Retail Career

The Retailing Industry Story

Retails Industry is the largest provider of jobs in the country, after farming, reveals a recent study but most people are not aware of the various opportunities within Retail.

The Jobs in Retail Market

A retails organization requires customer focus, differentiation, innovation and brand management. A retailing professional has to essay many roles such as that of a fashion expert an economist. IT manager, financial analyst, good HR manager, a skilled distributor, logistics and supply chain manager, a real estate manager in addition to being a competent marketing and merchandising person.

No other sector, perhaps offers such a wide array of opportunities and challenges as retailing does.

The management teams of a retail organization has responsibilites ranging from supervision and assistance of a sales and other employees to store planning and management, staffing, administration, and financial functions, depending upon store size and management level.

Useful Personal Qualities

Each job has its own specific demands, but un-like most retail occupations, here some or all of the following required qualities like good communication skills, numerical ability, above average computer literacy.

An alert mind and good work ethic are required.

In short, versatile, talented people are the need of the hour in retail. To be a successful retailer in the globalised market you have to be great at every thing.

Retail buyers purchase merchandise. They plan and select the range, type and quantity of products according to customer demand, keeping in mind price, quality and availability trends, store policy and budget. They source new and review existing merchandise to ensure products remain competitive. By fully understanding customer needs, they are able to maximize profits and provide a commercially-viable range of merchandise at competitive prices. Keeping up to date with market trends and reacting to changes in demand are key elements of the role.

Through 10+2 or graduates from any field can enter the retail sector, but preference is given to one who has done a specialized Diploma course in BBA or MBA or equivalent. Doing a MBA, BBA, Diploma retail management or Communication or insurance course one can make career for themselves in this sector.

Where do you want to stand your self in the Retail field?

Retailing is in the middle of significant growth. That growth spells opportunity. In every state, and in every type of retail store (department store, discount store, specialty store), retailers are aggressively hiring young, talented Indian youth.

Primary career opportunities in retailing are in buying and store management. Other opportunities exist in specialty areas, areas accessible only through special talents and training, or experiences in the industry.

The world of opportunity blossoms once you get your foot in the retail door N advertising, real estate, legal, security, buying, visual merchandising, designing, negotiating, managing, technology, training, human resources. Anything that you might want to do in business is found in retailing.

About Careers in the Retail Industry

Human Resources

The people side, the legal side, and the detail side of retail.

Recruiting and hiring employees are the most obvious parts. But retail careers in human resources also include a wealth of other responsibilities such as training, designing training programs, overseeing compensation and benefits, and planning for and ensuring legal compliance in hiring and employment practices.

IT and E-Commerce

Technology careers are numerous and varied in the retail industry. From the e-commerce websites that complement most brick-and-mortar stores to complex inventory systems, from technology-driven training programs delivered over satellites or the Internet to state-of-the-art cash register and credit systems, from web design to servers and network systems management, technology careers are only growing in the retail industry.

Marketing/Advertising

Depending upon company size, marketing functions may be centralized in the one department, divided into different departments (like advertising, sales promotion, art and visual merchandising, and public/press relations), or group in various combinations. Marketing also conducts focus groups and statistical analysis of customer buying patterns to develop strategies and plans that guide marketing components like ads, websites, store signage, etc

Store Operations

Are you a big picture person?

Retail professionals in the store operations career area oversee overall store operations and profits. Sample position titles include Head of Store Operations, Regional Manager, & District Manager, and responsibilities in this area may include managing staff functions like loss prevention and/or human resources.

Store Management

The store manager or management team has responsibility ranging from departmental to overall establishment. Managers at all levels supervise and assist sales and other employees. Additional responsibilities, depending upon store/company size and management level include opening and closing the store, staffing, administration, and financial functions. Promotions to management positions can be earned through experience, or a college degree may afford direct entry to management trainee programs.

Where people skills and running a business meet.

Finance

Financial and accounting skills are more than a game in retail; they can be your career! The finance retail career area includes all accounting and treasury functions like accounting for income, paying expenses, compiling and maintaining financial records, money management and cash flow control, banking, investment, and credit lines. Auditory responsibilities may also fall into this retail career area.

Are numbers your game?

Distribution, Logistics, Supply Chain Management

Moving mountains of merchandise worldwide.

This retail career area oversees movement and storage of consumer products. Responsibilities include management and facilitation of distribution centers, logistics traffic management, trucking and other transportation operations, and may include import/export shipping and related duties.

Unlimited Employment Opportunity in Retail Industry

Retail Industry requires 2,00,000 trained people

Inter & Graduates with the right skills may be hired in addition to the Cashier and the Customer Service Attendance, Sales persons, there are store managers, Department Managers, Merchandisers, Floor or Department Supervisors, Security Supervisor and Check out Operators. Training in retail is offered as short term course of 3 months duration open to Inter, Graduates and Undergraduates. How ever one year Diploma, 3 years BBA, 2 years MBA’s in Retail, Insurance, Communication, Telecom Professionals are in grate demand in retail and telecom organizations.

Retailers and interested in Collegians from all backgrounds and with any degrees. Many corporate Retailers are preferring for Inter / Degrees with skill sets of Retails / Business Applications / Communication. Corporate Recruiters want serious, career minded people who are energetic, who take initiative, to lead, to communicate well, who relate to people well in a fast paced environment and who are trained by Professional Organizations. Being Computer literate is also very useful. The road to the top in retailing is as different as it is in other industries. These days many corporate industries are entering into retail management education with diploma, MBA level programs. Some programs focus on on-the-job training alone, and some combined internship training and classroom work.

After that what happened to you?, according to experts, it depends on how hard you drive yourself and how open you are to the opportunities that you never imagine could exist in a single company crossing your path. After working in retail for one to two years, he sees opportunities he never imagined. And as trend shows, most major retailers have support systems to guide and help young managers and executives develop and build career plans.

For raw opportunity, retailing has every thing. The jobs and careers are there, in retailing. The rewards are outstanding. Industry experts suggest that all graduates take hard looks at retailing.