Retail Salesperson
How to Become a Retail Salesperson
Retail Salesperson Job Duties
Skills and Qualities of a Retail Salesperson
Retail Salesperson Salaries
Influential Professionals in the Retail Salesperson Field
Leading Retail Salesperson Organizations
Top Cities for Retail Salesperson Jobs
Other Careers of Interest
How to become a Retail Salesperson
Much of the skill necessary in order to become a retail salesperson is actually picked up through on-the-job training. While there are relatively few advancement opportunities available for retail salespersons, earning a college degree or having considerable experience in the field of retail can greatly increase the chances of retail salespersons advancing into managerial positions.
Formal education is not typically required for people who are seeking jobs as retail salespersons although applicants with at least a high school diploma may be given preference. For those seeking a position as a management trainee, a college degree may be beneficial.
Formal education is not typically required for people who are seeking jobs as retail salespersons although applicants with at least a high school diploma may be given preference. For those seeking a position as a management trainee, a college degree may be beneficial.
What does a Retail Salesperson do?
With the millions of dollars that consumers spend on merchandise daily, they often require assistance from store staff. They may want help finding a specific product that they are looking for or they may want more information about what they are planning to buy. A retail salesperson also has the responsibility of trying to get the customer interested in various products. Retail salespersons are normally called upon to describe the features of various products, show the customer how they are used, or tell them about the availability of different models and colors.
Most retail salespersons in department stores typically prepare sales checks, receive payments in cash, checks, debit, and credit card form, and give change and receipts. In certain cases, retail salespersons are also responsible for opening or closing cash registers at the start or end of the business day. This particular task may involve counting out the money in the register, sorting out charge slips and vouchers, and depositing the money at a bank.
Most retail salespersons in department stores typically prepare sales checks, receive payments in cash, checks, debit, and credit card form, and give change and receipts. In certain cases, retail salespersons are also responsible for opening or closing cash registers at the start or end of the business day. This particular task may involve counting out the money in the register, sorting out charge slips and vouchers, and depositing the money at a bank.
What skills or qualities do I need to become a Retail Salesperson?
Since the retail industry is dependent on customer satisfaction, retail salespersons have to be able to handle all of their duties with competence and efficiency while remaining courteous and accommodating at all times. A considerable measure of organizational skills is also necessary since a retail salesperson may have to seek out an item that is not on display, check for its availability in the stockroom, and, if it is not there, place an order for it or call another store.
Retail salespersons in stores that offer costly or highly specialized items must also possess a certain degree of knowledge or skills about the products that they handle. A car salesperson, for example, should be able to explain all of the features of the models as well as describe all manufacturers' specifications, financing options, and warranties.
Retail salespersons are expected to handle the return and exchange of merchandise, keep their workstations tidy, and wrap gifts on occasion. Other common tasks for these positions include stocking shelves, arranging deliveries, marking prices, taking inventory, and handling display preparation.
Retail salespersons should be able to handle any questions about sales and promotions as well as know how to pinpoint any security and theft issues that may come up. Of course, the nature of the job dictates that retail salespersons will be spending a lot of time on their feet -- either standing or walking back and forth to other areas of the store.
Retail salespersons in stores that offer costly or highly specialized items must also possess a certain degree of knowledge or skills about the products that they handle. A car salesperson, for example, should be able to explain all of the features of the models as well as describe all manufacturers' specifications, financing options, and warranties.
Retail salespersons are expected to handle the return and exchange of merchandise, keep their workstations tidy, and wrap gifts on occasion. Other common tasks for these positions include stocking shelves, arranging deliveries, marking prices, taking inventory, and handling display preparation.
Retail salespersons should be able to handle any questions about sales and promotions as well as know how to pinpoint any security and theft issues that may come up. Of course, the nature of the job dictates that retail salespersons will be spending a lot of time on their feet -- either standing or walking back and forth to other areas of the store.
What do Retail Salespeople make?
Retail salespersons are typically paid on an hourly basis plus commissions, a figure that was calculated at around $9.50 in 2006. The middle 50 percent of this group made from $7.81 to $12.83 an hour with the lowest ten percent making less than $6.79. The highest ten percent of this group made over $18.48 an hour.
