Retail Skills List and Examples

Retail Skills List and Examples



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List of Retail Skills for Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interviews

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BY ALISON DOYLE

 

Updated January 14, 2018

Retail skills are those related to selling products to consumers. Retail skills are required for a variety of retail jobs, including cashier, sales associate, retail associate, retail buyer, retail manager, retail sales, merchandiser, store manager, buyer, and more.

Someone working in retail needs a variety of hard and soft skills. They need to be good with numbers, be able to interact well with others, and be able to persuade people to make purchases.

Read below for information on skills required for most retail positions.

How to Use Skills Lists

You can use the skill words listed below as you search for jobs. For example, apply the terms in your resume, especially in the description of your work history. You can also incorporate them into your cover letter. Mention one or two of the skills mentioned here, and give specific examples of instances when you demonstrated these traits at work.

You can also use these words in your interview. Keep the top skills listed here in mind during your interview, and be prepared to give examples of how you've exemplified each. Each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job description carefully, and focus on the skills listed by the employer. Also review our lists of skills listed by job and type of skill.

Top 8 Retail Skills

1. Attention to Detail
Retail workers need to focus on detail, whether it is making sure a customer receives exact change, items in the store are fully stocked, or the clothing on display is laid out perfectly.

An eye for detail is a critical skill when trying to attract customers to a product. Other retail skills and tasks related to an attention to detail include:

Inventory

Organization





Organizing displays





Stock checking





Stocking and restocking shelves





Time management





Visual merchandising





Window displays

2. Business Awareness
Business awareness means having an understanding of how a company or industry operates.

Retail workers need to really understand the company they work for, the products they sell, and the types of customers who purchase their products.

This kind of business skill makes strong retail employees. Other related skills necessary for retail workers are:

Acquiring a thorough knowledge of products

Awareness of trends





Business awareness





Loss prevention





Management





Marketing





Merchandise control





Merchandising





Operations





Ordering





Payroll





Product knowledge





Product rotation





Product sourcing





Purchasing





Receiving





Shipping

3. Communication
Communication skills are important for nearly every retail position. People in retail need to be able to speak with customers, buyers, other employees, and employers. Part of communication means speaking clearly and effectively with people.

Another important part of communication is listening. This is especially important when working with customers. You need to be able to listen to what a customer wants or needs and help him or her as best you can. Other important communication skills for retail workers include:

Answering customer questions

Greet customers





Communicating with other stores or buyers





Explaining products to customers





Listening to customer complaints





Order taking

4. Customer Service
Customer service skills are important for almost all retail positions. Retail associates in particular need to be positive, friendly, and helpful with customers, helping them make purchases and deal with any issues. Below are specific customer service skills needed in retail:

Customer-first mindset

Customer relations





Customer satisfaction





Customer service





Greeting customers





Listening to and solving customer complaints





Recommending products to customers

5. Information Technology (IT)
Many retail jobs will include some use of IT, so it is important that you demonstrate some skill in IT when you apply for a job in retail. You might work an electronic register or sale system as a retailer. You might also use a management information system to analyze purchasing and other consumer trends.

No matter what your job, IT will likely play an important role. IT skills needed in retail include:

Analyzing data

Assist customers with online orders





Cash registers





Cashiering





Computer skills





Point of Sale Systems (POS)

6. Interpersonal Skills
Working in retail involves constantly interacting with others, including customers, colleagues, employers, and other buyers. People in retail need to put on a friendly face, and be patient with frustrated customers. Below are specific interpersonal skills needed in retail:

Flexibility

Friendliness





Outgoing





Positive attitude





Relationship building





Team building





Teamwork

7. Numeracy
Numeracy is another important skill in retail. You need to be able to make sense of numbers in order to calculate prices, add up discounts, make change for customers, count inventory, and more. You also may need to calculate sales values, or estimate stock needed based on trends in consumer data. Related numeracy skills include:

Cash accountability

Cash handling





Cash management





Check approval





Check processing





Credit





Credit approval





Credit cards





Credit management





Inventory





Math skills





Money handling





Price markdowns





Pricing

8. Selling Skills
Of course, to be a good retailer, you need to be able to sell products. Retail workers must be persuasive and persistent with customers, convincing them that certain products are worth purchasing. They have to be able to clearly explain products, and market them to customers. Related selling skills include:

Achieve sales goals

Advising shoppers





Arranging product displays

Buying

Close outs





Convert shoppers into loyal customers





Conveying product features and benefits





Demonstrate products





Emphasizing promotional items to customers





Encouraging customers to consider accessories





Encouraging use of store credit card





Establishing a quick rapport with customers





Exceed sales goals





Explain the benefits of merchandise





Frequent shopper programs





Goal oriented





Helping Customers locate merchandies





Persistence





Persuasion





Promoting brand loyalty programs





Recommending suitable items for purchase





Sales





Suggesting alternative items when products aren't available

More Retail Skills

Retail Buyer 
In addition to the skills listed above, these are some of the skills required for a retail buyer position.

Aiding in the development of product specifications

Analyzing past product performance





Analyze results





Analyzing retail sales patterns





Assessing category trends





Assessing customer preferences





Assessing the impact of buying decisions on brand identity





Attend trade shows





Building relationships with suppliers





Collaboration with product specialists and brand teams





Conducting comparative evaluations of suppliers





Conducting visits with vendors at trade shows, market events’ and vendor facilities





Determining product carryover





Develop and track forecasts





Devising pricing strategy





Disseminating product information





Estimating appropriate quantities of items for purchase





Evaluating the competition





Evaluating the presentation of products in catalogs and websites





Fashion sense





Forecasting sales





Identifying brands





Learning and utilizing merchant data systems

Monitoring progress towards key performance indicators

Negotiating purchase agreements





Obtain quotes





Partnering with merchandise planners to control inventory





Plan promotions





Planning proper assortment of products





Product analysis





Product evaluation





Product selection





Product styling





Recommending in-season sales and liquidations





Retail mathematics





Reviewing data on item returns





Routing merchandise to retail outlets based on geography and demographics





Search for vendors





Select vendors





Selecting sampling vendors





Timing the introduction of new lines

Retail Manager
In addition to the general skills listed above, these are job specific skills required for retail manager positions

Addressing employee performance issues promptly

Analyzing sales reports





Assessing needs for staff training





Budgeting





Controlling expenses





Controlling inventory





Creating incentives for sales staff





Designing or supervising the design of store displays





Devising promotions





Ensuring adherence to corporate standards





Establishing theft prevention protocols





Evaluating employee performance





Evaluating the customer experience





Hands on management experience





Hiring





Identify talent





Implement visual guidelines





Interviewing prospective staff members





Learning and utilizing retail management software





Loss prevention





Maintaining safety standards





Maximize profitability





Maximize sales





Point of Sales (POS) systems





Profit and Loss





Promotions





Recruiting staff





Resolving customer complaints





Staff retention





Stock control



 https://www.thebalancecareers.com/list-of-retail-skills-2062476