Retail Manager

SUMMARY:


The position of retail store manager is one that holds vast duties and great responsibilities. There are a wide variety of retail stores, which employ retail store managers to maintain the overall quality and day-to-day operations of the establishment. A retail manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of a department or store in accordance with overall company policy. The focus of any retail manager's job is to improve the commercial performance of the store by increasing its turnover and maximizing profitability.


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• He/She is responsible for overseeing the daily work of subordinate employees, ensuring that customers have a pleasant shopping experience and completing many other duties necessary to run the store in an effective and efficient manner.
• There are many duties this individual is responsible for completing and each duty in and of itself is vital to the smooth operation of the store.
• Achieving performance objectives will require action in one of the main areas of retail activity:
  1) Store operations.
  2) Human resources.
  3) Finance.
  4) Buying.
  5) Customer Care.
  6) Marketing.
  7) Logistics.
  8) Information Technology and
  9) Administration.
• Retail store managers focus on key business initiatives, store presentation, marketing execution, inventory management, loss prevention, payroll management, risk management, and daily operational cost control.
• Managing stock levels and making key decisions about stock control.
• The first main duty of a retail store manager is overseeing the hiring, firing and maintaining of personnel.
• Ensuring standards for quality, customer service and health and safety are met.
• Resolving health and safety, legal and security issues.
• Responding to customer complaints and comments.
• Promoting the organization locally by liaising with local schools, newspapers and the community in general.
• Attending and chairing meetings.
• Updating colleagues on business performance, new initiatives and other pertinent issues.
• Touring the sales floor regularly, talking to colleagues and customers, and identifying or resolving urgent issues.
• Maintaining awareness of market trends in the retail industry, understanding forthcoming customer initiatives, and monitoring what local competitors are doing.
• Initiating changes to improve the business, e.g. revising opening hours to ensure the store can compete effectively in the local market.
• In addition to these tasks, the retail store manager must see to it that each individual is adequately trained to fill their job title and supervise the work that they do throughout their employment at the store.
• Another important duty and/or responsibility of the retail store manager deals with the money that comes into the store and goes back out as well.
• The retail store manager is responsible for handling the turning in of cash at the end of each sales associate’s day and is required to ensure that all the money is accounted for in the end.
• In addition, a retail store manager is usually responsible for paying the employees and ensuring that the paychecks match the hours worked by each individual.
• Meticulous records are needed to be kept by the retail store manager to ensure that all money which has come into the store is accounted for and sales associates and other store employees are paid as they should be.
• Inventory is another responsibility of a retail store manager.
• The retail store manager is the person at a particular retail store who may handle advertising and promotional displays.
• Manages all phases of store operations to ensure maximum sales and profitability.
  
  

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• The retail store manager must be extremely well versed in matters of customer service.
• Entry is open to graduates in all subjects for the vast majority of posts, although the following subjects may increase your chances:
  1. Retail Management.
  2. Accounting/Finance.
  3. Business studies.
  4. Marketing.
• Store mangers should posses the ability to manage multiple priorities with demonstrated management skills to include; coaching, training, recruiting and communication.
• As with most retail positions, a high school diploma or GED is usually the only education requirement.College degree in business, or a closely related field, may substitute for a portion of the required experience.
• Supervisory experiences in a retail environment will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work in an environment that is often pressurized is must.
• Should possess ability to managing and motivating a team to increase sales and ensure efficiency.
• Potential candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
  1. Customer focus.
  2. Drive and enthusiasm.
  3. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  4. The ability to grasp new concepts quickly and generate fresh and innovative ideas.
  5. The ability to multi-task.
  6. Entrepreneurial flair with good risk assessment skills.
  7. well-developed commercial awareness.
  8. An aptitude for teamwork.
  9. Genuine leadership and management skills.
• Candidate should be loyal to the organization, he is working for with strong morality and ethics will be prime factors enables a candidate to flourish in this position.