Antique shop manager

Description

Antique shop managers assume responsibility for activities and staff in specialised shops.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to antique shop manager:

antiques and collectibles shop manager
antiques showroom manager
antiques and collectables shop manager
antiques gallery manager
collectables shop manager
antiques shop manager
antiquities store manager
antiques store manager
antiques dealer
antique furniture shop manager
antique furniture store manager
antiques and collectibles store manager
antiquities shop manager

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as antique shop manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Antique shop manager is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Antique shop manager career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to antique shop manager.

hardware and paint shop manager
toys and games shop manager
floor and wall coverings shop manager
second-hand shop manager
shoe and leather accessories shop manager

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of antique shop manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of antique shop manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

purchasing manager
ICT vendor relationship manager
licensing manager
civil service administrative officer
ICT operations manager

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of antique shop manager.

Sales activities: The supply of goods, sale of goods and the related financial aspects. The supply of goods entails the selection of goods, import and transfer. The financial aspect includes the processing of purchasing and sales invoices, payments etc. The sale of goods implies the proper presentation and positioning of the goods in the shop in terms of acessibility, promotion, light exposure.
Art history: The history of art and artists, the artistic trends throughout centuries and their contemporary evolutions.
Employment law: The law which mediates the relationship between employees and employers. It concerns employees’ rights at work which are binding by the work contract.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of antique shop manager.

Ensure customer focus: Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.
Study sales levels of products: Collect and analyse sales levels of products and services in order to use this information for determining the quantities to be produced in the following batches, customer feedback, price trends, and the efficiency of sales methods.
Set up pricing strategies: Apply methods used for setting product value taking into consideration market conditions, competitor actions, input costs, and others.
Order supplies: Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Maintain relationship with customers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with customers in order to ensure satisfaction and fidelity by providing accurate and friendly advice and support, by delivering quality products and services and by supplying after-sales information and service.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Examine cost of antiquarian goods: Assess the price and value of second-hand or antiquarian items; purchase in order to resell.
Maintain relationship with suppliers: Build a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.
Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
Obtain relevant licenses: Comply with specific legal regulations, e.g. install the necessary systems and provide the necessary documentation, in order to obtain the relevant license.
Oversee promotional sales prices: Ensure that sale prices and promotions are passed through the register as they should.
Ensure correct goods labelling: Ensure that goods are labeled with all necessary labeling information (e.g. legal, technological, hazardous and others) regarding the product. Ensure that labels respects the legal requirements and adhere to regulations.
Negotiate sales contracts: Come to an agreement between commercial partners with a focus on terms and conditions, specifications, delivery time, price etc.
Provide information related to antique items: Accurately describe antique merchandise, estimate its value, discuss aspects of the antique item such as ownership and history.
Measure customer feedback: Evaluate customer’s comments in order to find out whether customers feel satisfied or dissatisfied with the product or service.
Sell antiquarian products: Sell antiquarian items and other printed goods in retail outlets, through specialised catalogues or at different locations such as trade fairs.
Apply procurement: Undertake ordering of services, equipment, goods or ingredients, compare costs and check the quality to ensure optimal payoff for the organisation.
Maximise sales revenues: Increase possible sales volumes and avoid losses through cross-selling, upselling or promotion of additional services.
Ensure compliance with purchasing and contracting regulations: Implement and monitor company activities in compliance with legal contracting and purchasing legislations.
Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
Research market prices for antiques: do research to stay informed on the market prices of antique items, in order to set correct prices for antique merchandise.
Set sales goals: Set sales goals and objectives to be reached by a sales team within a period of time such as the target amount of sales made and new customers found.
Estimate restoration costs of antique items: Estimate the price of the restoration process of antique products taking into consideration the  time required for restoration.
Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
Supervise merchandise displays: Work closely together with visual display staff to decide how items should be displayed, in order to maximise customer interest and product sales.
Monitor customer service: Ensure all employees are providing excellent customer service in accordance to company policy.
Manage theft prevention: Apply theft and robbery prevention; monitor security surveillance equipment; enforce security procedures if needed.
Negotiate buying conditions: Negotiate terms such as price, quantity, quality, and delivery terms with vendors and suppliers in order to ensure the most beneficial buying conditions.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of antique shop manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Craftsmanship: The techniques used to design handmade goods.
Auction characteristics: Specifications of auctions and different auction types, e.g. open vs. closed auctions; bidding strategies such as chandelier bids, bid shading, etc.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of antique shop manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Maintain catalogues of antiquarian goods: Make up inventories of antiquarian products in order to facilitate the search of customers.

ISCO group and title

1420 – Retail and wholesale trade managers

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Antique shop manager – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022