Retail Sales Supervisors

Nature of work

Retail sales supervisors supervise and coordinate the activities of retail salespersons, cashiers, store shelf stockers, clerks, and order fillers, and other sales related workers. They work for stores and other retail businesses, wholesale businesses that sell on a retail basis to the public, rental service shops and businesses involved in door-to-door soliciting and telemarketing.

Job duties

Retail sales supervisors:

• Supervise and coordinate sales staff and cashiers.
• Assign sales workers to duties and prepare work schedules.
• Authorize payments by cheque merchandise returns.
• Sell merchandise to customers.
• Resolve problems like customer complaints and supply shortages.
• Maintain specified inventory and order merchandise.
• Prepare reports about sales volumes, merchandising and personnel matters.
• Hire and train new sales staff.

Sample job titles

• bakery supervisor - supermarket
• customer service supervisor - retail
• delivery person supervisor
• door-to-door sales supervisor
• grocery clerk supervisor
• head cashier
• retail store supervisor
• route supervisor, retail sales
• sales clerk supervisor
• telemarketer supervisor

Skills

• Supervisory, organizational, leadership, and effective communications skills are essential. You must be observant, responsible, and able to enforce rules and regulations. As supervisor, you will be required to resolve problems and address the concerns of unhappy customers. Services, product lines and sales methods may change frequently. You must be prepared to keep informed and adapt to change.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.

Other considerations

• Employment opportunities are likely to be affected by economic conditions in the area, rising as the economy improves and falling when it declines. People in these jobs should be prepared to keep up with changes in product lines and sales methods. Annual incomes will depend upon many factors, including the product being sold, industry, location, qualifications, and the number of staff being supervised. Retail sales experience as a retail salesperson or sales clerk, cashier, telemarketer, door-to-door salesperson or rental agent is required. Progression to management positions in retail trade is possible with additional training or experience.

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