Jobs in the retail sector are about buying and selling goods and services. They usually have strong elements of customer service and may involve dealing with complaints. These jobs can range from: small specialist shops selling one type of goods such as a florist, antique dealer or shoe repairer to jobs in large scale retail operations such as supermarkets. Retail jobs also include some of the roles involved in ensuring the quality of the goods and services such as Trading Standards Officer.
An overview of the regional Retail Industry: Real Help North East
Jobs within this section
| ► Market Research | ► Retail Work |
| ► Marketing | ► Working in a Supermarket |
| ► Advertising | ► Running Your Own Shop |
Market Research helps busineses and service know what customers.Market research is often carried out before a new product or service is launchedto find out whether there is a demand and who will want it, what else is available and what sort of advertising would appeal to customers.Jobs include workingfor market research companies, advertising agencies or the government.
For more information visit:
The Market Research Society - www.mrs.org.uk
The Research Magazine - www.research-live.com
Marketing ie about selling us ideas, products and services.The marketing company identifiesthe market for aproductand finds ways to getcustomers to use or buy it.There are four main types of marketing consumer - selling directly to the public; business - where the customer is another business; service - promoting service rather than goods and then charity marketing.There are many job in research, development, promotion, etc.
The Institute of Direct Marketing - www.urthebrand.co.uk
The Communication, Advertising & Marketing Education Foundation - www.camfoundation.com
The Chartered Institute of Marketing -www.cim.co.uk
Advertising is about persuading people to make choices through promotion in various media such as TV, radio and print.The industry is made up of organisations with a message product or service to sell; the media who put the adverts out and the acencies who create them.Jobs may involve creating adverts, selling advertising, managing large advertising accounts and in some cased dealing with printers or TV radio production teams.
For more information visit:
The Advertising Association - www.adassoc.org.uk
The Communication, Advertising & Marketing Education Foundation - www.camfoundation.com
The Chartered Institute of Marketing - www.cim.co.uk
Institute of Practitioners in Advertising - www.ipa.co.uk
The Institute of Direct Marketing - www.theidm.com
Internet Advertising Bureau - www.iabuk.net
Creative & Skills - www.creative-choices.co.uk
Jobs in retail can involve roles such as filling shelves in a supermarket; working in a concession in a department store; working in a small specialist shop;etc.In our 24 hour society itoften involves working weekends and evening.You would beexpected to have excellent customer service skills.The roles available may include RetailManagers,Supervisors, Sales Assistants, Shelf Fillers (replenishment), Checkout Operatives, Buyers, and display staff or merchandisers.
For more information visit:
Skillsmart Retail - www.skillsmartretail.com
British Shops and Stores Association - www.bssa.co.uk
IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution) - www.igd.com
The Fashion Retail Academy - www.fashionretailacademy.ac.uk
Recruitment Information - www.inretail.com
The Retailer Magazine -
Information on Apprenticeships in Retail can be found HERE!
Most people can name several of the large supermarkets: ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, in total they employ over a million people.The work can be very busy and demanding as there are few times where there are no customers.You need to have a positive approach to dealing with customers.The Main areas in which jobs are available are Management, Checkout Operative, Replenishment (shelf filler) and in the Warehouse.Within a large supermarket there may be opportunities to specialise in Bakery, Butchery, Fresh Foods, Delicatessen, Customer services, etc.
For more information visit:
Skillsmart Retail - www.skillsmartretail.com
If you want to run your own shop you will have to take on a number of roles such as buying in the stock, serving customers, dealing with the takings and banking.You may also do your own advertising and display.Unless you take on a business thats already up and running you will need to do some research into who your customers are, what the competition is like, what products you can sell and how much profit you might expect to make.Unless you have some experience you might start by seeking out some business advice from a local enterprise company or your bank.
For more information visit:
The British Franchise Association- www.thebfa.org
Skillsmart Retail Ltd- www.skillsmartretail.com
Business Link- www.businesslink.gov.uk
Hire firms loan you goods at a daily or weekly rate, sometimes these are long term arrangements and may be called leasing.The jobs may include retail staff to work in the hire centre, drivers to deliver the goods and administrators to ensure that the paperwork is in order.Items involved in these hire arangements could be plant equipment or tools, vehicles, marquees, clothing such as wedding outfits, small electrical items and DVD's.such as leasing a car or van.You would need to be organised and good with customers particularly in explaining terms and conditions or how to use the equipment.
For more information visit:
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association- www.bvrla.co.uk
Skillsmart Retail Ltd- www.skillsmartretail.com
Hire Association Europe- www.hae.org.uk
► Vehicle Parts and Distribution
A vehicle has hundreds of parts which can go wrong or wear out and need replacing.A whole section of the retail industry is based around supplying garages and retail outlets with replacements.The jobs may be divided into 2 main types: a warehousing or stock control role where you would be expected to understand a catalogue of parts and respond to orders as they come in ensuring that you always have stock on order to replace that which is sent out.This could either be in a central storage or retail environment . The other role involves delivering the parts to customers in response to their orders for this role you have to have a good knowledge of the area and of the parts to ensure the right part gets to the right customer.
For more information visit:
Automotive Distribution Dederation- www.adf.org.uk
Skillsmart Retail Ltd- www.skillsmartretail.com
The Institute of the Motor Industry- www.motor.org.uk
► Event and Conference Organisation
Planning events and conferences is a kind of marketing, you want to showsomething in the best way possible.The job of the organiser is to ensure that the venue is booked, the event is promotes, catering or accomodation is arranged along with any speakers or performers.The organiser is also responsible for ensuring that Health and Safety, Licencing and Fire Regulations are met.Most people working as event planners have higher education qualifications or have worked in the hospitality industry.
For more information visit:
The Association for Conferences and Events- www.aceinternational.org
Skillsmart Retail Ltd- www.skillsmartretail.com
Chartered Institute of Marketing- www.cim.co.uk
Customer Service involves finding out what people want and helping them to get it.It can involve answering queries, explaining services,or responding to complaints.Job may be in call centres, on a helpdesk or in s customer service department of a large organisation.The skills needed include, excellent listening and communication skills, a goo telephone manner and the ability to deal with complaints or difficult customers in a polite and tactful way.
For more information visit:
The institute of Customer Services- www.instituteofcustomerservice.com
Public relations is most usually linked to working in the media but the job involved is really focused on careful managing of image and reputation, planning events, handling communications and influencing people with your particular message.Opportunities may be as a PR officer or account executive in PR companies or consultancy organisations.The role may involve research, advising clients, dealing with the media, making presentations and organising events.
For more information visit:
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations- www.cipr.co.uk
The Association for Conferences and Events- www.aceinternational.org
Skillsmart Retail Ltd- www.skillsmartretail.com
Sales Reps are sometimes called sales executives are are ofter responsible for managing anumber of sales accounts.They can be found in many areas of business but the job often requires specialist knowledge of the products that are being sold.THe job may involve a lot of travelling, meeting with customers one to one, demonstrating or doing presentations on products attending trade events and managing your own workload.
For more information visit:
The Association for Conferences and Events- www.aceinternational.org
Skillsmart Retail Ltd- www.skillsmartretail.com
Market Traders are usualy self employed.They may work within indoor permanent markets onon outdoor markets.Indoor markets are in many respects like shops where the stalls are set up in permanent areas and the market traders simply open up and sell.Work on ouutdoor marketscan involve early starts, travelling to a different place several times per week and quite a lot of heavy lifting.You would need tobe good at talking to customers and selling.
For more information visit:
The National Market Traders Federation- www.nmtf.co.uk
Skillsmart Retail Ltd- www.skillsmartretail.com
