Profession department store manager

Department store managers plan, organise, direct and control the activities of a department store, following the company guidelines.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional

Tasks department store manager

• Formulate policies and operating procedures for the store, following the company guidelines.
• Plan and organize store activities.
• Assign tasks to staff and delegate responsibilities.
• Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures, and determine prices and discount rates.
• Perform human resources activities, including recruitment and dismissal of staff.
• Supervise and monitor staff performance.
• Ensure that adequate reserves of merchandise are held, and that stock keeping is carried out efficiently.
• Liaise with other managers and staff, e.g. to provide information about merchandise, procedures, performance and new initiatives, to organize special promotions, etc.
• Handle customer complaints, comments and queries regarding sales and service.
• Ensure standards for quality, customer service, health and safety and security are met.
• Analyze and interpret customer preferences, market trends, competitors' activities and operational records, and initiate changes to increase sales and improve efficiency.
• Promote the store locally by liaising with the community, newspapers, schools, etc.

Related professions supermarket, department store

• Check-out operator
• Client information clerk
• First line supervisor supermarket
• Retail chain manager
• Sales assistent supermarket, department store
• Sales demonstrator
• Shelf stacker
• Shop or shopping centre attendant
• Shopping centre manager

Knowledge

• Company policies

  The set of rules that govern the activity of a company.

• Product comprehension

  The offered products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.

Skills

• Have computer literacy

  Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

• Manage budgets

  Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

• Build business relationships

  Establish a positive, long-term relationship between organisations and interested third parties such as suppliers, distributors, shareholders and other stakeholders in order to inform them of the organisation and its objectives.

• Plan marketing campaign

  Develop a method to promote a product through different channels, such as television, radio, print and online platforms, social media with the aim to communicate and deliver value to customers.

• Implement marketing strategies

  Implement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.

• Set sales promotions

  Reduce the selling price of products, in order to maximise revenue at various periods of the year.

• Manage the store image

  Ensure the store's concept is properly advertised through different channels, and that the image is consistent with the product display and staff behaviour.

• Plan marketing strategy

  Determine the objective of the marketing strategy whether it is for establishing image, implementing a pricing strategy, or raising awareness of the product. Establish approaches of marketing actions to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently and over a long term.

• Perform multiple tasks at the same time

  Execute multiple tasks at the same time, being aware of key priorities.

• Create solutions to problems

  Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.

• Provide customer follow-up services

  Register, follow-up, solve and respond to customer requests, complaints and after-sales services.

• Train employees

  Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.

• Monitor shelves loading

  Monitor the loading of products on shelves; ensure that items are placed correctly and in a timely fashion.

• Implement sales strategies

  Carry out the plan to gain competitive advantage on the market by positioning the company's brand or product and by targeting the right audience to sell this brand or product to.

• Manage staff

  Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB