Selected Main Duties

Retail trade managers perform some or all of the following duties:

Determine merchandise and services to be sold, and implement price and credit policies;

Locate, select and procure merchandise, and manage inventories;

Plan budgets and authorize expenditures;

Study market research and trends to determine consumer demand, potential sales volumes, and effect of competitors' operations on sales;

Develop and implement marketing strategies;

Determine staffing requirements, hire, train, and manage staff and employee schedules.




Retail trade managers usually work 40 hours per week. The work schedules are often irregular, and often include evenings and weekends with time off during the week. Sometimes managers must report to work on short notice, especially when employees are absent. Long hours are common especially during seasonal holiday times. In many smaller stores, the manager's duties include customer sales in addition to general management. Office work usually involves extensive paperwork and planning for inventory, merchandising, and staffing.



Education/Training
Managers require several years of retail sales experience at increasing levels of responsibility. A high school diploma is normally required. Some positions may require a university degree or college diploma in business administration or other field related to the product or service being sold. Some business, sales, or marketing courses are an asset. Many large chain stores provide management training.

Retail managers require leadership ability, good communications skills, strong customer service skills, and good organizational skills.