Retailing
    Overview
    Skills & Talents
    Job Options
    Salaries
    Links & Resources
    Facts & Trends
    Top Firms
    Firm Listing

   Site Info
    About Us
    Advertising

Management Trainee

Most well-known retail stores have management training programs. A new employee will spend six months to three years in the various retail operations in order to learn the company and industry. At the end of the training period, an individual will be ready to move into retail management as either an assistant manager or a store manager.

Store Manager

The store manager is responsible for the management and operation of an individual store. The annual evaluation of the store manager depends to a great deal on how the store fared during the year. Most store managers have served time as assistant store managers who take on much of the duty of managing the day-to-day operation of the store.

Buyer

Buyers are responsible for selecting the merchandise that a store carries and then physically buying the goods. Much of this work will be performed at annual and semi-annual markets. The buyer is continually looking at a variety of products and deciding if they are right for the store.

Department Manager

Department stores contain several small departments such as clothing, accessories, home appliances, etc. Each of these departments is led by department managers who act as store managers on a department level. Department manager is a step to becoming a store manager or going into corporate management.

Sales

Every retail store depends on a salesforce to sell its merchandise. One primary difference in retail sales and industrial sales is the customer. Generally, retail customers come to the salesperson and consist of the home consumer. Retail sales personnel must provide a high level of service and expertise.

Regional Manager

The regional manager manages groups of stores across several states, is responsible for reporting performance to headquarters, making key personnel decisions and for monitoring store performance with periodic visits and problem-solving trips.