: Maintain a clean, organized, and energetic "treasure hunt" environment. Resolve customer issues with a "People First" attitude.
• Gritty Execution: Step into any role needed at a moment's notice—whether that’s jumping on a register, unloading a late truck, or organizing the bargain bins.

Requirements (What We’re Looking For):

• Retail Leadership Experience: You have at least 1–2 years of experience as a retail shift lead, supervisor, or assistant manager.
• People Skills: You know how to motivate a team and hold people accountable, earning respect through your work ethic rather than your title.
• Adaptability: You thrive in fast-moving, unpredictable environments where inventory changes daily and priorities shift quickly.
• Problem-Solver Mindset: You are gritty and resourceful. When challenges arise, you focus on solutions, not excuses.
• Understanding of Retail Metrics: You possess a solid baseline understanding of retail operations, including sales tracking, labor management, and shrink control.
• Industry Fit: Experience in discount, liquidation, thrift, or value retail is a strong plus, but a relentless work ethic and track record of execution matter most.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to stand for long periods, lift and move merchandise, and actively work the sales floor.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base Salary: Starting at $45,000 per year.
• Bonus Structure: Eligible for quarterly performance-based bonuses tied to store success. We believe in rewarding people who execute—if the store wins, you win.
• Growth Opportunity: As a growing six-store chain, we prefer to promote from within. Succeeding in this role puts you on a direct path toward running your own store.

One Last Thing…

If the idea of building a new store from scratch with high expectations, fast-moving inventory, and a supportive leadership team sounds exciting rather than overwhelming—we want to talk to you. Apply today!

*** This job description provides a general overview, and the specific duties may vary depending on the operational needs of the business.