Is department/specialty retail stores a good career path? Working in the department/specialty retail store is the best opportunity for people looking to work in a fast-paced industry with strong customer support expectations.
Based on the most recent figures, about 32 million individuals are actively employed by this industry as regional managers, customer support supervisors, dairy department managers, and other positions.
The department store sector is one of the largest private employment sectors in America.
This sector has several benefits, which result in a large workforce.
Many have been asking — “Is department/specialty retail stores a good career path?”
So we wrote this article to explain to you everything you need to know about department/specialty retail stores, as well as whether it is a good career path.
This article will explain to you all you need to know about this sector, including the several benefits that comes with working in this industry, so relax and read till the end.
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What Is Department Store?
If you are unfamiliar with a department store, you need to first understand it.
Department stores sell a wide variety of items, including clothing, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, headgear, and home goods.
The whole store often resembles the department.
Nevertheless, this retail model is in charge of arranging sales locations for different artefact retailers in a sizable structure.
It utilizes open shelf and counter sales to satisfy everyone’s needs or attract clients based on their likes and interests.
What Is Specialty Store?
You might think of specialty stores as your career path since they fall under this category as well.
It is in charge of offering specific product categories.
You may, for instance, purchase yoga clothing from a specialty store like Lululemon rather than Walmart.
What Is the Difference Between a Department and a Specialty Store?
Knowing the main distinction between specialty and department stores is easy.
The specialty retail stores serve a certain niche.
The majority of specialty retail stores only offer a limited selection of goods.
All of the goods are of high grade, and keywords are printed on their packaging.
Also, shoppers prefer visiting these specialty stores to purchase goods of high grade and standard.
You’ll be surprised to learn that the majority of specialty retail stores provide workshops for product testing.
Clients can test and try a certain product they intend to buy thanks to these workshops.
However, department stores sell things from several categories since they provide clients with a wide selection of additional goods.
It does not just concentrate on certain product categories.
The specialty retail stores, such as florists and locksmiths, solely concentrate on a certain selection of goods.
In addition, specialty stores sell clothing that appeals to a variety of ethnic groups and demographics.
Examples of Department/Specialty Retail Stores
Since you now know what department and specialty stores is.
To help you understand more, you need to know some examples.
The following are some examples of department and specialty stores:
- Jewelry stores
- Pet Stores
- General merchandise stores
- Sporting-goods stores
- Hardware
- Electronics retail stores
- Florist
- Bookstore
- Grocery stores
- Coffee Shop
- Furniture Stores
How Much Money Can You Earn in This Industry?
The pay is not competitive for experts in this field.
In other words, the specific salary scale in this industry is not as well-defined as the average salary of workers in the retail industry.
However, it does not imply that all workers earn the same amount on a yearly basis.
Skilled workers are paid more than regular workers.
As a result, you may conclude that salaries vary based on skills and job titles.
Therefore, you are expected to make a low or high average salary based solely on the job title you are qualified for and desiring.
For instance, based on the statistics from salary.com, if you were to apply for the post of pharmacist manager, you would make an average yearly income of roughly $162, 164.
Therefore, the retail vendor can earn around $33,000.
By now, you should have a better understanding of the salary variations in this industry.
As a result, you can find employment and make money in line with your skills and experience.
Academic Requirements to Work in Department/Specialty Retail Stores
Are you looking for a variety of employment opportunities in this industry? If yes, you’ll need a degree in order to apply for your desired position.
Nevertheless, certain positions, like those for minor posts, don’t necessarily call for a particular degree.
For instance, having a degree in pharmacy is a necessity if you want to apply for a job as a retail pharmacist.
The same applies to management and marketing.
Therefore, the only thing that counts is having the right degree for the position at hand.
Does Department/Specialty Retail Stores Have Flexible Schedules?
If you don’t have a degree in a certain discipline but are looking for a career with a flexible schedule, working in department/specialty is excellent.
You are allowed to work part-time as an entry-level position in these kind of firms.
It shows that these companies provide the majority of the best-paying, flexible jobs.
They all provide a variety of benefits to their workers, such as:
- Enough vacation time
- Paid holidays
These two factors show to be very advantageous for individuals who have families.
However, certain retailers in this industry provide a varied schedule that includes night shifts, early morning, late evening, and weekend hours.
These shifts help you have some spare time during the day and are particularly suited for those who need flexible work hours or are unable to complete a full day’s worth of work.
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10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Department/Specialty Retail Stores
The department/specialty retail stores industry is a very broad industry.
Therefore, it employs a large number of individuals annually.
There are many job opportunities in the industry but not all comes with high salaries.
Some jobs in this industry pays well while others don’t.
As a result, we have compiled for you the 10 highest-paying jobs in the department/specialty retail stores industry.
