Duties and Responsibilities Related to Being a Retail Store Manager

The position of retail store manager is one that holds vast duties and great responsibilities. There are a wide variety of retail stores which employ retail store managers to maintain the overall quality and day-to-day operations of the establishment. In order to learn more about the duties and responsibilities of a retail store manager, it is important to highlight what in fact these individuals do on a daily basis.

What Is a Retail Store Manager?

The retail store manager is an individual who oversees the daily operations of a retail establishment. That individual is responsible for overseeing the daily work of subordinate employees, ensuring that customers have a pleasant shopping experience and completing many other duties necessary to run the store in an effective and efficient manner.

What are the Duties and Responsibilities of a Retail Store Manager?

There are many duties this individual is responsible for completing and each duty in and of itself is vital to the smooth operation of the store. The first main duty of a retail store manager is overseeing the hiring, firing and maintaining of personnel. These individuals are ones who make the store a success and it takes a strong manager to ensure that the perfect individuals are hired to fill sales associate positions, clerical positions and other important job titles. In addition to these tasks, the retail store manager must see to it that each individual is adequately trained to fill their job title and supervise the work that they do throughout their employment at the store.

Another important duty and/or responsibility of the retail store manager deals with the money that comes into the store and goes back out as well. The retail store manager is responsible for handling the turning in of cash at the end of each sales associate’s day and is required to ensure that all the money is accounted for in the end. In addition, a retail store manager is usually responsible for paying the employees and ensuring that the paychecks match the hours worked by each individual. Meticulous records are needed to be kept by the retail store manager to ensure that all money which has come into the store is accounted for and sales associates and other store employees are paid as they should be.

Inventory is another responsibility of a retail store manager. Since there needs to be goods in stock to sell, it is imperative that the retail store manager check the inventory on a frequent basis and make sure that orders are in when they are supposed to be. In addition to checking retail store stock and ordering goods, the retail store manager also needs to be responsible for paying for the goods which are ordered as well as keeping track of how much is spent on procuring the goods.

One very important duty of the retail store manager relates to customer service responsibilities. From time to time, shoppers within the retail store will ask to speak with a manager whether it be to issue a complaint regarding their shopping experience or provide a compliment to an employee or the store itself. The retail store manager is the higher up individual in the retail ranks who provides an ear to customers who wish to express either their pleasure or displeasure regarding an aspect of the store. Therefore, the retail store manager must be extremely well versed in matters of customer service.

The retail store manager is also the pertinent individual at a retail store who confers with the higher up individuals on the corporate level. Since the retail store manager is on the premises on a daily basis, they are the best individuals to let the corporate office know how that particular store is doing. This relates not only to sales but to employer-employee relations as well. This individual is also the one who handles occupational safety and employee relations within the store and relates any issues back to the head office.

Lastly, the retail store manager is the person at a particular retail store who may handle advertising and promotional displays. The retail store manager is one who must make their individual store shine when it comes to presenting various promotions in a favorable and enticing manner. Although they may not be responsible for drafting the advertising materials, they should be knowledgeable in how to display the information so that it has the maximum amount of potential possible.

What Makes the Perfect Retail Store Manager?

There are a few things which the perfect retail store manager will embody. One positive trait which makes a wonderful retail store manager is an individual who has exceptional conversational skills. Since a main component of a retail store manager’s daily duties is to interact with customers and employees, it is very important that they know how to converse in such a manner which is courteous yet effective. Looking for individuals with this trait will help interviewers to find the best type of retail store manager.

Past experience is another important aspect which all retail store managers should have. Although past employment may not be the only contributing factor to obtaining the best possible candidate for the job, it still is a highly desirable one. Choosing a retail store manager who has some past managerial experience will equate with less training that is needed and perhaps a more established and useful manager overall.

Another trait to look for in a potential retail store manager is professionalism. A professional store manager not only will benefit the customers who enter the store on a daily basis but will be a good morale booster for other employees as well. A professional retail store manager does not have to be stuffy yet must know when it is the right time for serious behavior and when he/she can take a lighter attitude with both the customers and employees.

A great retail store manager should also have excellent mathematical skills which may benefit the store the most. Since efficient math skills are an important thing for retail store managers to have since they will be working with money on a daily basis, it is good to have this particular quality.

Conclusion

These are just some of the many duties and responsibilities which retail store managers must undertake on a daily basis. By understanding these roles one may be better able to tell if the position of retail store manager is right for them.