Landmark Group - Splash: Interview Preparation For Management Trainee – Retail Operations Role
Landmark Group - Splash is one of the Middle East’s largest retail and hospitality conglomerates, with a five-decade legacy and a portfolio spanning 2,200+ retail stores, 160+ leisure and hospitality outlets, and 21 homegrown brands across the GCC, wider Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Splash, founded in 1993, is Landmark’s flagship high-street fashion brand, known for trend-led, affordable apparel and sustainability-forward initiatives, operating over 200 stores across multiple countries. Together, they offer scale, structure, and a performance-driven culture that develops future leaders in modern retail.
This comprehensive guide provides essential insights into the Management Trainee – Retail Operations at Landmark Group - Splash, covering required skills, responsibilities, interview questions, and preparation strategies to help aspiring candidates succeed.
1. About the Management Trainee – Retail Operations Role
As a Management Trainee – Retail Operations at Splash, you embark on an 18-month learning journey that blends classroom modules with on-the-job rotations across Sales, Visual Merchandising, Backstore Operations, Cashiering, Department Management, and Store Management.
You’ll learn core store operations-customer service, inventory control, sales analysis, merchandising execution, and staff supervision-while driving day-to-day retail excellence and elevating customer experience. Quarterly assessments and progressive responsibilities prepare you to manage teams, handle escalations, and deliver against KPIs like conversion, average transaction value, sell-through, and stock turns.
Positioned within Splash’s store operations structure, the role partners closely with Store Managers, Department Managers, Visual Merchandisers, and cross-functional teams (Buying, Planning, VM). The aim is to develop you into a Store Manager upon successful completion of the program. The role is critical for sustaining Splash’s high service standards, operational discipline, and commercial performance across a multi-country, multi-format retail network-building the next generation of leaders who can translate brand strategy into outstanding in-store execution.
2. Required Skills and Qualifications
To thrive as a Management Trainee – Retail Operations at Landmark Group - Splash, you’ll need a blend of academic foundation, people leadership, commercial acumen, and operational discipline. Below are the core qualifications and competencies the program looks for, aligned to the training journey and performance expectations.
Educational Qualifications
- Mandatory: Currently pursuing a Master’s in Retail Management or a related field.
- Preferred: 1-2 years of experience in the retail industry.
Key Competencies
- Passion for Retail & Fashion: Demonstrated interest in the retail and fashion industry.
- Customer Service Orientation: A strong focus on customer service and enhancing customer experience.
- Leadership & Initiative: Demonstrated leadership potential, taking initiative and motivating peers.
- Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Analytical Skills: Strong analytical skills, capable of translating data into actionable insights.
- Teamwork & Collaboration: Strong teamwork and collaboration skills, contributing to a positive work environment.
- Results-Driven Attitude: Focused on achieving and exceeding sales and productivity targets.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and flexibility to join across various locations and work schedules.
Technical Skills
- Store Operations: Comprehensive experience in daily store operations, including customer service, inventory management, sales analysis, and staff supervision.
- Cross-Functional Retail Knowledge: Knowledge gained through rotations in different functions such as Buying, Planning, Visual Merchandising, and Store Management.
- Visual Merchandising (VM): Understanding of VM guidelines, display standards, and in-store VM tasks.
- Inventory & Backstore Management: Skills in inventory processes, RFID tagging, stock receiving, and damage handling.
- Sales & Cashiering: Experience in cashiering, returns & exchanges, counter selling, and managing digital payments.
- Performance Management: Ability to participate in performance reviews and work towards store targets and KPIs.
- Team Management: Skills in collaborating with, motivating, training, and guiding store staff.
3. Day-to-Day Responsibilities
Below are typical daily and weekly responsibilities for a Management Trainee – Retail Operations at Splash, reflecting the structured rotation and performance expectations across store functions.
- Store Operations Management: Gain comprehensive experience in daily store operations, including customer service, inventory management, sales analysis, and staff supervision to ensure the store meets financial objectives and achieves sales targets.
