Focus on…Retail

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Retail can be a great way for unemployed people to enter the labour market, and in some cases, can be an employment option for people with no qualifications and little work experience.  We look at some of the facts and figures.

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How many people work in retail?

• The retail industry employs an estimated 3 million people in the UK – 10% of all UK employers are retailers.
• In Scotland, 239,000 people are employed in retail, around 9% of the Scottish workforce.
• 10% of all employers in Scotland are retailers
• 1 in 8 households in the UK will have someone who works in retail
• It’s estimated there are 300,000 retail establishments throughout Britain, with 23, 000 in Scotland alone.
• The UK retail sector is the 3^rd largest in the world, and is the world’s most international retailer (BRC)

 Who works in retail?

• 1/3 of retail employees in the UK are aged 16-24
• More than half of people in the retail sector work part-time
• 62% of retail employees in Scotland are female
• 13% of UK retail employees have a disability

What’s it like to work in retail?

• 99% of retail businesses in Scotland employ fewer than 50 people
• Glasgow is the UK’s 2^nd biggest shopping destination
• 2013 saw a 2.8% increase in clothing and footwear sales (ONS)
• The average salary for working in the industry is £28,000 pa, with full-time sales assistants earning between £12,000 and £20,000pa on average (Reed)

Roles can include:

• customer service and sales
• distribution and logistics or merchandising/buying/planning
• finance and human resources
• IT and e-commerce
• marketing/advertising
• product design and development
• store operations/management

You can expect…

• A lower salary than other sectors, as many roles are at a customer service level. However, salaries for management level can be much higher, and there are opportunities for promotion in many retail establishments.
• A variety of working environments, each with different goals to achieve and procedures to follow. Working environment can vary by role, and by the type of retailer you’re working for.
• Many roles will include some element of shift work, often working evenings and weekends, and long hours. Few roles allow for set shifts so you may need to be flexible.
• Benefits include staff discount and other incentives. Many fashion stores allow staff to buy items of clothing at reduced prices and wear them as uniform in order to advertise them to shoppers
• Lower level staff will most likely be customer facing, and customer service and sales will take up the majority of the work in these roles
• A constant changing market – retail is driven by the economy, and by economic trends. Expect lots of shifts in busy seasons like summer and Christmas, and for stores to be less busy during quieter periods.

How do I apply for a job in retail?

• Without qualifications, your best bet is to apply via a CV right before busy times e.g. summer and Christmas. Even if you do have a qualification in business or management, many retailers will only advertise around these peak times.
• Many retailers advertise in store windows, or through online job sites
• Some retailers accept speculative CVs, although be sure to tailor it to the specific store (a CV for New Look will be different from one for Waterstones, for example!)
• You might have to fill in an application form, take part in an interview or group interview, or complete a trial shift
• Work experience in sales or customer service will set you apart from other people – whether it be paid, voluntary or at school or college.