Retailer
Sales, marketing and procurement
Level 2 -
Helping customers buy products or services from retail organisations such as department stores, garden centres, high street chains, supermarkets and online and mail order businesses.
Reference: OCC0327
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 7111/00 Sales and retail and assistants
- 7112/00 Retail cashiers and check-out operators
- 7124/00 Market and street traders and assistants
- 7125/01 Fashion stylists
- 7131/01 Antique dealers
- 7131/06 Wholesalers
- 7131/07 Wine merchants
- 7131/99 Shopkeepers and owners - retail and wholesale n.e.c.
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
The Co-operative Group, Sainsburys, Halfords, John Lewis Partnership, Tesco Stores Ltd, ASOS, ASDA, DFS, Vision Express, Marks & Spencers, AS Watson UK (Superdrug and Savers), BIRA, Lidl, Holland and Barrett
Summary
This occupation is found in organisations of all sizes within the retail and tourism sector such as food, fashion, furniture, and automotive. Retail outlets range from traditional high street shops to larger organisations such as supermarkets and department stores. It is found in multi-national employers, small independent employers, and employers who trade through a variety of channels for example face to face, telephone, on-line and mail order retail.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to advise on and sell products and services in a customer-centric retail environment. This includes creating an accessible and well-presented environment. Retailers provide information and advice to customers regarding stock, products, different ways customers can shop and various payment methods.
Retailers work flexible hours and shifts such as evenings, nights, and weekends. Face to face or instore roles may involve moving and replenishing stock, using relevant equipment such as pallet truck, steps, and trolley.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with internal stakeholders such as members of their own team, other departments, and senior management. They also interact with external stakeholders such as customers, delivery drivers and compliance officers.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for maintaining business standards; ensuring stock is presented, replenished and available for the customer to purchase. Retailers will contribute towards the commerciality of the business by achieving targets, including sales and customer service, and following stock control in line with business objectives. They need to know the services they are selling to be able to build customer confidence in their business.
Retailers work to meet or exceed customer expectations and experience and will identify specific needs of individual customers. They will respond to customer enquiries complying with both business and legal requirements. They will have a knowledge of sustainability in relation to products such as dealing with excess packaging, waste and product sourcing.
Retailers who work within smaller retail sites may have additional responsibilities such as where the stock is placed in store and planning the order of tasks. Retailers may be responsible for supporting the development of new colleagues through buddying or 1 to 1 coaching. Retailers typically work as part of a wider team, depending on the size of the organisation, reporting to a line manager or small shop owner.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
The Co-operative Group, Sainsburys, Halfords, John Lewis Partnership, Tesco Stores Ltd, ASOS, ASDA, DFS, Vision Express, Marks & Spencers, AS Watson UK (Superdrug and Savers), BIRA, Lidl, Holland and Barrett
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Undertake daily procedures such as setting up and clearing displays, switching equipment on or off to start or end a shift, ensuring the working environment meets business and legal requirements.
Duty D2
Process sales, exchanges, and refunds in line with business policy, offer information and identify customer requirements.
Duty D3
Provide product and service information in compliance with business and legal requirements.
Duty D4
Respond to and support with enquiries and complaints, resolving where possible, reporting outcomes, or escalating where required.
Duty D5
Contribute to the health and safety of colleagues, customers, and the working environment by removing hazards or reporting incidents.
Duty D6
Maintain stock availability, reporting any price discrepancies and support the fulfilment of purchases using the appropriate systems and procedures.
Duty D7
Contribute to promotional activities to support the success of the business such as changing promotions, displays, seasonality and product launch activities.
Duty D8
Use IT, technology, and digital solutions to assist with customer enquiries, purchasing activities and processing sales.
Duty D9
Contribute to team development activities, and business objectives.
Duty D10
Contribute to reducing waste and improving sustainability in line with business objectives.
Duty D11
Contribute to minimising stock loss by following business procedures.
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
Technical Occupations
Levels 2-3
Higher Technical Occupations
Levels 4-5
Professional Occupations
Levels 6-7
Business and administration
Sales, marketing and procurement