- Cross-Functional Learning & Project Work: Participate in rotations across different retail functions such as Buying, Planning, and Visual Merchandising, and work on projects involving new product launches and merchandising strategies.
- Customer Engagement & Sales Promotion: Lead efforts to enhance customer service quality, address inquiries, manage escalations, and implement promotional activities to drive store traffic and increase sales.
- Team Management & Development: Collaborate with the store team to motivate, train, and guide staff towards achieving performance goals, and assist in staff scheduling and day-to-day employee management.
- Performance Monitoring & Career Progression: Participate in regular performance reviews to receive feedback and work towards becoming a full-fledged Store Manager capable of independently handling store operations after the 18-month program.
4. Key Competencies for Success
Beyond eligibility, standout trainees consistently demonstrate the following capabilities that accelerate readiness for Store Manager roles and ensure reliable delivery in fast-paced retail environments.
- Learning Agility: Quickly absorbs SOPs and new tools, adapts across rotations, and applies feedback to improve outcomes.
- Ownership Mindset: Treats the department like a business-anticipates risks, escalates proactively, and follows through on actions.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: Uses daily dashboards and stock/traffic insights to prioritize manpower, merchandising, and promotions.
- People Leadership: Coaches peers, coordinates shifts, and models brand behaviors that lift team morale and productivity.
- Customer Obsession: Keeps the customer at the center of decisions-resolving issues swiftly and elevating experience across touchpoints.
5. Common Interview Questions
This section provides a selection of common interview questions to help candidates prepare effectively for their Management Trainee – Retail Operations interview at Landmark Group - Splash.
Frame a concise story linking your education, store-floor exposure, and passion for fast-fashion and customer experience at a leading GCC brand.
Emphasize structured rotations, mentorship, and readiness to take end-to-end ownership of a department/store.
Use STAR; show empathy, clear communication, policy knowledge, and a measurable positive outcome.
Discuss triaging by customer impact, safety, and sales criticality; delegating and time-boxing.
Show influence skills-clarifying roles, setting micro-deadlines, and recognizing contribution.
Pick a real retail/academic example; highlight root-cause analysis and how you changed behavior.
Demonstrate coachability: active listening, documenting action points, and follow-up improvements.
Pick traits relevant to store ops: reliable, proactive, calm under pressure, collaborative.
Connect personal drive to team wins, customer delight, and brand growth; mention incentives responsibly.
Reference scale, multi-brand exposure, cross-functional learning, and clear pathways to Store Manager roles.
Use the STAR method and quantify outcomes (conversion, UPT, shrink, NPS) wherever possible.
Sell-through shows how much received inventory has sold; it guides replenishment, markdowns, and VM changes.
Discuss RFID/barcode checks, cycle counts, CCTV/blind spots, fitting room controls, and staff training.
Daily sales vs. target, conversion, ATV/UPT, top SKUs, OSA, pending GRNs/RTVs, and manpower allocation.
Pre-count prep, zone assignment, count/verify, variance analysis, root cause, corrective actions.
Correct zoning, color stories, hero product placement, and clear signage improve navigation and basket size.
Use traffic and sales data to schedule, cross-train, assign POS/greeters/fitting rooms, and set break plans.
Till checks, cash drop frequency, refunds/exchange authorization, void reports, and EOD reconciliation.
Buying curates assortments; Planning allocates/forecasts. Stores feedback on demand, sizing, and sell-through.
Forward plan markdowns, reflow fixtures, clear old stock, train team on new collections, refresh windows.
Compare baseline vs. promo lift, margin mix, cannibalization, and post-promo inventory position.
Be ready to compute simple metrics quickly and interpret what actions they trigger on the shop floor.
Audit service touchpoints, fitting room wait, product availability, and VM; deploy staff to high-impact zones.
Check backstore, inter-store transfer options, offer alternatives, log demand, and flag to Planning.
Rebalance roles, shorten breaks, request standby support, prioritize POS/fitting rooms, and simplify tasks.
Acknowledge, explain policy clearly, explore exchange/store credit options, and escalate if needed.
Recount, investigate receipts/RTVs, review CCTV and recent transfers, implement corrective controls.
