Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a retail store manager? What are the duties, the education/skills requirement, any career advancements, as well as the market salary – are questions that are frequently asked, and I'm here to answer them for you!
What Should I Expect?
Many think being a store manager means you have the liberty to boss people around, but there are more responsibilities than where that came from.
A typical store manager is in-charge of the whole outlet and the full/part-time employers within. They are to ensure that daily operations run smoothly, store is clean, and meet sales targets. They are also involved in planning of daily schedules, training and disciplining of all employees in the store in-charged, responding to customer complaints, managing inventory levels, maintaining awareness of retail market trends, planning for promotions/sales accordingly, being accountable for daily closing sales, and ensuring the safety of all employees in the workplace.
Basically, you are running the store like your own.
Do I Have What It Takes?
As the company entrusts this person to lead a team of employees, a store manager typically requires at least 3-5 years of experience in the retail industry, preferably someone who has also headed a sales team in their previous job experience.
You must be able to speak well and have good product knowledge to ensure information is well-conveyed to the customer. What makes a store manager a level up from a sales associate is their impeccable interpersonal skills and leadership qualities. You need to have the right personality to ensure that your employees respect the manager-in-charge, and are motivated altogether.
Most importantly, the manager must have excellent customer service, to set an example to his/her employees and provide relevant training.
Cons
It is needless to say every job has its cons and sacrifices to make. One of the sacrifices as a store manager is to always be at the beck and call of employees even when you are on your off-days. Be prepared to work on public holidays and fill in during the unpopular shifts to ensure sufficient manpower.
It can be a lot of stress, but it could be well-worth it.
Pros
With greater responsibilities, you are more directly involved in making decisions for the business. This gives you greater satisfaction and motivation at work. With this experience in your resume, it could even become a career and move onto being regional or district manager, and handle more than one store. And of course, moving up the hierarchy means bigger paycheck! The market salary in Singapore for store managers ranges from $3000-$4000.