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Retail & Merchandising
Do you always know the next big thing before it drops? Got the skills to make it go viral? A career in retail could be your perfect fit!
🏪 So what's retail and merchandising?
Retail and merchandising attract customers into stores or online, using clever strategies to sell the latest trends across fashion, gadgets, beauty, and more.
Need more info? Ask an Apprentice
Considering an apprenticeship in this area of work? Or just unsure about uni? Our Ask an Apprentice community is made for you! Be mentored and chat with real apprentices, get application tips, and ask all your burning questions through our new platform.
What jobs can I do?
Buyer
Buyers predict trends, select products for stores, and negotiate prices. They’re behind getting the latest fashion or tech into your favourite shops.
Merchandiser
Merchandisers ensure stores have the right products at the right time, working with buyers to manage stock, plan sales and boost profits.
Sales assistant
Sales assistants help customers in-store, giving advice, answering questions, and ensuring a great shopping experience, often with flexible working hours.
Store manager
Store managers run retail shops, overseeing staff, managing stock, and making sure the store meets sales targets while keeping everything organised.
Stylist
Stylists put together fashionable outfits for clients or photoshoots, working with brands, stores or individual shoppers to create stylish looks.
What are the top skills?
🔎 Attention-to-detail
Noticing the small stuff matters in retail. From perfecting displays to spotting trends, being detail-oriented makes a big difference.
🎨 Creativity
Retail is a creative industry. Whether it’s window displays or fashion designs, your creative flair helps brands stand out and attract customers.
📞 Customer service
Customer service is essential in retail. Being helpful, approachable, and solving customer problems ensures a positive shopping experience.
💡 Initiative
Retail rewards those who think ahead. Taking initiative and finding solutions quickly helps you stand out in fast-paced environments.
😊 People skills
Retail is about building relationships with customers and teams. Being a good communicator and approachable makes a big difference.
How do I get started in retail and merchandising?
🛠️ What apprenticeships can I do?
There are apprenticeships like customer service, fashion studio assistant, and retailer for entry-level roles, or retail manager and sales executive for higher-level training in leadership and sales.
🎓 Is uni an option?
Yes, studying business or retail at university can lead to roles in buying, merchandising, or management through graduate schemes.
⭐ How can I stand out?
Join a Young Enterprise scheme to get experience creating products and marketing, plus gain teamwork skills and valuable industry connections.
What qualifications can I get?
What degree options do I have?
Degree options include fashion design, business management, retail management, marketing and merchandising, which open doors to different retail roles.
What qualifications can I get through a retail and merchandising apprenticeship?
You can earn qualifications in retail management, customer service, visual merchandising, sales, and more, along with NVQs or diplomas.
5 fun facts you didn't know
A quarter of sales are bought online
Online sales are around 25% of total retail sales. This figure went up to over a third during the pandemic. We thought it would be higher…!
More people are eating ethical
Ethical food and drink sales (like vegan and vegetarian foods) went up 7.6% in 2023.
Levi’s are Britain’s favourite fashion brand
74% of Brit’s have a positive opinion of Levi’s jeans – making them the UK’s most popular fashion brand.
The Big Four supermarkets sell us half our food!
Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons are referred to as the ‘Big Four’, and they make up more than 50% of the grocery market.
There are over 300,000 shops in the UK
According to government stats, there were 324,995 retail businesses in the UK.
Need more info? Ask an Apprentice
Considering an apprenticeship in this area of work? Or just unsure about uni? Our Ask an Apprentice community is made for you! Be mentored and chat with real apprentices, get application tips, and ask all your burning questions through our new platform.
