Sporting and outdoor accessories shop manager

Sporting accessories shop managers assume responsibility for the activities and staff in specialised shops. They manage employees, monitor the sales of the store, manage budgets and order supplies when a product is out of supply and perform administrative duties if required.

The following job titles also refer to sporting and outdoor accessories shop manager:

sporting equipment shop manager
sports goods store manager
business leader sporting and outdoor equipment shop
sports equipment shop manager
sports store manager
sporting accessories shop manager
sports goods shop manager
sports shop manager
sporting equipment store manager
sports equipment store manager
sporting articles store manager
sporting articles shop manager
store manager sport and camping equipment
branch owner sporting and outdoor equipment shop

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

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.

Sporting and outdoor accessories shop manager is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to sporting and outdoor accessories 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

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of sporting and outdoor accessories 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 sporting and outdoor accessories 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

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of sporting and outdoor accessories shop manager.

Market trends in sporting equipment: Latest trends and developments on the sports equipment market.
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.
Outdoor activities: Sportive activities performed outdoors, often in nature, such as hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, canoeing, rafting, and rope course climbing.
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.
Features of sporting equipment: Types of sporting, fitness and recreational equipment and sporting supplies and their characteristics.

These skills are necessary for the role of sporting and outdoor accessories shop manager.

Ensure customer focus: Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.
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.
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.
Liaise with suppliers of sporting equipment: Establish relationships with suppliers of recreational products and sporting equipment.
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.
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.

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

Protection from natural elements: Forces of nature, such as weather patterns and seasonal conditions, their characteristics and any means of protection against them.
Camping gear: The different equipment used for outdoor camping, such as tents, sleeping bags and outside cooking equipment.
Clothing and footwear products: The offered clothing and footwear products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
Clothing industry: Major suppliers, brands and products involved in the clothing industry.
Belay techniques: Various methods for safely fastening yourself during (rock) climbing activities using equipment such as carabiners, quickdraws, and harnesses.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
Follow trends in sporting equipment: Follow material developments and trends within a specific sport. Keep up-to-date about athletes, gear and equipment manufacturers.

1420 – Retail and wholesale trade managers

 

 

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References

1. Sporting and outdoor accessories shop manager – ESCO