Employment Readiness
How to Become a Retail Manager
Did you know that becoming a retail manager offers great opportunities for advancement, leadership experience, and long-term job stability? Retail managers are key to running a successful store. They oversee daily operations, train employees, manage inventory, and ensure customers have the best shopping experience possible. Whether you’re starting out as a retail associate or already have experience in sales, stepping into a management role is all about developing strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. Many retail managers work their way up through on-the-job experience or take advantage of management training programs. If you enjoy leading teams and helping stores thrive, becoming a retail manager could be your next big move.
What is a Retail Manager?
A retail manager oversees the operation of the stores people shop in on a daily basis. They are responsible for making sure that customers have a great shopping experience and that the business meets its business goals. A retail manager may have responsibilities such as supervising employees, handing out schedules, and opening the store.
What Does a Retail Manager Do?
Retail managers oversee the day-to-day operations of their store which include everything from managing staff to doing inventory. These retail workers wear many hats.
Human Resources
Retail managers oversee employees in a few different ways. They take care of finding, hiring, and then training new associates. After that, they make sure everyone on staff adheres to store policies, works well with each other, and provides the best service to customers. Retail managers handle employee schedules, creating them in a way that anticipates store needs and personnel availability. If the store is short on staff, retail managers pitch in when necessary.
Store Maintenance
The retail manager also has responsibility for the general upkeep of the store. Part of the job description includes making sure the store is clean, shelves are neat, and equipment is running properly. They may have to change product displays or put up new store signage. Whether they assign store clerks to take care of these tasks or do it themselves, they make sure the store is always presentable and ready for customers.
Inventory and Pricing
If there isn’t anything for the shoppers to buy, a store can’t be profitable. Retail managers make sure store shelves and stockrooms have the products their customers want. That includes keeping up with inventory and working with suppliers to get shipments of new products into the store. These retail workers also make sure that product prices are accurate and updated.
Keeping up with Store Financials
Like any other business, retail stores need to have their finances in order so they can pay their bills and their employees. A retail manager may be tasked with keeping the financial books—budgets, expenses, operating costs, etc.
A Retail Manager’s Work Life
Retail managers spend their workdays in the store they manage. Work schedules depend on the size of the store and the number of managers. Bigger stores may have more set schedules, while smaller ones may require more than the forty-hour work week. It’s common to work nights, early mornings, and weekends.
Why Use a Staffing Agency to Become a Retail Manager
Working with a staffing agency with contacts in many industries, like retail, makes hiring easy. They work with clients in your city who are already looking for retail managers, shortening your time to get a job. If you don’t have enough experience for a manager position, you can gain experience with a steady stream of temporary assignments in retail stores. If you’re a seasoned manager looking for a more flexible work schedule or want to switch jobs, a staffing agency can help you get there.
Retail Manager Job Requirements
Now you know what a retail manager does, what skills you need to do the job right?
Leadership
This may go without saying but working as a retail manager puts you in a position of leadership. Running a team and the store they work in requires knowing how to supervise others, motivate your staff, and make tough decisions.
Decision-Making
Speaking of decisions, a retail manager has to make a lot of them. You have to make a few decisions in this career: who to schedule on what days, when to order more products, how to create sales displays, and which person to hire. Knowing how to evaluate your options to make those hard and fast decisions is important.
Sales
No matter what level of the retail career ladder you’re on, being able to sell is the heart of the job. If a store can’t make sales, it can’t stay in business. Being able to close sales yourself and teach your staff how to do so effectively is part of the retail manager's job description.
Effective Communication
Every part of being a retail manager requires communicating clearly and effectively with customers, employees, and vendors. Not only do you have to give direction, guidance, and tasks effectively, but you also have to listen to the people you work with so you can make the best decisions.
