Manager or director in retail and wholesale - overview

What does a manager or director in retail and wholesale do?

As a retail or wholesale manager or director, you’ll spread your time between office working and being on-site in-store. There are hundreds of thousands of retail and wholesale stores in the UK so you’ll have plenty of choice of which industry to specialise in. You may also be in charge of multiple stores at one time.

Due to the nature of the role and type of work, you’ll be expected to work weekends, holidays and possibly evenings.

Your main priority, as a store manager or director, will be to make sure your store, or collection of stores, maximise profit and performance. You’ll be in charge of promotions and coming up with marketing and sales strategies and will be responsible for leading your team.

What will your days involve?

Daily tasks will vary but could involve:

• Running marketing and promotional schemes and monitoring their success
• Authorising payments for supplies
• Managing store finances
• Making sure the correct amount of products are in stock
• Training other staff members
• Being in charge of hiring and firing
• Motivating your team to try and maximise sales and productivity
• Analysing sales figures
• Responding to customer complaints

FAQs

How much can you earn as a manager or director in retail and wholesale?

The average salary for a manager or director in retail and wholesale in the UK is £33,800.

Does a manager or director in retail and wholesale role involve travel in the UK or overseas?

You’ll mostly be based in-store or in an office in one location within minimal travelling needed unless meeting with suppliers.

Can you work from home as a manager or director in retail and wholesale?

As retail managers and directors supervise staff and oversee all store activities, they rarely work from home as they’re often needed in person.