Retail and wholesale trade managers
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Retail and wholesale trade managers plan, direct and evaluate the operations of businesses that sell goods or services at the retail or wholesale level.
Retail trade managers work for companies that sell products directly to consumers for their own use. Wholesale trade managers work for companies that sell larger quantities of products for resale.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, retail and wholesale trade managers:
- Study market research and trends to learn about consumer demand, potential sales volumes and their competition
- Learn about their customers to understand what items would sell best
- Build relationships with suppliers and buy goods to sell
- Manage inventory
- Set pricing strategies and credit policies
- Develop and carry out marketing and merchandising plans
- Plan budgets, approve expenses and review performance to gauge profitability
- Offer service to customers in person, by phone and digitally
- Settle customer complaints
- Assess staffing needs, hire and manage staff, and assign duties
- Oversee health and safety policies
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
59,825% Employed Full Time
69%Retail and wholesale trade managers work for retail and wholesale businesses or departments. Some own and operate their own businesses.
Most work at least 40 hours a week, but schedules vary greatly. Owners of retail stores have more control over their time, but their hours of operation must be convenient for customers. Owners also tend to put in more hours before their business opens and after it closes.
Technology has made it possible for managers to work remotely when necessary. It may also mean that they are expected to be available outside of business hours.
Retail trade managers must work well with the public. Interacting with customers, answering questions and dealing with complaints are a large part of the job.
Career Pathways
Trade managers may move between retail and wholesale roles, depending on the product or service.
In larger companies, experienced retail trade managers may become regional or provincial managers. Experienced wholesale managers may become senior department managers, directors, executive directors or vice-presidents.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Retail and wholesale trade managers need to have completed secondary school. They should have broad work and leadership experience in the field.
They may also need:
- A university degree or college diploma in business administration or a related field
- Courses in business and social sciences
- Several years of related retail sales experience at increasing levels of responsibility
- Strong knowledge of computer systems that manage point of sale, orders, inventory, customer relationships and call centres
On-site training is also an asset. In smaller companies, this may mean being guided by a supervisor. In large retail chains, it may take the form of formal training programs.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Entrepreneurial Studies Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Convincing others to change their mind or behaviour.
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
59,825Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 1,805 | 3.0% |
| Kootenay | 2,050 | 3.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 36,490 | 61.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 1,035 | 1.7% |
| Northeast | 735 | 1.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 7,710 | 12.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 9,990 | 16.7% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
33,970Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 800 | 0.3% |
| Kootenay | 930 | 0.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 22,090 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 610 | 1.3% |
| Northeast | 460 | 0.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 4,430 | 0.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 4,650 | 0.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 27,040 |
| Wholesale Trade | 5,680 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 200 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 190 |
| Manufacturing | 170 |
Insights from Industry
Small companies need to attract and keep customers to compete with large chains and online sales. Retail and wholesale trade managers often do this by creating unique promotions and by highlighting their business’s specialties.
Resources
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Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA)www.cpsa.com
