Careers in Retail Management

• Who loves the retail store experience?
• Who craves the excitement of the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping?
• Who thrives in a retail environment?

The people responsible for managing retail stores are Retail Store Managers, Assistant Store Managers and Area/Department Managers.

Retail Store Manager

A Retail Store Manager oversees all of the activities of a retail store’s operation.

• Responsible for implementing the company’s marketing and sales plans while ensuring the efficient operation of sales, operations and administration within the store
• Oversee sales promotions, placing merchandise on the sales floor, monitor sales and inventory levels, manage personnel and generate profits
• Set a tone for the store and share a vision of success and expectations about customer service, promotions and store goals with all employees

Job Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in merchandising, retailing, business or management

Experience

• Retail sales and assistant management experience
• Overall knowledge and additional experience in all aspects of retailing

Personal Characteristics

• Good team leader who is self-motivated, adaptable and communicates well
• Enjoy a fast-moving, high-pressure environment

Assistant Store Manager

Assistant Store Managers can have a variety of titles and responsibilities.

Assistant Store Manager in a Specialty Store

• Assists the store manager in all aspects of store operations
• Provides leadership to the store in the areas of associate development, execution of merchandise sales areas, analysis of business operations and expense management

HR Manager

• Primary responsibility for human resources, including recruitment, training, staffing and payroll

Operations Manager

• Primarily responsible for receiving, freight processing, stock rooms, store maintenance, store systems and cash office procedures

Merchandising Manager

• Primarily responsible for merchandising the sales floor and supervising sales associates.

Job Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s degree in merchandising, retailing, business, management or a related field

Experience

• Retail sales and managerial experience
• Management training program

Personal Characteristics

• Effective interpersonal, organizational and communication skills
• Knowledge of accounting, personnel and marketing
• Detail oriented and flexible

Area/Department Manager

An Area or Department Manager oversees a specific area or department within a store.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating sales associates
• Assisting with employee hires, scheduling weekly work hours, handling employee and customer complaints, and monitoring the performance of employees
• Have regular meetings with store managers, assistant store managers and employees
• Discuss promotions, concerns and opportunities
• Maintain the sales by merchandising and recording price changes

Job Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s or associate’s degree in merchandising, retailing, business or a related degree

Experience

• Successful retail sales experience

Personal Characteristics

• Detail oriented
• Well organized
• Effective problem solver with good interpersonal skills
• Flexibility