Picking a Retail Environment
There are a lot of options under the retail umbrella. Both superstore and smaller retail outlets have pros and cons.
Do you live in a community with at least one street? If so, chances are there's a retailer on it.
Surf the Internet? You're just a click away from a familiar store online.
Any time you shop for or buy anything in the UK, you come in contact with at least one of thousands of retail workers. If you're considering a retail career, one factor you'll want to explore is the type of environment -- from cozy corner store to cavernous hypermarket or Internet e-tailer -- that best suits you.
Generally, you've got to decide whether you want to work under a mega-store's hot lights or in the unique atmosphere of a small-time retailer. You've seen or heard how the big retailers are emptying the storefronts on the High Street but is the corporate environment right for you, or do you prefer the specialty teashop on the corner?
Large Environments: Not Always a Bowl of Cherries
The Good: Want to experience retailing on a grand scale? Want to head a retail empire made up of a group of stores or an entire corporation? For ambitious people who have what it takes, larger retailers offer opportunities to take on ever-bigger challenges and larger and larger budgets. And they train qualified people to take on these challenges and provide financial and other resources to help them succeed. If you perform, the pay and benefits can be sweet.
The Bad: Expect to specialise and pay your dues. Positions are stratified. You'll work up the career ladder in a more orderly way. A greeter at Gap doesn't run the register. A sales associate at House of Fraser doesn't determine when a product will go on sale. A divisional manager at French Connection usually doesn't interact with customers on a daily basis.
Small Environments: Not Necessarily a Can of Worms
The Good: Small retailers aren't going away any time soon. Remember, a large percent of UK retailers have 10 or fewer employees. And little guys tend to offer employees the most variety. If you're eager to learn and prove yourself, you may find yourself with lots of responsibilities, sometimes very quickly. You may:
Sell and display the merchandise. Stock the shelves and recommend what to put on them. Supervise subordinates and mop the floor. Gift wrap a package and network the store computers.
The Bad: Training in this environment tends to be less formal; salaries and benefits tend to be lower.
No matter what size retailer you work for, the company will reflect its corporate culture.
Also, keep this in mind: While sales and service people may work part-time, most retail managers and supervisors work at least 40 hours or more a week; longer hours, including evenings and weekends, are not uncommon. This is particularly true during sales, holidays, busy shopping hours and when inventory is taken. Hours can change weekly, and managers sometimes must report to work on short notice, especially when employees are absent. Independent retailers can often set their own schedules, but hours must be convenient to customers.
Is the Environment Changing?
Retail is evolving. With the implementation of new technologies, it's growing and changing every day. Consumers are interested in 24-7, non-store retailing (online and TV home shopping). To reach and keep customers, retailers continue to redefine and plan new shopping environments. Progressive retailers large and small are rethinking the role of the conventional retail store.
To meet customer expectations and outpace the competition, retailers are also reshaping many essential functions such as marketing, distribution, customer satisfaction and inventory control.
Once you get retailing in your blood, these dynamic changes will continue to make retailing an exciting and cutting-edge career choice for the 21st century. Where will you be?
