SESSION 2: Career Prospects in Retailing
Store operations assistant is the entry-level post of retail business. But as every retail
completely dependent upon the sales they get, this
shop is is one of the important posts
in this profession. To be a good sales person, one should have good knowledge about theproducts, the shop, the customers etc. After requiredexperienche will be promoted higher jobs in the
tore. The following are the job opportunitiesavailable after entry level of store operationsassistant:
Table 1: Job Opportunities in Store OperationsJob PositionQualification
Department Manager/ FloorManager/ Category Manager/Store Manager/ Manager Back-endOperations
Customer Interaction Manager/
Purchase and Merchandising
Manager
Purchase and Merchandising
Associate
MBA with 5 to 10
Customer Sales Associate
years experience
Transaction Processing Associate/ Graduates/12 Pass
Graduate with 2 to
5years experience
12tih Pass/10 Pass
The immediate career opportunity of the store operation assistant is customer salesservice asso ciate. Knowledge and skills that a Customer Sales Service Associate shouldpossess include the following:
Knowledge of current sales promotion schemes of the company and ability toCommunicate the same to the customers.
Ability to sell i.e. , selling skills
Knowledge of policies regarding exchanges.
In depth knowledge of store offerings.
Stores/brands (in case of sales person engaged in apparel retail
Knowledae of product features such as brand options, warranties, features andbenefits, use/application, shelf life/use by dates, care and handling, storagerequirements, product/ingredient/material, safety features and prioeAbility to quide the customers to the relevant sections of the store.
Knowledge about the merchandise in inventory to help customers find the desiredmerchandise which is not on display.
Ability to watch out for security risks and thefts, and know how to prevent or
handle these situations.
Ability to cross sell.
Ability to describe merchandise and
merchandise to Customers.
Good communication skills
Ability to understand product information, store policies and procedures.
Department Manager / Floor Manager/ Category Manager: These are some of the postone could handie in the store.
Store Manager: Store managers sometimes called General Manager or Store Director, areresponsible for managing an individual store and its day-to-day function ing. The storemanager is in charge of the employees of the store and he himselt may report to aDistrict or Area manager or the store's owner.
Retail Operation Manager: It is the duty of a retail manager to plan and coordinate theoperations of the outlet. This involves the layout of merchandise, monitoring the retailorders and stock, analyzing the supply etc. Candidates with Master Degree can start offas retail managers.
Retail Buyers and Merchandisers: They are the persons who select and buy the goods forthe retail shop. They should understand the needs of the customer, should be aware ofthe trends in the market, and should possess great enthusiasm and energy.
Visual Merchandisers: These people give the brand a face, so they hold one of the veryimportant positions in the industry. Being a part of concept and design one could also bea technical designer, product developer and store planner.
Logistics and Warehouse Managers
explain use,
Apart from the above the following careers also available in the retail business:
Retail Communication ManagerManager Private label Brands
operation, and care of
. Retail Marketing ExecutivesFinance and Administration
Marketing
Logistics
. Buying
. Customer Service Call Centers
Human Resources/TrainingInformation Technology
The remuneration in the retail industry depends upon the company, nature of work andthe area where you work. The average starting salary of a sales person in the retaliindustry is Rs 5,500/- per month. Depending on various post, the salary range variesRs.6,000/- to Rs.22,000/- per month. The special packages, bonus, incentives offered arepart of this career. The remuneration outside India also varies depending upon manyfactors such as shops, products and places.
