Retail TNT

Now that 2013 is a distant memory, what’s in store for retailers in 2014? Here are a few predictions based on consumer behaviors, technology trends, security breaches, and holiday mishaps experienced in 2013.

More Consistency Across Channels
Consumers shop at physical stores and online. They increasingly use multiple channels to communicate with their favorite brands including email, social media, web chats, text messaging, phones, and video chats. In the past, these channels may have been handled by different departments or even different third party providers. As a result, the customer experience was often spotty. As retailers move forward, they are recognizing the importance of brand continuity across channels. Thus, more retailers will deliver consistent interactions and brand messaging regardless of the customer’s desired channel.

More Personalization
Technologies exist that make it possible for marketers to understand the entire customer journey. Not only can detailed analytics and marketing attribution models ensure that all channels that influence a customer are properly credited for their contributions, marketers can use these insights to personalize offers.

More Mobile
Smartphones are here to stay, and they influence how users shop. Investments in mobile and cloud computing will help marketers know more about where each customer is in their personal customer journeys, where they happen to be right now, and which channels they prefer.

In 2014, expect to see smarter apps that entice users to stores. For example, when a user walks past a coffee shop, a coupon might pop up, enticing that user into the store for a latte. Smartphone apps can also combat the problem of “show rooming” by offering in-store visitors an incentive to buy now rather than try to get a better deal online.

Better Shipping
Last year’s robust online holiday season coupled with extreme weather caused extensive shipping delays. Many packages failed to arrive in time for Christmas, disappointing gift givers and recipients alike. Expect shipping companies to be better prepared for both bad weather and this year’s holiday rush.

At the same time, more retailers are being forced to offer free or low-cost shipping in order to compete with Amazon Prime which offers free two-day shipping to its members.

Stronger Security
The Target data breach was another holiday mishap that is now serving as a huge wakeup call to retailers, the financial industry, and consumers alike. Some banks have responded by issuing new credit and debit cards to affected cardholders. However, that step alone does nothing to prevent the new cards from being compromised in the future. Merchants may be more willing to escalate their investments in stronger security.

Business software providers offers a wide range of business process improvement tools that cater to several industries including retail. For example, it offers everything from accounts payable, accounts receivable, and invoicing tools to online and outlet store solutions. Many retailers concerned about protecting the integrity of sensitive company, employee, and customer data can benefit from SAP data encryption, data archiving, data masking, and data destruction.

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Retail is the fastest growing sector in India today. With many big players setting foot in the industry, the sector is bound to grow manifold. The growing number of shopping malls and departmental stores has thrown up endless job opportunities in India and abroad. Industry insiders estimate a growth rate of 30 to 40 percent in India in the retail sector and there will be a requirement for an estimated 80 lakh trained professionals.. Hence, it is an opportune time to join a course in Retail Management and bag a job in this promising field. Recognizing the demand for skilled professionals in this field, many institutes have started courses and training programmes at the undergraduate and post graduate level to create skilled manpower for this industry. Here’s all the information that you may require on courses in retail management.

The retail sector is now more organized and efficient. The retail revolution has changed not just the urban lifestyle but also the lifestyle in small towns. Thus, for a retail management graduate, there are opportunities galore across the country in the books and publishing industry, music stores, multiplexes, shopping malls, garment industry and also in the processed foods industry. Somebody opting for a graduation course in Retail Management should ideally have passed the Higher Secondary or 10+ 2 Examination.

The curriculum on retail management is a very comprehensive one and includes detailed information on supply chain management, marketing information, finance management, accounting in retail, retail brand management, business communication, psychology of retail shoppers, electronic retailing merchandise management, marketing and business communication, sales promotion with public relation , inventory management, customer relationship, business ethics, management and organizational behavior, quantitative methods in retailing.

In the retail industry, the biggest demand is for an efficient retail manager. After that, there are positions such as inventory manager, shopping operational manager, floor manager and personnel for customer service. The related options are in human resources, finance and system management.

There are many institutes that offer retail management courses. One such institute is Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, Maharashtra, which offers a two-year specialized course in retail. The other course offered by the institute is a postgraduate course in retail management. The institute promises campus placements at various retail stores like Pantaloon, Shopper’s Stop, Globus and Westside.

Birla Institute Of Management Technology based in New Delhi offers a two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Retailing and Merchandising Management (PGDRMM). The course offers training in retailing and merchandising management with a blend of industry interaction. One has to qualify the CAT, MAT entrance examination and then clear an interview round to get admission. The institute also provides hostel facility. There is an active campus placement programme. The course syllabus includes Retail concepts & Environment, Marketing Management, Merchandising Management, Business Communication, Retail Store Management and Research Methodology

Down south, the Madurai Kamaraj University has come up with new courses in retail management to be offered through its Directorate of Distance Education. The new courses include Postgraduate Diploma in Retail Management, Master of Business Administration in Retail Management and Bachelor of Business Administration in the same specialisation.

In Mumbai, the K J Somaiya Institute of Management and Research offers a Post Graduate Diploma in Management- Retail. It is a full-time two year course and covers a wide range of topics relating to general management , Retail Management , operations and soft skills along with hands on experience in the offices/outlets of Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited.

