Careers Graduates in Retail
Graduates in Retail
Retailers offer a wide range of entry level positions for graduates. These range from merchandising to marketing and can provide graduates with a challenging and rewarding career. Most opportunities offer structured training with opportunities for development and progression. Quests extensive client base means that we are able to offer suitable graduate candidates a wide range of opportunities within leading retailers. The main areas of work that we cover for graduates are entry level buying, merchandising and marketing.
Buying
Many leading retailers offer graduate schemes that give training in a broad range of retail functions before you commence a career in buying. Other retailers allow graduates to enter straight into their buying function as an assistant and offer structured training to enable development into a full Buyership. Buying is competitive and most graduates who are successful in securing a position tend to possess a degree in retail, fashion or business related subjects.
Job responsibilities may include:
• Determining order quantities, as at least part of the responsibility of sales forecasting lies with the Buyer
• Working with the Merchandiser, the Buyer translates their sales projections into actual purchases and holds the responsibility for the allocations between specific colours and styles etc
As a trained buyer, you will also need to decide which suppliers to use and what products to purchase, which can be a very complicated, and an immense responsibility
Good communication and negotiation skills are essential
Typical starting salaries range from 12k - 17k. For full details, please see our buying section.
Merchandising
Merchandisers ensure that stock is in the right stores at the right time in the right quantities and at the right price. Opportunities for merchandisers with structured career paths exist within high street retailers, supermarkets, mail order companies, internet businesses and some suppliers. Most applicants will have a retail, business or numerical degree. Strong numerical skills and commercial awareness are also important.
Job responsibilities may include:
• Analysing data for weekly reviews of sales and assisting the Merchandiser in following the merchandise plans by allocating stock to the stores
• Responsibility for chasing suppliers for delivery of stock to the right place, on time
• As the stock will come from several suppliers, and thousands of units are being sent out at different times this is a complex, logistical role
Typical starting salaries range from 12k - 17k. For full details, please see our merchandising section.
Marketing
Graduates can usually expect to start their marketing career at an assistant level. This will typically involve promoting goods and products to the general public. The two main forms of marketing that we cover are retail marketing (marketing and promoting a retail brand) and FMCG marketing (marketing and promoting fast moving consumer goods).
Job responsibilities may include:
• Assisting in the advertising of products by preparing and checking briefs
• Assisting in the development and implementation of marketing strategies, market research and competitor analysis
• Assisting in the planning and implementation of any promotions
• Analysing market intelligence relating to consumers, the market, and competitors Typical starting salaries range from 16k - 19k. For full details, please see our marketing section.
