Shop manager

Description

Shop managers are responsible for activities and staff in specialised shops.

Includes people performing activities which are tipically responsibility of the sellers.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to shop manager:

retail store manager
deputy store manager
boutique manager
store manager
shop general manager
retail shop manager

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as 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.

Shop manager is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Shop manager career path

Similar occupations

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

telecommunication equipment shop manager
hardware and paint shop manager
toys and games shop manager
floor and wall coverings shop manager
second-hand shop manager

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of 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 shop manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

purchasing manager
ICT vendor relationship manager
licensing manager
ICT account manager
online sales channel manager

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of 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.
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 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.
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.
Measure customer feedback: Evaluate customer’s comments in order to find out whether customers feel satisfied or dissatisfied with the product or service.
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.
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.
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 shop manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Optional skills and competences

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

Plan marketing strategy: Determine the objective of the marketing strategy whether it is for establishing image, implementing a pricing strategy, or raising awareness of the product. Establish approaches of marketing actions to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently and over a long term.
Identify suppliers: Determine potential suppliers for further negotiation. Take into consideration aspects such as product quality, sustainability, local sourcing, seasonality and coverage of the area. Evaluate the likelihood of obtaining beneficial contracts and agreements with them.
Implement marketing strategies: Implement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.
Examine merchandise: Control that items put up for sale are correctly priced and displayed and that they function as advertised.
Operate cash point: Count the money; balance cash drawer at the end of the shift; receive payments and process payment information; use scanning equipment.
Sell products: Encourage sales by identifying the customer’s buying needs and by promoting benefits and features of the organisation’s products. Respond to and resolve customer objections and agree to mutually beneficial terms and conditions.
Maintain store cleanliness: Keep the store tidy and clean by hovering and mopping.
Use internet to increase sales: Promote goods and services through the use of internet systems such as e-commerce, m-commerce and social media in order to increase sales.
Managing a business with great care: Detailed and thorough treatment of transactions, compliance with regulations and supervision of employees, safeguarding a smooth running of daily operations.
Write work-related reports: Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.
Handle financial overviews of the store: Monitor the financial situation, analyse the store’s sales figures.
Manage inventory: Control product inventory in balance of availability and storage costs.
Produce sales reports: Maintain records of calls made and products sold over a given time frame, including data regarding sales volumes, number of new accounts contacted and the costs involved.
Implement sales strategies: Carry out the plan to gain competitive advantage on the market by positioning the company’s brand or product and by targeting the right audience to sell this brand or product to.
Coordinate orders from various suppliers: Handle orders from various suppliers and ensure the best quality by performing an analysis of their sample products.
Process orders from online shop: Process orders from web shop; direct sales, packaging and shipment.
Ensure store security: Implement and monitor security measures within the store; be vigilant about shoplifters and fraudulent use of credit cards.
Manage aftersales processes to comply with business standards: Oversee the progress of after sales activities; make sure that all work is carried out in accordance to business procedures and legal requirements.
Store products: Store products to ensure the quality and in accordance with standards and regulations. Ensure the stock facilities are kept according to hygiene standards, regulating temperature, heating and air conditioning of storage facilities.
Perform market research: Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.

ISCO group and title

1420 – Retail and wholesale trade managers

 

 


 

 

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