Careers in retail

There is a lot more to retail than a vocational stop gap. In a recent survey 85% of careers advisors agreed retail was the best sector for developing skills useful in any workplace.

Forget the age old image of just standing behind a checkout desk or endlessly stacking shelves, retail is now one of the most diverse and exciting industries you could progress in. Over three million people work in the 291,000 retail businesses that exist in the UK. They work together to ensure every item we buy is put on sale in the right place and at the right price – it doesn’t just happen by chance.

Possible career path in retail operations

• Saturday Assistant
• Sales Assistant
• Supervisor
• Department Manager
• Deputy Store Manager
• Store Manager
• Area Manager
• Regional Sales Manager
  
  

Examples of positions within retail

Sales Assistant
Sales assistants play a key role in making the customer's shopping experience enjoyable. They serve customers in all kinds of retail outlets, for example supermarkets, clothing retailers and department stores.
Their main responsibilities include:

• dealing with customers
• handling payments by cash, card or cheque
• making sure goods are attractively displayed
• helping customers find the goods they want
• giving advice on the availability of stock and any special promotions
• giving information on products and prices
• arranging orders and delivery of stock.

As a sales assistant you will normally spend a lot of time on your feet and may need to lift and carry items of stock. You will often be expected to wear a uniform.

Full-time sales assistants usually earn between £10,000 and £13,000 a year. Supervisors can earn up to £17,000 a year.

*Figures are intended as a guideline only.

You do not need any specific qualifications to become a sales assistant, although some employers may ask for GCSEs/S grades in English and Maths. Employers in the retail sector will often value interpersonal skills, flexibility and a positive attitude over any academic qualifications.

You will be at an advantage when applying for a job as a sales assistant if you have experience of working with the public and of handling cash.

Market Trader
Market traders, also known as stall-holders, sell goods from stalls in open air, indoor or covered markets. The goods could be anything from meat and fish to books and antiques. They could be new or second hand.

Traders start work early in the morning. They may drive to a wholesale market to buy fresh produce, or a warehouse to pick up supplies. On arrival at the market, they unload the van and set up the stall. The day is likely to include standing behind the stall and chatting to customers, giving them advice and encouraging them to buy. Traders take payment for goods and give change. At the end of the day the stall and goods are packed up. Part of the evening may involve stocktaking and deciding what replacement goods are needed for the stall.

Traders devote some time each week to buying goods, finding suitable suppliers and negotiating prices with them. They must keep records of the goods bought and sold, including VAT details. Traders also need to keep up-to-date with and adhere to the market’s regulations and the latest laws on trading and employment.

Traders selling their own handmade crafts also spend a great deal of time buying materials, and designing and making items for sale. They also travel frequently to specialist markets such as craft markets and fairs. Other traders sell services, such as body piercing or key-cutting.

Some traders work at only one market, others work at different markets on different days. There are opportunities to work on market stalls on a part-time basis. Some time is spent travelling – to buy and collect goods, and to and from the market. Physical fitness is required as the work involves a lot of standing, lifting and bending. Market traders may have to work outside in all weathers. A trader working a small stall for just a couple of days a week is likely to earn less than £5,500 a year. Average earnings from a stall operating several days a week can be £15,000 to £22,000 a year. Traders selling specialist goods can earn more.

*Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Market traders must pay for the rent of their stall, their stock and the running of their vehicle out of the income they earn.

To work as a market trader you will need:

• confidence, a friendly and pleasant personality, a sense of humour and the ability to relate to all kinds of people
• enthusiasm for selling goods
• the ability to negotiate and persuade
• presentation skills for creating an attractive stall
• business skills for the competitive pricing and sale of goods
• to be fit and active
• the ability to understand and keep up-to-date with trading law and regulations
• numeracy skills for handling money and keeping accounts.
• IT skills are useful to manage stock and keep track of income and expenditure.

Authorities often set a minimum age of 17 or 18. A driving licence is essential, as is the capital to buy stock and a vehicle, usually a small van.

This is a job which is often more suited to mature people who have experience of working in a shop, running their own business, or knowledge and experience of a particular line of products.

Some people enter this area of work as a career change or when they are financially secure. There are opportunities to gain experience by working part-time helping out on a stall.