Retail manager
Retail managers look after stores, motivate staff to achieve sales targets, organise promotional events and monitor industry trends.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a retail manager you'll:
- manage and motivate teams to increase sales
- oversee recruitment and training of staff
- keep track of stock and ordering
- organise sales promotions and in-store events
- deal with queries, complaints and feedback from customers
- analyse sales figures and forecast future sales
- control budgets and provide reports to senior company executives
- put security measures in place to protect against fraud and theft
Working environment
You could work at a store or in an office.
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- progress into area or regional management
- move into more specialist areas, like customer service, training and operations management
- use your management skills to work in another industry
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with others
- leadership skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- business management skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- a company training scheme
You could do a degree before applying to join an organisation's management training scheme. Most subjects are accepted but you may have an advantage if you study:
- retail management
- retail marketing
- business management
It's useful to get some experience in retail during your studies. You can do this through part-time retail jobs, internships and year placement schemes.
Your university careers service can help you find suitable opportunities.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Relevant subjects include:
- management
- retail management
- management skills and knowledge
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
You could apply to do an apprenticeship.
Relevant apprenticeships include:
- Team Leader Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Retail Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
- Retail Leadership Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
You may be able to start as a retail sales assistant and work your way up through promotion to supervisor or department manager.
You could also get into this job by switching from a managerial post in a related industry, like customer service. You would be given training in retail to build on your existing management experience.
Many national retailers run trainee management schemes. Some ask for a degree to apply.
Schemes combine training and mentoring with work placements in different parts of the business to develop your retail knowledge, skills and leadership qualities.
Related videos
Suggested videos
Coffee With is in early release mode with a limited number of videos. New videos are being added every week, so please check back for updates.
External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.