General Manager
About the job
- Must be at least 21 years of age at the time of employment.
- Must have 3 or more years of retail management experience; experience in specialty or culinary retail is preferred.
- Must hold a current Food Manager Certification or be able to acquire it as needed.
- Must have a proven track record of achieving sales, motivating high-performing sales teams, and meeting operational goals.
- Must have the ability to inspire, develop, and retain a high-performing team.
- Must be proficient in Microsoft Office and retail management systems; this qualification is preferred.
- Must be able to communicate verbally and work cooperatively with associates and customers.
- Must be able to stand for up to 5 hours at a time and move throughout the store to coach associates, sell to customers, and retrieve merchandise.
- Must be able to grab, reach, push, pull, bend, stoop, kneel, and crouch to retrieve and replenish merchandise.
- Must be able to lift or move merchandise weighing up to 50 pounds and ascend and descend ladders to retrieve or move merchandise.
- Must be able to operate a computer, point-of-sale system, keyboard, merchandise scanner, and mouse.
- Must be available for workweeks of 46 to 48 hours, with a flexible schedule that includes nights, weekends, and holidays, and maintain regular, predictable attendance.
- Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing team to meet culinary and retail business needs.
- Lead, coach, and inspire associates to exceed performance expectations and uphold a positive team culture.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations, provide feedback, and create development plans to support individual and team growth.
- Represent the company brand and culture by creating memorable, educational experiences that inspire repeat visits and customer loyalty.
- Maintain product expertise by staying current on products, participating in available training, and independently seeking additional resources.
- Lead a customer-focused culture and ensure exceptional customer experiences.
- Address customer concerns and resolve issues promptly to maintain satisfaction and loyalty.
- Develop and implement merchandising, marketing, and customer-engagement strategies to exceed sales and financial goals across culinary and retail operations.
- Monitor and analyze key performance metrics daily to identify opportunities and optimize store performance.
- Meet or exceed culinary and retail goals by delivering classes and customer experiences that drive engagement and sales. Performance metrics include second-class sign-ups, retail product sales, individual sales volume, average transaction value, customer conversion rates, and guest feedback through Google reviews.
- Oversee daily store operations and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Maintain accurate inventory levels, minimize shrink, and ensure proper product merchandising.
- Ensure store safety and cleanliness and promptly address maintenance needs.
- Maintain the accuracy and integrity of associate records, including time and attendance data, food-safety certifications, and personal information.
- Comply with applicable wage and hour laws and accurately record time worked according to company policy.
- Model company policies and standard operating procedures, communicate them to associates, and ensure they are maintained and consistently followed.
- Experience in a specialty or culinary retail environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and retail management systems.
About the company
CSC Generation acquires underperforming retail brands and grows them into profitable ventures by integrating them into its shared operating platform. It operates across retail, e-commerce, and wholesale, leveraging technology, skilled staff, efficient processes, and scalable operations to optimize product sourcing, marketing, fulfillment, and customer experience. Its portfolio includes brands like DirectBuy, One Kings Lane, Sur La Table, Touch of Modern, and Cherry Man Industries, collectively offering over 325,000 products and attracting about 10 million monthly page views. The company differentiates itself by targeting “unsexy” opportunities others overlook and by applying its centralized platform to turn around and scale these brands into sustainable revenue generators. Its goal is steady growth and profitability by transforming underperforming brands into thriving parts of its portfolio, serving a wide range of consumers and business clients.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
Series E
Total Funding
$107.6M
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
2016
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- CSC says 2026 revenue exceeded $1 billion across 13 brands.
- It added Backcountry in September 2024, expanding into outdoor recreation.
- Backcountry launched a 2026 brand incubator, showing acquisition-led growth momentum.
What critics are saying
- Indeed reviews in 2026 cite low pay, burnout, and constant layoffs.
- Headcount fell to 2,836 in March 2026, signaling continued operating pressure.
- Backcountry CEO Melanie Cox left in January 2025, exposing integration and retention risk.
What makes CSC Generation unique
- CSC Generation uses Genesis, a shared AI-enabled operating platform across 13 brands.
- It buys distressed retailers like Backcountry, Sur La Table, and One Kings Lane.
- It monetizes turnaround expertise, not standalone software, across home and outdoor verticals.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- 401(k) Company Match
- Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Vacation
- Pet Insurance
- Employee Discounts