Is Retail the Career for You?
By Kerry Knapp
Monster Contributing Writer
“I remember the first time a client cried in the fitting room. She was so happy to look 10 pounds lighter and feel so supported!”
It’s hard not to get caught up in Jennifer Zucker’s infectious enthusiasm. The Director of Retail Operations for Change positively beams when talking about how the apparel chain endeavours to make lingerie and swimwear shopping a more enjoyable experience.
“Change specializes in offering an immense range of sizes and assisting customers with bra fittings,” she says. “We have something for all shapes and sizes. And at the end of the day, our retail associates feel like they’ve really helped someone.”
How’s the fit?
Even so, says Zucker, young people aren’t necessarily drawn to retail. It’s stuck with negative public perceptions about what it can offer, both up front in terms of pay and benefits, and in the long run, in terms of professional fulfillment and opportunities for advancement.
That’s a huge challenge for Canada’s retail industry. According to Retail Council of Canada figures, the country’s retailers accounted for more than 2 million jobs in 2006—over 10% of the total. Scattered across the country in over 227,000 stores and commercial establishments, those jobs include sales associates, customer service representatives, store managers, district managers and merchandisers, to name just a few.
Plenty of support
But that situation is beginning to change as retailers respond to the tightening labour market by enhancing long-term employment prospects, improving wages and benefits, and offering flextime and other measures to promote work-life balance. Their aim is to facilitate hiring and entice seasoned staff to stay longer.
And there are good reasons to make retail your career. Insiders say the days of slogging away in the same low-paid position for years on end are long gone, and some workers move from sales associate to general manager in less than a decade. “People don’t realize how much room there is to grow in the retail industry, even without formal education,” says Zucker. “There are so many management levels and related careers you can get into.” Senior buyers, general managers and district managers can make $50,000 to $100,000 or more.
Customized and made to measure!
Zucker’s lingerie and swimwear chain also offers part-time and full-time positions, along with flexible hours and other perks. “We try to make it fun for sales staff with weekly in-store contests,” she says. “Every store gives out prizes, like a free lunch every week and a free set of lingerie every month.”
Zapping yet another public misconception, Zucker says retail is not just for youngsters looking for their first job. Many older workers join her sales force after spending years in after another career and end up loving it.
So how do you know if retail is the career for you? According to the Canadian Retail Institute, employers are looking for candidates with initiative, energy and great interpersonal skills. More information on retail jobs, career paths and salaries can be found on the Institute’s informative website.
The last word goes to Zucker: “We’re always looking for great people with people skills and a passion for helping someone look better, and who are fulfilled by that. Wages have to cover your basic needs, but ultimately the question of whether you stay in any job comes down to how much you enjoy your work, and whether you feel respected and appreciated.”
If you think you can find that job satisfaction in the retail industry, you may have got a perfect fit!