Retailing Management
Description
Companies involved in retailing afford the master's candidate and early opportunity to use professional knowledge to improve company profits through the maintenance of appropriate assortments of goods and services in locations easily accessible to customers. The marked growth of general merchandisers, such as department sores, discount houses, chain and "warehouse-showroom" stores, has brought about greater emphasis on "professional training" as part of the preparation for a career in retailing.
Career Opportunities
The larger chain and department stores have formal training programs, some of which are among the best in the country. Historically, starting salaries and job assignment in retailing have been at lower levels in terms of initial responsibility and salary. Among the wide variety of routes to top management in retailing are merchandise management and store management. The progression in the former would be from assistant buyer to merchandise division manager, For the latter, it would be assistant department (sales) manager to department manager to store (branch) manager. The buyer is primarily concerned with assortment selection and promotion. The department manager is concerned with sales force management and display.
Retailing, especially with the larger firms, offers an opportunity to move in a few years into the management of a branch or part of a store doing as much as $5 million in sales. In effect, new recruits have the opportunity to exercise their ideas with profit and loss responsibility for a significant business unit.
Entry Level Positions
Entry level positions in retailing management include Assistant Buyer positions, and Department Manager positions.
Requisite Personal Qualities
Leadership, communication skills, ability to work in fast-paced environment, knowledge of and interest in retailing, and results-oriented individual.
Academic Preparation
A diverse background often characterizes retailing management positions. Emphasis in retailing is a plus but is not required.