Retail sales managers lead teams of their employees in completing various tasks and jobs. This generally includes scheduling, training, overseeing and hiring retail staff members. Retail managers work with their staff to meet sales goals and in keeping their retail store's inventory fully stocked, clean and up to date. Retail sales managers often work long and irregular hours and generally must be available to work the busiest shifts (nights and weekends). In addition, they usually must work during the holiday seasons, particularly from Thanksgiving to Christmas, which is generally the most profitable time of year for most retail companies.
Since managers are working with customers and overseeing their staff members, they need to have great communication skills, be problem solvers and good with people. They must also have strong customer service skills and a keen eye for detail, particularly because their job also includes merchandising and loss prevention. Retail sales managers must also be able to manage and motivate people. To become a retail sales manager, one generally does not need to have specialized degrees (although employers usually prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree); they usually just need to have at least one to five years of retail experience. Often times, retail sales associates can work up to becoming a retail sales manager by beginning as a cashier or stock worker and working their way up to management over time.
Retail Sales Manager Tasks
- Manage the selection, training and development of staff; ensure monthly sales quota are met.
- Sell the organization's products and/or services to new or established customers; handle and resolve escalated customer complaints and issues.
- Oversee day-to-day retail operations and staff; monitor and prioritize workflow and schedules.
- Manage and stock inventory at specified levels.
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