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Retail Lens by Artemis

See the decision behind the result.

Practical sessions for assistant and store managers, drawn from 28 years of luxury and premium retail experience across the GCC.

Start learningFree to read. No sign-up required.

Built from practice

Make the next shift clearer for your team.

Retail Lens is a free collection of short, practical sessions for assistant managers, store managers and people moving into their first management role. Each session starts with a familiar store situation and helps you decide what to check, what to say to the team and what to follow up on during the next shift.

These materials share professional experience and points of view. They are not accredited training, formal qualifications or a substitute for your company's policies and procedures.

Retailer or employer? See the company support route ->

Learning library

Choose a topic. Find your next useful question.

Start with material for assistant and store managers. A smaller set of sessions is labelled for senior retail leaders.

Start here

Choose a route through the sessions.

Follow a ready-made route for store operations, team management or a new store opening. Open a route to see its sessions, then use the library below to find a specific topic.

Assistant and Store Managers / Store OperationsStore Floor Essentials9 of 9 sessions availableView sessions

Lead the shift, set priorities, solve floor issues and leave a clear handover.

  1. 01The pre-opening floor walk: what to notice before trade startsAvailable nowOpen lesson
  2. 02The daily huddle: turn the target into clear shift prioritiesAvailable nowOpen lesson
  3. 03Floor zones and coverage: put the right people where trade needs themAvailable nowOpen lesson
  4. 04Observe the work: coach what you see, not what you assumeAvailable nowOpen lesson
  5. 05Lead a busy floor without confusing activity with performanceAvailable nowOpen lesson
  6. 06Resolve stock and size gaps before they become lost salesAvailable nowOpen lesson
  7. 07Service recovery: give teams clear authority and escalation linesAvailable nowOpen lesson
  8. 08Close and hand over: carry actions, clients and issues into tomorrowAvailable nowOpen lesson
  9. 09The Store Manager's Weekly Operating RhythmAvailable nowOpen lesson
Assistant and Store Managers / People and LeadershipManaging the Retail Team11 of 11 sessions availableView sessions

Plan cover, develop capability and hold standards consistently across the team.

  1. 01Build the roster around traffic, skills, breaks and trading hoursAvailable nowOpen lesson
  2. 02Set minimum floor cover and a practical absence planAvailable nowOpen lesson
  3. 03Hire for the work: role fit, customer judgment and team behaviorAvailable nowOpen lesson
  4. 04Give new starters a clear first 30 daysAvailable nowOpen lesson
  5. 05Coach selling through live observation and short practiceAvailable nowOpen lesson
  6. 06Set expectations that employees can see and repeatAvailable nowOpen lesson
  7. 07Address weak performance early and fairlyAvailable nowOpen lesson
  8. 08Manage the top performer without making one person the operating modelAvailable nowOpen lesson
  9. 09Translate targets into daily actions and useful follow-upAvailable nowOpen lesson
  10. 10Build recognition, development and succession into the weekAvailable nowOpen lesson
  11. 11Train judgment with scenarios instead of adding scriptsAvailable nowOpen lesson
New store opening / A to ZFrom the first brief to the first 90 days26 of 26 sessions readyView the pathway

Open a ready step to start its lesson. Other steps are planned as separate sessions with practical tools.

