The sector is dominated by the relatively small number of household name retail chains that exist on most high streets and in every retail park throughout the UK. They are engaged in a continuous war of competitive pricing between themselves which has lead to growth in their share of the market as smaller, independent retailers surrender to the economic pressures.The market growth of large-scale retailing has increased the requirement for good retail managers. Graduate recruits, who excel in their training and show the necessary potential can achieve rapid promotion to floor, department or shop managerial positions. Initial jobs tend to be in a sales position to ensure that future managers have a thorough understanding of the full business.

Store Management represents the most popular route into retailing for graduates, with individuals joining training schemes to equip themselves with the skills required to look after concerns such as supermarkets, DIY and department stores. As a store manager you are responsible for the general day-to-day operation of all the different departments, dealing with staff issues, customer services and sales efficiency, in addition to improving profit margins through various initiatives including promotions and loyalty schemes.As the final point of escalation for any complaints or issues, you must be confident and have excellent interpersonal skills. Similarly, you need to be able to motivate and manage those under you so that the whole operation runs smoothly. On the negative side, you should not expect to be working regular hours due to late night or weekend opening hours and your company may require you to relocate to other stores if necessary.

Buyers operate across the whole spectrum of retailing and wholesaling, deciding what products to buy, which suppliers to deal with and at what price, so that they keep within strict budget limits and match the needs of their customers. Liasing regularly with suppliers and visiting trade fairs, it is a buyer’s responsibility to keep abreast of market developments, often anticipating customers’ buying trends, and come up with ideas for new product ranges as well as ensuring existing offerings are of the highest quality. The hours are regular but long and you should expect to travel fairly frequently for supplier meetings and store visits.Merchandisers hold roles at both head office and store level. In head office, they are responsible for forecasting departmental sales, planning budgets for the buyers and allocating the right amount of stock to the correct stores. In-store, they are responsible for the display and promotion of products in order to maximise sales potential. This can involve a good deal of negotiation with some suppliers of leading brands who tend to have quite strong opinions over where their products are placed!

Customer Services representatives working in mid to large commercial organisations act as a point of liaison between a firm and its customers. It is their responsibility to make sure that customers are satisfied and to try to resolve any disputes. Consequently, companies look for individuals who are confident dealing with people face-to-face and will be able to bring about a solution in a diplomatic and courteous manner. Individuals will also need to have in-depth knowledge of the company’s products and business processes so that they can fully appreciate any problems or complaints and also be able to identify any potential trouble spots and deal with them in advance.