A retail manager is responsible for running a retail store, or a department within a big store, and for making maximum sales profits.
The Work
You could be:
meeting sales targets
analysing sales figures and forecasting future sales
managing budgets and controlling how money is spent
keeping up to date with market trends and competitors
ordering new stock and planning how to display and promote special offers
responsible for work rotas and managing staff; supervising, motivating and disciplining
interviewing, recruiting and training new staff
dealing with problems such as customers’ complaints
making sure that all health and safety, security and legal procedures are carried out.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Salaries for retail managers can start around £19,000, rising to £30,000 a year with experience. In many posts, retail managers can earn bonuses over and above the basic salary, with some senior or regional managers earning £40,000 a year or more.
Conditions
You will work in an office and on the shop floor.
You spend a lot of time on the sales floor, supervising staff.
You work long hours, including evenings and weekends. Some supermarkets open 24 hours a day.
It can be an active job and you might have to help lift heavy things.
Some companies might want you to work in other areas of the country.
Apply directly to companies for entry to trainee manager schemes. Most large retailers offer these.
You usually need a HNC (SCQF Level 7), HND (SCQF Level 8) or degree (SCQF Level 9-10) in any subject. You might have a better chance with a qualification in business or retail management.
To get on to a degree course, you need 4-5 Highers.
Part time shop work can give you useful experience.
If you work as a retail assistant and study part time for SVQs at SCQF Levels 5 or 6 or for an HNC, you might gain promotion into management.
leadership skills and the ability to motivate others
confidence and assertiveness
the ability to make decisions
the ability to plan, prioritise and delegate work
business, financial and IT skills
excellent communication and people skills
the ability to work well under pressure
to be good at problem solving and dealing with difficult situations.
Training
Training will probably be on the job, along with short specialist courses.
You might work first as a sales assistant. You will then move to different branches or departments as a depute manager or a junior manager.
Getting On
If you manage a small store, you will have more freedom to make your own decisions.
If you work for a chain store, you will work within guidelines from head office. However, you can work your way up the promotion ladder.
You could be promoted to Department Manager, running a particular department within a big store, or become Branch Manager, running the whole store which is part of a chain of stores.
With further experience you could become a Regional Manager, running a group of stores.
Alternatively you could specialise in either personnel, marketing, merchandising or purchasing.
You might have to study part time for SVQ qualifications at SCQF Level 9.
You might have to move to a different part of the country with each new post.
2024
