Clinique Boots Exeter 37.5hr Counter Manager lead

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is looking to welcome a driven Counter Manager to lead the Clinique desk at Boots in Exeter. This is a full-time, onsite position that puts you in charge of a team of Sales Associates, directing not just sales and service but the day-to-day operations that keep the counter running smoothly. If you enjoy shaping a small business within a big brand and guiding others to shine, this could be a strong fit. The company notes a culture that values diverse perspectives, offers solid training and development, and provides a competitive remuneration and benefits package.

As the Counter Manager, you’ll act like the CEO of your counter, owning the business plan and the customer journey from first contact to loyalty. You’ll recruit and nurture clients through targeted initiatives, in-store events, and top-tier customer relationship management, all while building and leading a high-performing team. If you’re a self-starter who loves business planning and coaching others to reach their potential, this role is designed to open a long-term career path in prestige beauty.

Many leaders in Estee Lauder’s field teams started at the point of sale, and this role is pitched as a springboard to broader opportunities. You’ll gain exposure to event planning, consumer insights, front-line marketing, and strategic execution, experience that translates across the beauty industry while you contribute to a counter culture that emphasises teamwork and respect.

Leading the Clinique counter at Boots Exeter

Your daily work centers on guiding and developing a team of Sales Associates to hit sales, service, and operational targets. You’ll craft an agile plan to grow the customer base, steer impactful in-store events, and maintain strong customer relationships through proactive management. The role demands a clear leader who can motivate the team, manage resources, and deliver results while maintaining a positive counter atmosphere that reflects the brand’s standards.

In practice, you’ll blend coaching with hands-on oversight of the counter’s performance. You’ll oversee routines, from opening and closing procedures to daily merchandising and stock control, ensuring every interaction aligns with client expectations and corporate guidelines. You’ll also act as the primary liaison between the store team, brand partners, and customers, using your organisational skills to keep everything on track and moving forward.

What helps you excel here

Must-haves

• Clear and effective communication, both spoken and written, paired with strong interpersonal skills
• A solid track record of delivering standout customer service and winning customer trust
• A consistent, results-focused mindset with a history of meeting or surpassing targets
• Proactivity in setting goals that go beyond the basics and pushing for improvements
• Ability to identify development needs in teammates and coach them to grow
• Skill at anticipating customer needs and delivering timely, thoughtful responses
• Composure in challenging service situations, handled with tact and diplomacy
• Experience guiding others and keeping performance under accountability
• Ability to build and maintain broad informal networks to support the counter
• Demonstrated practice of respect, helpfulness and teamwork
• Strong attention to detail and solid organisational abilities
• Capacity to work autonomously while contributing to the team
• Proactive and constructive attitude toward tasks and responsibilities
• Discretion and confidentiality when handling people and information
• Retail sales experience
• Team leadership experience
• Experience level appropriate to the store size

• Experience in strategic planning and execution
• Ability to develop financial plans and manage resources
• Working knowledge of a computerised system including email and Microsoft Excel

Compensation and practical details

The position is onsite in Exeter and runs on a 37.5-hour per week schedule as a full-time role. The company notes a competitive remuneration and benefits package, reflecting the leadership expectations and the level of responsibility involved in running the Clinique counter.

Guidance to help you stand out

First, lead your resume with the counter management or team leadership experience you’ve held in retail. Show a concrete line of sight from recruiting and coaching to achieving sales targets and delivering strong customer experiences, ideally with examples of in-store events or campaigns you’ve run.

When you describe your must-have skills, back them up with results. Include a story about how your coaching improved a teammate’s performance, how you drove a target, or how you organised an event that boosted both foot traffic and customer loyalty, with any metrics you can share.

Prepare for interviews by outlining a few counter-specific scenarios. Be ready to discuss how you would handle a difficult customer situation while maintaining brand standards, how you’d structure a business plan for a new season, or how you’d scale CRM efforts to turn first-time buyers into repeat clients.

Want a smart question to ask? Inquire about the counter’s current performance KPIs, the pipeline for in-store events this season, and how they measure the impact of coaching on staff development and customer satisfaction.