Retail is a broad term that involves selling goods or services to consumers through various channels of distribution. The retail industry in Australia employs millions of people and turned over almost 350 billion dollars in revenue last year alone.
Retail businesses vary from small brick-and-mortar stores to multi-national organisations with a huge variety of career destinations. Within these businesses, there are career pathways that can take you from the shop floor to non-sales positions and all the way up the corporate ladder.
Working as a casual, part-time, or full-time retail sales assistant is both a great way to get your foot in the door and a rewarding career that allows you to learn valuable life and career skills. These skills vary from communication, customer service, interpersonal and numeracy skills.
If you’re looking to explore further positions within a retail setting, you might be surprised to know there are hundreds of different roles you could move into! From buying and finance to e-commerce and marketing or even logistics and operations, there are numerous roles waiting for you within the retail environment.
Here are five surprising jobs within the retail industry that can stem from a retail sales assistant role.
Visual Merchandiser:
Have you ever walked past a shop front and envied their display? You can thank a visual merchandiser for that. Their role is to use design skills to present, arrange and display items in stores and shop windows that promote specific products or services of retail businesses. The product displays and store layouts are designed strategically to attract customers, encourage them to buy and prompt sales at specific parts of the store.
Buyer:
A retail buyer is responsible for planning, selecting and purchasing quantities of stock that are sold in retail stores. Beyond this, they’re required to have their finger on the pulse when it comes to identifying what goods consumers want, what will sell and what will work in stores. Retail buyers can also be responsible for establishing relationships with manufacturers and vendors to ensure competitive pricing and quality products.
Inventory Specialist:
An inventory specialist is responsible for overseeing a store’s inventory input and output. They’re required to maintain records of all store inventory, create budgets and keep a close eye on the company’s inventory expenditures. The position requires attention to detail, proficiency and detailed knowledge of the range of the company's products.
Store Manager:
A store manager is responsible for overseeing daily activities at a retail store location. In addition to sales assistance, a store manager is in charge of employee management, setting sales quotas and day-to-day operations such as recruitment, training and work schedules. Their job is to keep a store running smoothly while also monitoring financial performances to track growth and profit.
Marketing and Communications:
The role of marketing and communications in the retail industry is multi-faceted. From retail marketing to digital marketing to public relations and communications, there are endless possibilities within the retail sector. Marketing and communication refers to the ways in which a brand communicates its value and maintains its reputation – this can be done through multiple channels such as social media, email marketing, public relations, paid media, SEO and a plethora of other digital marketing roles.
Wanting to kick-start your career in retail? Create a visual CV and start looking for retail roles in your local area!