While first-time retail salespersons typically make $5.85 an hour as mandated by Federal law, most states have a higher minimum wage. In areas where there is a lack of workers willing to work in the retail industry, the wages are proportionally higher.
Retail salespersons are often given certain benefits, which may be limited in the smaller establishments. The benefits provided in larger stores are considerably more generous and are often similar to that offered by employers in other industries. Retail salespersons are also usually given discounts on items that are sold at their store.
While first-time retail salespersons typically make $5.85 an hour as mandated by Federal law, most states have a higher minimum wage. In areas where there is a lack of workers willing to work in the retail industry, the wages are proportionally higher.
Retail salespersons are often given certain benefits, which may be limited in the smaller establishments. The benefits provided in larger stores are considerably more generous and are often similar to that offered by employers in other industries. Retail salespersons are also usually given discounts on items that are sold at their store.
Who are some influential professionals in this field?
Some of the most prominent names in the history of the U.S. retail industry are Sebastian S. Kresge and Sam Walton who were associated with Kmart and Wal-Mart.
Sebastian S. Kresge began his career in the retail industry with the S. S. Kresge dime store chain and later established the first Kmart store in 1962 in Michigan. That first store was named Kmart and it is still standing today. Some of the more prominent CEO's of Kmart over the years include Aylwin Lewis (who was also the President of Sears Holdings Corporation), Charles Conaway, Harry Cunningham, Joseph Antonini, and Julian Day.
Sam Walton was a businessman who worked at the Des Moines, Iowa branch of the store. He stayed at the shop for 18 months after which he was offered his own branch of the Ben Franklin chain of stores in Arkansas. He went on to start the world's largest retail organization known as Wal-Mart.
Sebastian S. Kresge began his career in the retail industry with the S. S. Kresge dime store chain and later established the first Kmart store in 1962 in Michigan. That first store was named Kmart and it is still standing today. Some of the more prominent CEO's of Kmart over the years include Aylwin Lewis (who was also the President of Sears Holdings Corporation), Charles Conaway, Harry Cunningham, Joseph Antonini, and Julian Day.
Sam Walton was a businessman who worked at the Des Moines, Iowa branch of the store. He stayed at the shop for 18 months after which he was offered his own branch of the Ben Franklin chain of stores in Arkansas. He went on to start the world's largest retail organization known as Wal-Mart.
What are some leading organizations in this field?
Some of the top players in the global retail industry are Woolworths Ltd. of Australia, which offers a convenience store, a discount department store, electronics, and groceries; the Delhaize Group of Belgium, which offers a warehouse club, a convenience store, a pharmacy, groceries, and various specialty stores; Loblaw Companies, Ltd. of Canada, which offers a discount store, a hypermarket, and a supermarket; the Bailian Group from China, which offers a convenience store, a department store, a home improvement section, and groceries; Carrefour in France, which offers a discount department store, a supermarket, and a convenience store; Metro AG from Germany, which offers clothes and footwear, a department store, electronics, and a supermarket; AS Watson & Company Ltd.; SAR, which is based in Hong Kong and offers a discount store, a pharmacy, electronics, and groceries; The IKEA Group out of Sweden; Tesco in the United Kingdom, which offers a convenience store, a department store, and a supermarket; and the global Wal-Mart chain, which offers a discount department store, a hypermarket, and a supermarket.
What are the top cities for Retail Salesperson jobs?
In 2006, about 4.5 million jobs were held by salespersons in the retail industry. These workers were employed in various settings -- from specialty stores with only a handful of employees to huge department stores, counting retail salespersons in the hundreds. Many were also self-employed members of direct-sales and mail-order establishments. The biggest employers of retail salespersons by far were the department stores with clothing stores, building material and gardening equipment stores, and motor vehicle dealers coming in next.
The cities with the most employment opportunities for retail salespersons are Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio in Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Wichita, Kansas. Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Chicago, Illinois also offer numerous jobs in this field.
The cities with the most employment opportunities for retail salespersons are Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio in Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; and Wichita, Kansas. Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Chicago, Illinois also offer numerous jobs in this field.
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