  1. 01
    The opening brief: customer, proposition, format and success measuresAvailable
    Open session
  2. 02
    The commercial case: sales, margin, payroll, capital and operating costsAvailable
    Open session
  3. 03
    Location and catchment: visibility, access, traffic and trading contextAvailable
    Open session
  4. 04
    Store format and operating model: what the store must be able to deliverAvailable
    Open session
  5. 05
    Space plan: customer journey, category zones and adjacenciesAvailable
    Open session
  6. 06
    Design and fit-out: fixtures, lighting, signage and back-of-house needsAvailable
    Open session
  7. 07
    Project plan: workstreams, owners, dependencies and decision datesAvailable
    Open session
  8. 08
    Landlord and authority approvals: build the right local specialist checklistAvailable
    Open session
  9. 09
    Back of house: stockroom, receiving, staff facilities and daily flowAvailable
    Open session
  10. 10
    Assortment and launch stock: range, depth, sizes and availabilityAvailable
    Open session
  11. 11
    Supplier and delivery readiness: booking, receiving and stock controlsAvailable
    Open session
  12. 12
    Retail systems: POS, payments, CRM, connectivity and reportingAvailable
    Open session
  13. 13
    Organization chart: roles, accountability and decision rightsAvailable
    Open session
  14. 14
    Recruitment plan: headcount, role profiles and hiring timelineAvailable
    Open session
  15. 15
    Uniform and grooming: selection, sizing, fitting, issue and replacementAvailable
    Open session
  16. 16
    Floor coverage map: zones, skills and customer-facing positionsAvailable
    Open session
  17. 17
    Roster design: opening hours, peak periods, breaks and staffing budgetAvailable
    Open session
  18. 18
    Minimum cover: skeleton staffing, absence cover and escalation rulesAvailable
    Open session
  19. 19
    Store controls: cash, keys, loss prevention and incident responseAvailable
    Open session
  20. 20
    Team readiness: product, service, systems and scenario practiceAvailable
    Open session
  21. 21
    Visual merchandising: launch set, replenishment and daily standardsAvailable
    Open session
  22. 22
    Launch communication: client invitations, appointments and store awarenessAvailable
    Open session
  23. 23
    Mock trading: test transactions, walk the journey and log defectsAvailable
    Open session
  24. 24
    Opening day: command roles, issue log and fast decisionsAvailable
    Open session
  25. 25
    First trading week: daily measures, huddles and action ownershipAvailable
    Open session
  26. 26
    First 30, 60 and 90 days: stabilize, review and hand over to steady tradeAvailable
    Open session

Explore the full library

Browse individual sessions

Search by task, topic or level. Use the filters to narrow the list.

Showing 45 sessions

Commercial PerformanceSample session

01

When a Store Misses Plan: Diagnose Before You Motivate

A sales gap is a symptom, not a diagnosis

Read a sales variance, separate traffic, conversion and average transaction value, then choose evidence to check before setting a team action.

Store Manager12 minute read
Read the sample session
Store OperationsNew session

02

The Daily Huddle: Turn the Target into Clear Shift Priorities

Give the team a focus, roles and a check-back time

Run a short team huddle that explains the trading context, names one or two actions and confirms who owns them.

Store Manager12 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

03

Floor Zones and Coverage

Put the right skills where the trade needs them

Assign primary and back-up roles, protect appointments and adjust the floor plan when customer needs change.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

04

Build the Roster Around Trade and Skills

Cover demand and capability, not only total hours

Use store trading patterns, appointments, skill requirements and approved staffing hours to plan workable cover.

Store Manager15 minute session
Read the session
Store OperationsNew session

05

The Start-of-Shift Floor Walk

Catch the issues that will affect today's trade

Check the customer route, priority stock, team positions and trading readiness, then assign the actions that matter before the floor gets busy.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

06

Minimum Floor Cover and Absence Planning

Decide what must stay covered when the team is short

Set essential roles for each trading period and a clear response when absence leaves a gap.

Store Manager14 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

07

Observe the Work and Coach What You See

Make feedback specific, fair and useful on the next shift

Use a real observation, a question and one agreed action to coach without guessing at intent.

Store Manager12 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

08

Lead a Busy Floor Without Confusing Activity with Performance

Notice what customers and the team need in the moment

Read the floor during peak trade, prioritize customer needs and reset the team's focus when the plan is under pressure.

Store Manager12 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

09

Resolve Stock and Size Gaps Before They Become Lost Sales

Give the client a clear answer and own the next step

Confirm availability, check practical alternatives and record client follow-up instead of guessing or promising what the store cannot deliver.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

10

Service Recovery: Resolve the Issue and Protect the Relationship

Listen, decide within your authority and follow through

Respond to a service concern with clear ownership, a fair decision and a follow-up that matches company policy.

