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Mad about music? Got a passion
for fashion? Want a career working with the products
you love? There’s a lot more to working behind
the counter than you might think. Retail is now
one of the most diverse and exciting industries
you could make a career in. From visual merchandisers
planning store window displays, to marketing teams
sorting out the distribution of new albums. Over
three million people work in the 291,000 retail
businesses that exist in the UK.
A retail assistant is responsible
for making customers feel at ease when shopping
and browsing around a store, directing them towards
products and accepting payments. Their work varies
depending on the type of business and the size
and structure of the organisation, but generally
includes:
- restocking shelves and making sure merchandise
is presented neatly
- greeting customers and answering enquiries
about products
- operating computerised tills and barcode readers
to scan items
- accepting payments for goods and wrapping items
- changing the layout and visual displays, putting
up new promotional material
- checking for stock items and ordering goods.
Other duties could also include
marking up reductions, accepting deliveries of
new stock items, explaining company finance options
and operating changing room facilities.
Full-time retail assistants usually
work 37 to 40 hours a week over five days. They
may work variable shift patterns as many retail
stores are open in the evenings, at weekends and
on bank holidays. Part-time work is widely available.
Salaries range from between around £9,000
and £18,000 a year.
A retail assistant should:
- have an approachable, polite manner
- have good communication skills
- have a smart personal appearance
- possess good numeracy and keyboard skills
- enjoy providing a good level of customer service.
More than 1.8 million people are
employed as retail assistants in the UK. Employers
include High Street chains, supermarkets, wholesalers,
local shops, farmers markets and market stalls,
offering a full spectrum of goods, products and
services.
Retail assistants with enthusiasm
and experience can progress quickly to a team leader/supervisor
or store management position. Some large retailers
offer fast-track management schemes to retail assistants.
Call us for further details on
0800 542 2848
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