Fresh Profile: Retail Careers

Published on 2008-06-18

Retail is one of the largest sectors of the American economy, accounting for over 10% of all U.S. employment. Yet ask the average college student if he or she has considered a career in retail and you're likely to get a laugh or a puzzled stare. Even the president of the National Retail Federation, Tracy Mullen, has said that the industry has done a "rotten job" of presenting itself as a viable career choice. Yet there are many retail jobs that offer far more than the erratic hours and low wages that are often viewed as synonymous with a job in the retail trade. The following occupations are just a few of the options available to students or professionals who are interested in pursuing retail careers.

Experience Design

No, that's not some slick new marketing slogan for a computer graphics or ergonomic office equipment company. It's actually a profession, albeit an emerging one that doesn't receive as much attention as more established fields like environmental or product design. Experience design jobs involve the creation of an immersive, unique and thematically integrated atmosphere in which people can shop. Though the task of the experience designer may sound similar to that of interior design jobs, it involves a greater variety of disciplines which together create an impact that is equal parts psychological, experiential and aesthetic. Think theme park meets retail store, or companies like FAO Schwartz or American Girl.

Buying & Purchasing

Before retail products can arrive on store shelves to be sold to consumers, they first have to be purchased either from wholesale firms or from the companies that manufactured them. Retail buyers (also known as purchasing agents) are the people who keep a close eye on fashion trends and economic conditions and decide which products their company will sell. Retail buyer jobs can involve a dizzying assortment of responsibilities, from evaluating suppliers to tracking inventory to predicting consumer trends. Because of the level of responsibility they occupy and the information they need to make decisions, retail buyers require a longer training period and more ongoing education than is typical of most other jobs in retail.

Retail Management

Retail management jobs run the gamut from retail outlet assistant managers to senior executive positions at corporate headquarters. In fact, it's not uncommon in the retail industry for employees to work their way up from part-time retail sales jobs to mid-level management or regional management jobs. Combining practical, real-world experience with a bachelor's degree in business, retail management, marketing or a related subject would provide a strong foundation for a career in retail management.

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