Store Manager12 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

11

Close the Shift and Hand Over What Matters

Give the next manager a clear start, not an open-ended list

Record unresolved client commitments, operating issues and next actions with clear owners and due times.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

12

Hire for Role Fit, Not First Impressions

Use job-related evidence to make a fairer choice

Translate the role into observable capabilities and use the same relevant questions for each candidate.

Store Manager15 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

13

The First 30 Days for a New Starter

Build confidence through practice, feedback and clear milestones

Plan introductions, role practice, product and system learning, and regular manager check-ins across the first month.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

14

Opening a Store: Start with the Brief

Get clear on the customer, proposition and success measures

Turn the opening ambition into a practical brief the store team can use to make sound decisions.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Commercial PerformanceNew session

15

Opening a Store: Understand the Commercial Case

Know which assumptions will shape the first year of trade

Read the approved sales, margin, payroll and cost assumptions, identify what affects store operations and raise gaps with the right owner.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

16

Opening a Store: Assess the Location and Catchment

Test the customer opportunity beyond the headline footfall

Check access, visibility, customer missions and daypart patterns, then record evidence and open questions before store readiness is agreed.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

17

Opening a Store: Design the Operating Model

Turn the approved format and customer promise into workable store decisions

Translate the approved store format into service, staffing, stock-flow, systems and decision-owner requirements.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

18

Opening a Store: Review the Space Plan

Test the customer journey, zones and operating flow

Walk the proposed layout from the customer's view and record the operational questions for the design and project owners.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

19

Opening a Store: Connect Design and Fit-Out to Store Operations

Catch practical readiness gaps while there is time to fix them

Use a structured walk-through to check fixtures, customer flow, back-of-house work and systems before handover.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

20

Opening a Store: Build the Project Plan

Put milestones, dependencies, owners and decision dates in one view

Track the workstreams that affect store readiness, surface dependencies and give each open decision a clear owner.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

21

Opening a Store: Track Landlord and Authority Approvals

Know who confirms each requirement before it blocks the opening

Build an approvals tracker with the accountable specialist, required evidence, due date and readiness impact.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

22

Opening a Store: Prepare the Back of House

Make receiving, storage and replenishment work before launch stock arrives

Walk goods and people through the back-of-house routine, then assign gaps to operations and property owners.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

23

Opening a Store: Prepare the Launch Range and Stock

Check the approved range, key sizes and availability before launch

Coordinate the approved launch range, key product availability, delivery status and floor readiness with buying, merchandising and stock teams.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

24

Opening a Store: Coordinate Supplier and Delivery Readiness

Confirm delivery windows, receiving owners and exception routes

Make supplier bookings, access, delivery checks and escalation responsibilities clear before launch stock is dispatched.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

25

Opening a Store: Prepare Retail Systems for Trading

Test the tools the team will use with named technical owners

Coordinate approved tests and colleague training for point of sale, payments, stock tools, client systems and reporting.

Store Manager15 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

26

Opening a Store: Set Roles and Decision Rights

Make ownership and escalation clear before the team starts

Turn the approved organization chart into named owners, practical hand-offs and clear decisions the store team can make or escalate.

Store Manager15 minute session
Read the session
People and LeadershipNew session

27

Opening a Store: Build the Staffing Plan

Set the roles, headcount and hiring milestones before the opening rush

Translate the approved operating model into a role-based staffing plan, identify hiring and training dependencies, and escalate gaps early.

Store Manager15 minute session
Read the session
People and LeadershipNew session

28

Opening a Store: Plan Uniform and Grooming Readiness

Get the right sizes, fitting, issue process and appearance guidance ready

Coordinate approved uniform selection, sizing, ordering, fitting, issue and replacement with clear ownership and consistent guidance.