Some of the other institutes offering retail management courses in India include Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, New Delhi, Indian Retail School, New Delhi, SASMIRA, Mumbai, Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, Mumbai, Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi, Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad, Retailers Association of India, Mumbai, Kohinoor Business School, Khandala and Apeejay Institute of Business Studies, Gurgaon besides others. Then, there is Metropolitan Institute of Management in Pune, The Retail Academy in Ahmedabad, The RPG institute of Retail Management in Chennai, Ebony Retail Academy in Delhi and Vidya Institute for Women in Delhi.

Once a candidate has acquired relevant qualification in retail management, he/she can look forward to a blossoming career. The Indian retail industry is set to witness positive changes in recent future. The future of retail business operations in India seems very bright and it can offer rewarding job opportunities. In fact, in terms of job opportunities, the sector may soon surpass other lucrative new generation careers like IT, BPO and hospitality. A person with knack for proper planning, accurate identification of needs, ability to interact with people along with problem solving and quick decision making skills can easily make a successful career in this field. Pleasing manners, resourcefulness and good memory are added assets in this field. There are enough vacancies from the entry level to senior management level.

Author Bio Geetika Jain writes on behalf of Shiksha.com. Shiksha.com is an education portal that connects education seeker with education provider. Shiksha.com has wide information over Retail Management colleges, supply chain management courses. Its education forums enable its users to seek opinion of students, alumni and faculty of colleges and schools through College Groups and School Groups.

Merchandisers are the unsung heroes of the retail industry. Whilst plenty of businesses employ their own staff to carry out merchandising work, plenty of others dont, because these businesses recognise that Retail Merchandisers can offer a lot more efficiency in store. Jobs in retail merchandising offer lots of variety, socialising and travel options.

Retail Merchandisers dont just work on the shop floor. Merchandisers who are permanently based at one company will be expected to plan trading strategies and sales forecasts, possessing good number skills to work with buyers and finance departments. Analysing the popularity of certain lines and being one step ahead of upcoming trends also means a good business head is essential.

Retail Merchandisers can also be employed by an external agency, working on contract in teams up and down the country. These Retail Merchandisers will visit stores for a short period of time when the company is implementing a new store format or undergoing a seasonal changeover. To work as a temporary or contract Retail Merchandiser, you must have excellent team working skills to bond with your colleagues and merge seamlessly with the stores existing staff, as well being sociable, approachable and professional at all times.

Jobs in Retail Merchandising are very flexible, and due to the scale of some store format and changeover plans, evenings, nights and weekend work is nearly always compulsory. If you are working on contract for a retail merchandising agency, you will be expected to travel the country and stay in temporary accommodation. Employment in a retail environment is normally essential for a job in retail merchandising, but it is desirable to have at least some experience of a customer facing role. The job is also physically demanding, so some familiarity with roles that involve lifting, moving, pushing and pulling is ideal.

Fancy joining something special? We are one of the leading agencies supplying Retail Merchandisers to major retailers up and down the country. Take a look at what Retail Merchandising jobs we have to offer.

I was at a restaurant waiting for my food to arrive at the table. I observed a woman approach the counter; I overheard her saying that, -The cup fell off the table and broke. I want someone to clean it up and need another cup of coffee too-. She was oblivious of the fact that she was responsible for the mishap. She was not sorry about it. To my surprise a customer service person promptly helped her to get another cup of coffee. Then another person wearing a smile said, -I am glad to clean it up for you-. The lady did not bother to thank but the staff was quite professional and conveyed the spirit that they were glad to serve each and every customer.

The secret of customer service is this spirit. The retail customer service resume should reflect this spirit.

Understanding the role of retail customer service:

Retail customer service representative introduces and acquaints the product to the prospective customers and clients. His role is to show them the benefits of the products.

They inform the customers about the price and the competitiveness of the product or service.

He might occasionally need to demonstrate the functioning of the product and allows the customer to try using it.

List of points that need to be included in a retail customer service resume:

Job role:

Resolve customer queries, requests, and complaints, which requires analyzing the situation to determine the best use of the resources.

Liaison between the customer and the various departments

Provide pricing and delivery information, knowledge of order processing and work processing assignments.

Knowledge of handling cash and payments

Skills:

Possess strong communication skills and an ability to deal with everyone from the employees, management, peers, and customers

Self motivated, prompt and proactive, persistent, with an eye for details, energetic, organized and a patient listener

Educational background:

There are no specific educational criteria for a retail customer service person. A high school diploma is requisite. Some companies do give the opportunity for college students to work and learn on the job. Education is not the deciding factor while hiring customer service personnel, it is the passion for the product or service and the ability get the sale through that is vital. This ability needs to be coupled with the spirit to proactively serve the customer.

You can browse through some customer service resume samples to have an insight into writing an effective resume.

Sherri White is a career counselor and an expert in resume and cover letter writing. She can assist you in preparing a resume for a customer service job, be it a receptionist resume, call center resume, customer care officer resume.