Retail & Sales
If you’re interested in selling products to customers, displaying goods for sale or supporting retail operations then this industry could be for you.
The retail sector is usually organised into food, personal & household goods and motor vehicles. These goods are purchased from domestic (and in some cases international) manufacturers and wholesalers. Operators then sell ‘retail’ these goods through their stores to the general public.
You could work areas such as clerical/admin, customer service and employee relations, finance, inventory, loss prevention, merchandising, people management (HR) and selling, for example.
The increased popularity of buying and selling products and services over the Internet has led to a growth in the online retailing or electronic commerce (e-commerce) sector.
Training & qualifications
Technical and general skills training is available at a range of levels, from new entrants to the industry through to experienced store managers.
Technical skills focus on specific product knowledge or stock control systems; general skills (those that all employers value) include communication, teamwork, customer service and problem-solving.
Qualifications range from Certificate II and III in Retail Operations to Diploma of Retail Management. Examples include:
- Sales assistant or customer service representative - Certificate II in Retail Operations
- Sales Manager - Certificate IV in Retail Management
- Exhibition/Event Display Designer - Diploma of Visual Merchandise.