Retailing Offers Wide Variety Of Work

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 16

Retailing Offers Wide Variety Of Work

By

R. H. BALLANTYNE

Today, with consumer demand becoming more and more selective, retailing has become almost a science in efforts to promote greater sales.

Here ilea the opportunity for men and women with sound education to put to good use what they have learned and thus benefit the commw—rty and the country by their efforts.

No longer is retailing regarded as a "dead end” reserved for those who were unable to make the grade in other professions. Men and women with Initiative and drive are needed and needed urgently to fill executive positions in the future. If you are Interested in people —and you will meet thousands of them in a retail store; if you like your surroundings to be bright and interesting, constantly changing; If you gain satisfaction from helping and pleasing people—then retailing has an opening for you.

■pOR variety of scope, does any trade or profession offer anything approaching that available in retailing? Everything which is produced on the farms, made in our factories or imported from overseas, is dependent on the retailer for making it available to the consumer, and .the retailer is responsible to the producer for seeing that his goods are offered to the consumer in an acceptable form.

Quite literally, retailing is concerned with everything from a needle to an anchor and there is much to be learned before one can really help the consumer in the choice from the multiplicity of articles.

When one speaks of retailing, one thinks immediately of the salesman behind the counter: he is the man who satisfies the customer and at this point he is, of course, the most important person in the organisation. From management to parcel boy, aU efforts are directed towards the customer in the shop; he is the person around whom the stage revolves; it is the customer whom the manufacturer and retailer must aim to please. Small City

But retailing is not only selling. A large store is in many respects a small city in itself. In many cases a retail store will itself manufacture anything from a very small quantity to its complete stock if it should be a specialty store. It could have a small workroom serving one section of

its operations or it could have large factories supplying many types of merchandise. And then there are all the services which a store must provide—not only services for the customer but also for staff and maintenance. The large volume of clerical work necessary offers opportunities for machinists, cashiers, typists, clerks (indenting, costing and customs), and operators for all types of bookkeeping machines. Maintenance and construction will employ carpenters, plumbers, mechanics, cleaners, porters, transport operators, electricians and engineers. Display and advertising offer a wide field to those with creative ideas. There is a great thrill and sense of achievement in working up an idea, seeing it take shape, and what is more, seeing the good results which have come from all your thought and labour. All these positions are available in retailing and if you are prepared to study and equip yourself, it is very easy to switch from one type of work to another. Store managers put a high value on those who are qualified to help in wider fields. Nor is it necessary. for you to spend all your time in one department: if you are keen, management will give you every assistance in your endeavours to widen your experience, which means, of course, that you become more valuable to your employer. In all branches of retailing there is ample room for advancement. You may start at the

bottom but if you are interested and keen you will soon be noted for promotion: senior salesman, under-buyer, buyer, merchandise manager, branch manager, manager—all these positions are within the reach of the man or woman who is determined to get on. If you are ambitious there are good training facilities available. Some stores have their own staff trainers and in addition make full use of the courses provided by the technical colleges and the New Zealand Retailers' Federation. Executive Courses Last year the Retailers’ Federation held courses for executives at Waiwera and Paraparaumu and in both cases many applicants have had to wait until this year. Those who attend these courses live-in for three to six days and the time is given to lectures by top men in retailing, and to discussion. In addition, the federation is instituting a system of cadetships under which those who are suitable and have their school certificate may be selected for special training. These ■ cadetships will be eagerly sought after and they certainly offer a wonderful opportunity for rapid advancement. And When you retire, what then? Most retail companies have generous superannuation or pension schemes which will provide ample finance for your years of . retirement.