Retail Management Your complete guide to starting your career

Retail Management Your complete guide to starting your careerIf youre thinking about a career in retail management, either because youve put in your time in the entry-level retail trenches and want to move up in the field or youre considering a career change, you probably have a general idea of what to expect. After all, retail is not for the faint of heart. However, theres a difference between working in retail and making it your career, so if youre considering taking that step to level up, we have the info youll need to help make that decision. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832672400-0) ) How will you know if its a good fit?If youve gotten this far, its likely youve already found retail to be a good fit for you, on paper. But what are the qualities youll need to have as a retail manager?Good personality counts for a lot here. Some common traits found in successful retail managers includeStrong customer focus. The customers may or may not always be right, but they will always be your priority. Managers who care about providing excellent customer tafelgeschirr, even under stressful circumstances, do well.Leadership skills. The manager will be in charge of other employees as well as store operations, so its important to be someone who can step up and lead rather than melting into the crowd.The ability to make peace. Whether its dealing with employee drama or customer issues, at some point the manager will have to be the one who fights off irritation or frustration and placates different kinds of personalities to make sure things are resolved well.If you struggle in any of these areas, it doesnt mean you cant be a good retail manager, but it might mean putting in extra work to create a successful professional persona. Being part of retail management means being able to navigate the challenges of keeping everything running smoothly while also accommodating corporate/geschftlicher umgang goals and customer needs.What is the day-to- day like?Retail managers are typically responsible for the daily operations of a brick-and-mortar storewhether its a big box giant like Walmart or your Mom and Pop hardware store down the street. Basically, every store needs someone to ensure that sale goals are being met, staff are being managed, the store is operating well, and that customer needs are being met. A retail managers tasks may includeOpening and closing the storeHiring and managing staff membersManaging the daily employee scheduleAnalyzing sales and setting sales goals for the storeCreating and maintaining store budgetsAnalyzing and coordinating inventoryCreating store displaysWorking with and reporting to senior management in the company (for example, a head office or a store owner)Communicating financial informationWorking with vendors and suppliersEnsuring that the store is clean, organized, and well-maintainedMonitoring expenses and store losses (security)Handling escalated customer service issuesRetail managers a re responsible for making sure everything gets done in a store, and that its done well. Retail managers can also expect to work long weeks (potentially more than 40 hours), on varied schedules. After all, stores are open all week long, and increasingly on holidays. This is not your standard 9-to-5 in a cubicle gig.What types of retail management jobs are out there?Some of the most common retail management job opportunities includeStore ManagerRetail Operations ManagerTeam LeaderStore General ManagerAlthough most retail management positions are leise in what we would think of as normal stores, the retail landscape is definitely changing. So in addition to the traditional store manager roles (showing up at a specific store and making sure that physical operations are going according to plan), there will be increasing opportunities to manage digital retail as well. Managers who are well-versed in supply chain logistics or online sales have versatile skill sets that could help them adva nce in our increasingly digital economy.What education will you need?One of the best things about getting started retail is that you dont need to get an extensive education before you jump in. The retail path often starts with a high school degree and on-the-job training, and then growing experience as you take on more responsibility. Hands-on experience is often more valuable in this field than a specific education credential. To become a retail manager, however, an associates degree, bachelors degree, or course in sales, business, or management can help you get to the management level faster.If you dont have a degree, dont worrytheres still a path to retail management. You can take your existing experience and use that to create longer-term goals. You can also stay and grow within a certain company, using the aufsteigen ladder to get where you want to be. At every level of your retail career, make sure youre learning everything you possibly can about how your store (and retail in general) works, because this is an education you cant get elsewhereand you never know when that information can help boost you to the next level.What skills will you need?As mentioned before, retail managers have to be able to juggle many different obligations and tasks. These core skills will serve you very well in a retail management career.Communication skillsManagers have to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with all sorts of different people employees, upper management, suppliers or vendors, and employees. That means being able to adapt a message to the right audience and strike the right tone as necessary. Listening skills are also essential, so that potential problems can be understood and addressed as quickly and efficiently as possible.Problem solvingEvery retail manager is going to deal with problemsproblems with employees, problems with customers, problems in getting the right merchandise, problems with security, you anthroponym it. If your solution to a dire ct challenge is to pull inward, turtle-style, and hope it goes away, this job might not be for you. Instead, retail managers should be able to see a problem clearly, and be able to come up with a workable solutioneven if its not a perfect one.Results focusIts not enough to keep a store goingmanagers will also be responsible for performing well according to different metrics, whether its a stores financial performance, sales goals, employee goals, customer feedback, etc. Its crucial to understand what these criteria are that youll need to meet and focus your attention on hitting them.ProfessionalismAs mentioned before, the retail manager will often need to step in and be the grownup in cases of conflict or customer complaints. A professional demeanor at all times is very necessary.Math skillsRetail managers are often responsible for extensive reporting and analysis when it comes to a stores finances and budgets, so being able to do the math efficiently and accurately is important.Neg otiation skillsWhether its trying to create an employee schedule without causing a revolt or trying to get a better deal from vendors, knowing how to negotiate your way out of any situation is a powerful tool for a retail manager to have.Engaging people skillsRetail managers are not solo acts, so they have to be able to inspire their teams to do work together for the common good of the store. Fear and anger are not the best motivational tools around, so its essential to have the skills to be able to get people to want to do their best workand to motivate them when they dont necessarily want to do it.What is the potential career path? Retail management can seem like an end goal in and of itself, so if you havent thought much yet about the nuances of what you can do once you get to that point, youre not alone. Once you get a certain level of management experience, those skills are very transferable all over the retail landscape. You may decide to specialize in a particular area, like one of the followingMerchandisingMarketingPersonnel managementCustomer serviceTrainingOperationsWarehousingOnce you have skills and experience, you may find that different management opportunities may open up even within the saatkorn company.What kind of salary can you expect?According to salary.com, retail managers can make a pretty wide range of salaries, with a median between $48,091 and $65,734. Specific salary depends on factors like experience and location.What is the outlook for retail management?Retail itself may be changing with the times, but the need for retail isnt. Companies will always be selling goods, products, and services, and will always need qualified leaders to help them do that in the most efficient and profitable ways possible. Retail management is a career with solid operational foundations, and will continue to be an in-demand career path for those with the experience, leadership skills, and the commitment to customer service.If youre looking for help with y our resume,you can also download free templates from our Resume Library to get started.