Retail manager
Retail managers look after stores, motivate staff to achieve sales targets, organise promotional events and monitor industry trends.
Also known as: Shopkeeper
- Starter salary£26,000 a year
- Experienced£60,000 a year
- Typical hours40 to 42 a week
What you'll do
As a retail manager, you could:
- manage and motivate a retail team to increase sales
- track stock and negotiate prices with wholesalers
- organise sales promotions and in-store events
- deal with queries, complaints and feedback from customers
- analyse sales figures and forecast future trends
- control budgets and provide reports to company executives
- recruit, train and supervise staff
- put security measures in place to protect against fraud and theft
Working environment
You could work at a store or in an office.
Your working environment may be physically active.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- leadership skills
- the ability to sell products and services
- the ability to work well with others
- business management skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a retail manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- starting your own business
University
You could do a degree before applying to join a retail company's graduate management training scheme. Most subjects are accepted but you may have an advantage if you study:
- retail management
- retail marketing
- business management
- business enterprise
It's useful to get some experience in retail during your studies. You can do this through part-time retail jobs, internships and work placement schemes.
Your university careers service can help you find suitable opportunities.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Courses include:
- retail skills
- retail management
- management skills and knowledge
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:
- Team Leader Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Retail Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
- Retail Leadership Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Work
You may be able to start as a retail sales assistant and work your way up. Through on-the-job training and promotion, you could progress to supervisor or departmental manager.
You could also get into this job by switching from a managerial post in a related industry, like sales or customer service. You would be given training in retail to build on your existing management experience.
Other routes
You can become a retail manager by taking over an existing business or opening a franchise. You can also set up your own retail outlet on the high street, at a market or online.
It'll help if you've got some experience in retail, sales or business management.
You can find advice online about setting up and running your own business and through organisations like the King's Trust .
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- take responsibility for several stores across a region
- specialise in areas like customer service, training or supply chain management
- branch out and open your own retail business
Career tips
If you're looking to run your own store, online selling is a good way to start. You could sell products from your own website or through other established trading sites.
This can be a useful way to gain experience and research your market, before opening a physical shop of your own.
Professional and industry bodies
You may find it useful to join the British Independent Retailers Association , for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleRetail buyer
- Job roleSales assistant
- Job roleSales manager
- Job roleVisual merchandiser
- Job roleE-commerce manager
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