Plan phased setup, assign off-peak slots, maintain safety, and communicate timelines to the team.
Run a debrief, recognize efforts, set short-term wins, coach on behaviors, and realign incentives.
Introduce ticketing/attendant, limit item count, open additional rooms, and adjust staffing.
Secure area, assist affected customer, log incident, report per SOP, and mitigate root cause immediately.
Re-merchandise, improve signage, bundle offers, push add-ons, and review deeper markdowns with Planning.
Structure your approach: assess, prioritize, act, communicate, and follow up with data-backed outcomes.
Focus on your goals, KPIs, actions, and measurable impact aligned with store operations.
Pick a rotation (e.g., VM or Department Management) and connect it to your strengths and learning goals.
Mention dashboards, pivot tables, and tracking of sales or stock to inform store actions.
Discuss transactions, reconciliations, refunds, and accuracy controls.
Link customer feedback or sales data to a change in display or assortment and its result.
Explain workload forecasting, role clarity, and coverage for peak times and critical zones.
Quantify target, actions (upsell, cross-sell, promos), and the achieved uplift.
Outline steps, accuracy checks, variance resolution, and documentation.
Show flexibility, preparedness for relocation, and respect for local compliance and culture.
Highlight people leadership, KPI ownership, SOP mastery, and consistent review performance.
Customize answers to your resume; mirror the role’s language (rotations, reviews, KPIs, SOPs) for tight alignment.
6. Common Topics and Areas of Focus for Interview Preparation
To excel in your Management Trainee – Retail Operations role at Landmark Group - Splash, it’s essential to focus on the following areas. These topics highlight the key responsibilities and expectations, preparing you to discuss your skills and experiences in a way that aligns with Landmark Group - Splash objectives.
- Retail Math & KPIs: Practice sell-through, stock turn, shrink, conversion, ATV, and UPT. Be ready to interpret results and propose actions.
- Store SOPs & Cashiering Controls: Understand opening/closing, EHS, cash handling, refunds/exchanges, and end-of-day reconciliation.
- Inventory Management: Learn GRN/RTV processes, replenishment, cycle counts, variance analysis, and ways to reduce stock-outs.
- Visual Merchandising Principles: Be familiar with planograms, hero products, signage, zoning, and how VM drives traffic and basket size.
- Customer Experience & Escalation Handling: Prepare scenarios demonstrating empathy, policy clarity, and recovery that preserves loyalty.
7. Perks and Benefits of Working at Landmark Group - Splash
Landmark Group - Splash offers a comprehensive package of benefits to support the well-being, professional growth, and satisfaction of its employees. Here are some of the key perks you can expect
- Competitive Compensation: Annual fixed salary around AED 72,000, plus variable incentive per brand retail incentive policy.
- Relocation Support: One-way air ticket, visa assistance, and 14 nights of hotel stay for onboarding.
- Health & Protection: Medical insurance as per local labor law and life insurance cover of USD 30,000.
- Time Off & Travel: 26 working days of annual leave and leave travel allowance every two years.
- Employee Discounts: Landmark Group employee discount across participating brands.
8. Conclusion
The Splash Management Trainee – Retail Operations program is a robust pathway to becoming a future Store Manager within one of the Middle East’s most influential retail groups. Success hinges on customer obsession, data-led thinking, and reliable execution across sales, inventory, VM, and team leadership.
Prepare to demonstrate retail math fluency, hands-on operational skills, and the ability to motivate teams under pressure. With structured rotations, quarterly reviews, and tangible career progression, Landmark Group - Splash offers the scale, mentorship, and brand equity to accelerate your growth-provided you come prepared, curious, and ready to own results from day one.
Tips for Interview Success:
- Quantify impact: Back stories with metrics like conversion, ATV, sell-through, and shrink reduction.
- Show store-floor thinking: Translate insights into specific actions for VM, staffing, and replenishment.
- Demonstrate leadership: Share examples of coaching, delegating, and energizing teams during peaks.
- Align to rotations: Reference how you’ll add value in Sales, VM, Inventory, and Department Management from week one.