These jobs comes with high salaries and other amazing benefits too.
1. Stocker
A stocker is in charge of keeping the organized product presentation on store shelves so that clients can quickly find what they’re searching for.
They also need to keep the shelves tidy and orderly and refill things that run out.
The secret to this job is flexibility because there is no way of knowing how much time you will spend on each duty, even though you might be required to carry out a little bit of everything.
Depending on the situation, your shift may occasionally begin at 8 AM or end at 10 PM.
Stockers makes up to $10 — $13 per hour.
2. District Manager
The regular activities of a particular region are supervised by a district manager.
The District Manager will collaborate with the Assistant Store Managers, Sales Associates, and other staff members to make sure that all goals are achieved.
They could also be in charge of placing orders, marketing, setting up displays, and leading training classes.
To be eligible for this position, you must have at least two years of experience working in the field.
This job pays up to $72,000 on average annually.
3. Retail Sales Associate
Retail Sales Associate is one of the most sought-after jobs for fresh graduates.
Retail Sales Associates are in charge of educating clients about products and attending to their needs.
They do this by precisely identifying the necessary products on the sales floor, processing payments, and carrying out related duties.
Retail Sales Associates also get holidays and complete medical insurance, as well as payments to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Retail Sales Associates makes about $31,200-$63,600 on average annually.
4. Electronics Department Manager
As the name suggests, one of the responsibilities of an electronics department manager is to supervise daily activities in an electric department.
The electronics department manager monitors and improves earnings and pay after seeing sales prospects.
This job pays up to $42,000 on average annually.
5. Retail Salesperson
Retail salespeople can sell practically any item, including cloths and jewelry, and they often work in department or specialty stores.
They advertise particular products by giving samples or details on their qualities and advantages.
They also respond to inquiries about the products, discuss related accessories or services, take returns for refunds or swaps, and make purchase suggestions depending on client needs.
A retail salesperson can make up to $37,000 on average annually.
6. Retail Store Manager
If you have been searching for a well-paying job in this industry, there’s a good news for you.
A retail Store Manager is one of those few jobs in this industry that pays amazingly well more than others.
They are in charge of running a store’s activities and supervising its workers.
They are also in charge of all store-level sales, marketing, and inventory management activities.
Although this job might be demanding and sometimes intense, it is worthwhile because the salary is excellent.
This job pays up to $65,000 or more on average annually.
7. Product Line Manager
The primary responsibility of the product line manager is to oversee the entire workforce.
They monitor the day-to-day productivity of retail workers as well as generating and reporting revenue figures to the senior manager.
The product line manager may occasionally perform the duties of a senior manager.
The product line manager has the opportunity to advice workers.
Product line managers’ makes up to $68,000 on average annually.
8. Cashier
The duty of a cashier is to manage payments and give information to clients.
Clients want cashiers to welcome them, respond to their queries about products, complete transactions, and make sure they have a good customer service experience.
They need to also uphold the greatest levels of ethics and cleanliness since they will frequently talk to clients.
Cashiers can make up to $20,800 on average yearly.
9. Appraisal Manager
An appraisal manager is in charge of overseeing the appraisal procedure, usually alongside a group of appraisers.
Appraisal managers usually work for banks, lenders, or mortgage brokers.
They often possess a thorough understanding of real estate values and how to calculate their value using the appraisal procedure.
Appraisal managers make up to $118,000 to $154,000 on average annually.
10. Inventory Manager
Just as the name implies, inventory managers are in charge of overseeing the stock levels in the company’s warehouse.
Also, this post holder is in charge of gathering the team that does additional supplier inspections, maintaining frequent delivery logs, and examining fresh orders.
This jobs pays up to $56,000 on average annually.
Is Department/Specialty Retail Stores a Good Career Path?
Yes, we can boldly say that department/specialty retail stores is a good career path.
It is a developing sector, and the majority of businesses endure client loss as a result of their unskilled workers.
As a result, there are more job openings in the retail sector; business owners are looking for fresh hires to boost client traffic.
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Conclusion
We hope we have answered the question — “Is department/specialty retail stores a good career path”
From all indication, we can say that department/specialty retail stores is a good career path. Here’s why:
This is a fast growing industry and there is a lot of job opportunities in this industry.
Also, this industry gives workers the opportunity to improve themselves while also working.
Although not all jobs in this industry pays so well, many still pays well.
We have compiled for you the 10 most-paid jobs in this industry.
Therefore, toroughly examine yourself and see which of this roles will perfectly fit you based on your skills and experience.
And once you find that particular role, kindly proceed to apply.
If your experience and qualifications fits the job, you will likely be hired.
Originally published at https://costmill.com on March 18, 2023.