Store Manager15 minute session
Read the session
Store OperationsNew session

29

Opening a Store: Plan the Opening Week Roster

Cover trading, training and rehearsals without losing sight of demand

Build an opening-week schedule around trading hours, expected peaks, required skills, breaks, training and mock trading within the approved labor plan.

Store Manager15 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

30

Opening a Store: Set Skeletal Floor Cover

Know the minimum workable roles and what changes when cover drops

Define role-based minimum cover by trading period, set absence triggers and agree service adjustments and escalation with the right owners.

Store Manager15 minute session
Read the session
Store OperationsNew session

31

Opening a Store: Brief the Team on Store Controls

Make approved cash, key, access and incident procedures clear

Confirm trained owners and brief the team on company procedures for cash, keys, restricted access and incident escalation.

Store Manager15 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

32

Opening a Store: Prepare the Team to Trade

Build role-based confidence in product, service, systems and store routines

Map required skills to short practice, trained support and observable readiness checks for every opening shift.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

33

Opening a Store: Set the Launch Visual Standards

Translate the approved display plan into daily floor checks

Coordinate the launch set, product availability, display ownership and replenishment checks against the approved visual guide.

Store Manager15 minute session
Read the session
Store OperationsNew session

34

Opening a Store: Run a Mock Trading Rehearsal

Walk the customer and operating journeys before opening day

Rehearse realistic store scenarios, record defects with owners and retest agreed fixes before operational handover.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

35

Opening a Store: Lead the First Trading Day

Set roles, run check-ins and keep customer and operating issues owned

Use an opening-day run sheet, named decision owners and a live issue log to coordinate the shift and escalate blockers.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

36

Opening a Store: Coordinate Launch Communication

Connect the store message to approved marketing and appointment capacity

Coordinate approved store-level launch messages, client appointments, colleague briefing and follow-up ownership.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

37

Opening a Store: Manage the First Trading Week

Build a steady daily rhythm for service, measures and follow-up

Use daily huddles, mid-shift checks and close reviews to surface issues early and keep owners accountable.

Store Manager15 minute session
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Commercial PerformanceNew session

38

Opening a Store: Review the First 30, 60 and 90 Days

Move from launch activity to stable store routines and clear ownership

Review trading and people evidence at clear milestones, address gaps and hand unresolved project actions into normal operations.

Store Manager15 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

39

Set Clear Expectations the Team Can Repeat

Make the standard visible, practical and consistent

Turn broad standards into observable shift expectations, check understanding and follow up consistently.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

40

Address Performance Gaps Early and Fairly

Use evidence, a clear conversation and a follow-up date

Address a specific gap privately, hear the employee's view, agree support and follow company performance procedures.

Store Manager15 minute session
Read the session
People and LeadershipNew session

41

Lead Top Performers Without Relying on One Person

Recognize strong work and spread capability across the team

Recognize the contribution, understand what makes it effective and build team capability without creating dependency.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

42

Turn Targets into Daily Team Actions

Connect the number to useful work and a check-back

Translate an agreed store objective into one or two observable actions, named owners and a fair review point.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

43

Build Recognition and Development into the Week

Notice contribution and make room for the next skill

Use specific recognition, short development practice and fair follow-up as part of the weekly management rhythm.

Store Manager12 minute session
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People and LeadershipNew session

44

Train Judgment Through Short Store Scenarios

Let people practise decisions before the live customer moment

Run short, repeatable practice that tests observation, choices, communication and escalation rather than memorized scripts.

Store Manager12 minute session
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Store OperationsNew session

45

The Store Manager's Weekly Operating Rhythm

Plan the week, lead the shifts and close the loop

Build a repeatable weekly plan for trading priorities, people cover, coaching and follow-up.

Store Manager15 minute session
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A principle to keep close

Start with the evidence. Then decide what the team can change.

Read: Retail decisions should not be made by people who do not spend time on the floor ->