Retail Recruitment Agency
Licorne Society helps retail chains, brands and distributors, from young businesses to established groups, hire the talent that drives store and channel performance.
5/5 · 206 Google reviews More than 150 brands, retail chains and distributors have hired through Licorne Society.
Testimonials
They trusted Licorne Society with their hiring
We were looking for an experienced operational profile to run an urban fulfilment site in the FoodTech world. Strong management experience was required, along with knowledge of last mile delivery and E-Commerce challenges. Several profiles 100% aligned with our needs were put forward in a very short time. A very good understanding of the soft skills we were looking for, as well as of the role's business challenges.
We entrusted Licorne with 2 key hires (newly created roles). Great support, from defining the need to the profiles put forward. Adaptable, attentive and full of ideas. And a great relationship, a pleasure to talk to every time.
We worked together on hiring a Managing Director to take over from the founders. A wide selection of profiles straight away, responsiveness to our feedback and a good balance between the candidates and the client
Our typical retail profiles
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Head of Retail
- Manages a store network and its P&L
- Able to structure processes without stifling field teams
- Omnichannel view of the customer journey, from store to digital
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Network & Expansion Manager
- Site sourcing, lease negotiation and store opening set-up
- Command of company-owned, franchise and affiliate models
- Able to deliver an ambitious opening plan on schedule
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Head of Buying / Category Manager
- Builds the product range and manages margins by category
- Supplier negotiation and command of purchasing terms
- Reads sales data closely to make range decisions
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Merchandising & Customer Experience Manager
- Designs in-store journeys and merchandising plans
- Able to bring the brand identity to life on the shop floor
- Measures sales per square metre and conversion rate
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Retail Supply Chain & Logistics Director
- Manages warehouse-to-store flows and product availability
- Command of replenishment, inventory and shrinkage
- Knowledge of omnichannel models (click and collect, ship from store)
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CRM & Omnichannel Manager
- Runs loyalty programmes and customer insight
- Reconciles in-store and online data
- Able to get store teams behind digital initiatives
Our retail recruitment expert
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André Farah
- COO and co-founder of Licorne Society.
- Former Operations Strategy and Management consultant, with strong expertise in retail and e-commerce.
- Specialist in building retail teams, from field operations to sales leadership.
- Specialist in structuring and organising teams, from startups and scale-ups to established companies.
Recruiting in retail: operational rigour meets a flair for selling
Retail hires need to succeed on two fronts at once 🚀
Your future hires must deliver on demanding operational indicators (margin, inventory, productivity, staff turnover) while providing a flawless customer experience. This dual requirement, in a sector undergoing a full omnichannel overhaul, makes these candidates rare and highly sought after.
What we do
identify the people who master the shop floor, data and brand, and who want to shape the future of retail.
The functions we recruit for: Retail Directors and network managers, buyers and category managers, merchandising and customer experience, supply chain and logistics, CRM and omnichannel, regional directors...
A 3.0 recruitment agency specialising in retail
- 01
A community of sector talent
Licorne Society has more than 4,500 active job seekers registered on its platform.
- 02
Deep expertise in retail roles
For every role, our team identifies, approaches and screens the right profiles among the best talent in the ecosystem.
- 03
Unique sourcing technology
Built entirely around your sector and your target profiles, combining artificial intelligence and automation.
How we find the best retail candidates
- 1
Scoping your needs
We (really) take the time to understand.
- 2
Targeted sourcing
We quickly tap into our network of more than 50,000 professionals, and approach directly the candidates who are not in it yet.
- 3
Screening the best candidates
We take the time to call every relevant candidate to understand their background and aspirations.
- 4
Shortlist within a few days
You receive a list of qualified candidates who are available and interested.
Our scope
What types of companies do we support?
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Retail chains and physical networks
Company-owned or franchised networks, opening new stores or densifying their network.
- Network management and operations
- Expansion and commercial real estate
- Store operations
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Brands and DNVBs moving into physical retail
Digitally native brands opening their first stores and structuring their distribution.
- First in-store hires
- Wholesale and concessions
- Brand and shopping journey
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Grocery and mass retail
Food retail groups, convenience formats and quick commerce players, with high-volume flow challenges.
- Buying and category management
- Supply chain and replenishment
- Store and regional management
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Luxury, fashion and beauty
Premium houses and brands, where the quality of the customer experience drives perceived value.
- Retail and client experience
- Collections and merchandising
- International development
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Specialist distribution and wholesale
B2B distributors, wholesalers and multi-brand specialists, balancing account management and logistics.
- Business development
- Key account management
- Logistics and customer service
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Retail tech and solutions for retailers
Software vendors and startups equipping retail chains: point of sale, RFID, pricing, supply, loyalty.
- Product and tech
- Data and pricing
- B2B sales to retailers
Why trust Licorne Society with your hiring?
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Understanding the shop floor as well as head office
A good hire here depends on the candidate's ability to bring a strategy to life in store. We assess vision and operational grounding in equal measure.
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Attracting candidates who bridge the shop floor and digital
The best talent in the sector can now read data and run omnichannel operations. We seek them out in established retail chains as well as digital brands.
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Securing your key hires and your openings
Retail leadership, expansion, buying: these hires shape your opening plan and your margin. We handle them with the rigour and discretion they demand.
Resources & related pages
Further reading on retail recruitment
Our consultants support retail chains, brands and distributors across France (Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille...) and internationally on their permanent hires: network management, expansion, buying, merchandising, supply chain and omnichannel.
Need a candidate for your retail or wholesale team? Contact us to discuss your project.
Our job profiles may interest you, in particular the ones on Head of Brand (in French) or Sales Director (in French).
Physical retail and digital are now managed together: for your online channel roles, discover our e-commerce recruitment agency.
Retail recruitment: frequently asked questions
01 How long does it take to receive a shortlist of retail candidates?
How long does it take to receive a shortlist of retail candidates?
We present a first shortlist of qualified candidates within 7 days on average after the briefing. Our sourcing technology and our community of more than 4,500 registered, available candidates allow us to move fast, assessing hands-on operational skills as much as a flair for selling and the ability to manage performance indicators.
02 Do you recruit store staff or only head office roles?
Do you recruit store staff or only head office roles?
We mainly work on the roles that shape the business: retail leadership, network management and expansion, buying and category management, merchandising, supply chain, CRM and omnichannel. We also recruit for strategically important stores, in France and internationally.
03 Do you support brands opening their first stores?
Do you support brands opening their first stores?
Yes. It is a pivotal moment for a digitally native brand: e-commerce skills are no longer enough, and you need teams who know how to open, run and make a store profitable. We support these brands on those first hires, from Store Manager to Head of Network Development.
Our specialities
A specialist recruiter for every need
Executive Search
We help companies find and hire senior executives and C-level leaders.
Learn more Tech & DataTech recruitment
Hire people with strong technical expertise in software development and data, in a highly competitive market.
Learn more Sales & MarketingSales & Marketing recruitment
We help companies structure their Marketing and Sales teams so they can drive the growth of the business.
Learn more OperationsOperations & Finance recruitment
Hire the people who will run and optimise your operations and processes.
Learn moreOur key sectors
Discover our other sectors
Our locations
We recruit across the major French tech and digital ecosystems, and support your growth across Europe.