RETAIL

RETAIL

The Retail sector involves the selling of goods to customers. It covers a wide range of selling merchandise in stores such as: grocery, clothing, DIY, music, furniture and health & beauty. It includes roles for managers, assistants, salespeople and shopkeepers.

Source: New Economy Manchester's Policy & Research Team

Key Statistics

Distribution of Employees in Retail

working within Greater Manchester, 2007

based on numbers working in Retail in Greater Manchester, 2007

Employers 

Large or significant Retail employers in Greater Manchester include:

Aleef Newsagents - Newsagents
Greggs - Bakers and confectioners - retail

J.D. Williams Group Ltd - Direct home retailers

John Lewis Partnership - Department store

Marks and Spencer - Department store

Rackhams - Department store

Regatta - Camping and outdoor equipment - retail

Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd - Supermarket

Tesco Stores Ltd - Supermarket

Waterfields (Leigh) Ltd - Bakers and confectioners - retail

Source: Business Solutions, 2008

Employment Concentrations

based on numbers working in Retail in Greater Manchester, 2007

in Greater Manchester, 2008-2013

Occupations include:

Buyers and purchasing officers

Collector salespersons and credit agents

Debt, rent and other cash collectors

Elementary sales occupations

Florists

Market and street traders

Merchandisers and window dressers

Opticians

Pharmaceutical dispensers

Pharmacists and pharmacologists

Pharmacy manager

Retail and wholesale managers

Retail cashiers / checkout operators

Roundsmen and van salespersons

Sales and retail assistants

Sales representatives

Shelf fillers

Shopkeepers, wholesale and retail dealers

Stock control clerks

Telephone salespersons

Travel agency managers

Travel agents

Case Studies

When I left school I only had a few GCSEs and I decided to go straight to college to do a GNVQ. About a year later, I felt I wanted to enter the world of work to get some real life work experience. My parents really encouraged me and when I was offered a job, I jumped at the chance.

The place where I work is really keen to develop new employees, so along with a couple of colleagues I started an apprenticeship programme working towards NVQ Level 2 in Warehousing. I attend college one day a week and have almost completed my NVQ.

I love having the opportunity to work and learn at the same time, because this way I get the best of both worlds – becoming more qualified and gaining the valuable work experience that employers are looking for. Becoming an apprentice was the best decision I could have made and I’m really positive about my future career prospects.

I graduated with a degree in Retail Management and wasn’t really sure what area I wanted to work in. I attended a local recruitment fair where a multinational car rental firm had a stall. Despite never having considered a career in car rental before, I was really impressed by the way the company operated and the prospects for promotion that were offered.

After joining the company as a Merchandise Assistant, I spent my first year receiving hands-on training in a variety of areas of the business, from sales and marketing to customer service and finance. It wasn’t long before I was promoted to Assistant Manager and then Branch Manager of one of the offices in London.

Due to the way the company operates, my position as Branch Manager means that I am essentially running my own business and I have to say, I absolutely love it! The training and support I have received has been fantastic. It’s strange to think that I could so easily have overlooked a career like this - I now think it was the best choice I could have made!