Retail Organizational Structure
Have you ever taken a moment to think about the structure that is around us every day? Structure can come in many different forms. For example, a sports team without a coach and a game plan is destined for failure. The same is true for retail stores. Understanding a retail store’s organizational structure is important when creating a business plan to determine its customers and appeal to them. Many retail businesses rely on a structure that places emphasis on three areas: centralized operations, store operations, and regional operations.
Centralized operations include duties such as store planning and human resources. Store operations include merchandising and marketing and are performed daily by retail stores. Regional operations refer to distribution and warehousing. This organizational retail structure is beneficial because it encompasses all areas of a business.
Retail Store Management Positions
A major part of the organizational structure of a retail store is that most of them have multiple management positions. Let’s take a look at some of the types of management positions and what duties are required of them.
1. Manager
The manager is the person primarily responsible for the day-to-day operations of a retail store. It is the manager who makes key decisions including on who to hire, who to fire, and if a customer is entitled to a refund or exchange. For most retail organizations, the buck starts and stops with the manager.
2. Assistant Manager
The assistant manager is responsible for assisting the manager with the daily operations of the business. In the absence of a manager, an assistant manager is responsible for making the important decisions for the store. The assistant manager is also tasked with completing any duties as designated by the manager.
3. Finance Manager
When working in retail, everyone knows that money is what makes the wheels turn, and the finance manager is responsible for greasing those wheels. The finance manager makes certain that the retail store is carefully utilizing the money that comes in and ensures they are aware of how much money is going out.
4. Corporate Recruiter
Depending on the size of the retail store, there may also be a corporate recruiter position. This position involves a highly skilled employee with the task of finding top-level employees to work with the organization. These recruiters are searching for talent to fill management positions including manager, assistant manager, and finance manager. The recruiter must have a thorough understanding of what it takes to perform each of these jobs in order to find the right person.
Retail Store Department Personnel
Retail stores are renowned for their many departments, which are used to satisfy the many needs of many customers. With so many departments, it’s important to have the right personnel for each one. Let’s take a look at some examples of the types of department personnel and how they can be properly matched to their respective department.