Is Other Specialty Stores A Good Career Path? (15 Jobs In Other Specialty Stores: Best-Paying + Entry-Level)

Yes, Other Specialty Stores is a good career path. Other specialty stores are typically retail locations that offer specific and specialized items such as a particular brand or type of product. This can be an excellent career path for those with brand loyalty or who have a passion for a specific type of product.

Working in Other Speciality Stories offers the opportunity to gain extensive product expertise as you’ll be focusing your sales within a specific product category. Additionally, other specialty stores have a different environment than general merchandise retailers, making it a pleasant place to work.

The 8 Best-Paying Jobs in Other Specialty Stores

Specialty stores operate similarly to any other retail stores, except they typically stock a single brand or product. This means there are a wide variety of opportunities in this industry, depending on your skills and previous experience. Retail jobs have an unfortunate reputation for being poorly paid, but there are plenty of well-paying jobs in other specialty stores.

1. Buyer

   Average Annual Salary: $54,000

   A buyer in specialty stores is responsible for identifying customer preferences and forecasting consumer trends. They must then evaluate supplier options while being mindful of pricing and quality if the store stocks a certain type of product. With specialty stores that stock-specific brands, buyers must only submit quantity requests.

   Buyers may also be responsible for discovering and purchasing new products, as well as checking the quality and popularity of what already exists on the shelves. They are responsible for shipping logistics as well as creating reports on sales, budgets, and customer satisfaction to adjust store strategies accordingly.

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2. Loss Prevention Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $63,000

   A loss prevention manager has arguably the most important job in the store. Their responsibilities include overseeing loss prevention staff while supporting the company loss prevention procedures to safeguard company assets, prevent or minimize theft, and reduce shortages and any fraud.

   Loss prevention managers are responsible for overseeing security equipment, identifying and implementing security systems to minimize loss, conducting audits, and monitoring inventory. They may also conduct periodic inspections of the store and merchandise to ensure surveillance is adequate.

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3. Purchasing Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $97,000

   A purchasing manager, or supply manager, is responsible for managing a team that is responsible for procuring goods and services for resale or company use. Similar to buyers, purchasing managers must seek the best available quality for the lowest price by evaluating suppliers, negotiating contracts, and reviewing products.

   Purchasing managers in retail purchase finished goods. They do this based on the market demand and usually manage others in the supply chain to ensure this process is smooth. Because this job requires finance and economic knowledge, this is a position that may require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

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4. Customer Service Supervisor

   Average Annual Salary: $37,000

   A customer service supervisor is exactly what it sounds like. This individual is responsible for overseeing and assisting customer service employees in the performance of their job duties which include responding to customer inquiries and resolving any issues or complaints.

   Customer service supervisors may also be required to conduct employee training, review employee performance with customers, collect data and prepare reports on any customer complaints. They are the person responsible for informing employees if anything changes to company products and services as well.

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5. Retail Account Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $64,000

   Retail account managers are individuals who are responsible for managing the relationship between a company that manufactures or supplies products and the retailers that stock them. In other specialty stores, this is an important responsibility, which also allows the opportunity to get first-hand knowledge of the merchandise.

   Retail managers may deal with a small number of retailers, known as their key or national accounts, or a larger number of smaller independent retailers, depending on the industry they operate in and what they sell. Retail managers are also responsible for strategic planning, building relationships, and internal coordination.

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6. Store Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $46,000

   Retail managers in other specialty stores are responsible for the management of the overall store. This means they are responsible for every aspect of the day-to-day supervision of staff, sales, and stock. Employees all report to the retail manager, and the retail manager often reports to the general manager or owner.

   Store managers are responsible for hiring, training, and employee development, as well as ensuring staffing is adequate to operate the store effectively. Retail managers typically work on the floor with their teams to ensure great customer service and to be available to deal with any customer issues or complaints.

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7. Regional Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $97,000

   For larger other specialty stores, the company will often hire a regional retail manager. This individual is responsible for managing multiple district managers within a geographic region. This means they may need to travel quite a bit for this position to maintain oversight on each of their locations.

   Regional retail sales managers may be responsible for adjusting retail sales goals and procedures by district based on goals that are set for the whole region. They may also be responsible for budging, creating store policies, and internal procedures to help support the functional infrastructure.

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8. Retail Franchise Owner

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   A retail franchise owner or franchisee is an independent business owner who operates a third-party retail outlet called a franchise. This means this individual has the right to use an existing business’s trademark, associate brands, and other proprietary knowledge to market and sell the same brand while upholding its standards.

   These individuals are required to follow the proven business model that is already in place for this brand, as it helps to maintain a consistent state of operations. They are often responsible for growing the franchise using approved advertising and marketing within its area of operation.

7 Entry-Level Jobs in Other Specialty Stores

Working in other specialty stores is a great option for those who are looking to get into a field that doesn’t necessarily require extensive secondary education. Retail is an industry where you can work your way up the chain of command. Getting into this industry requires basic customer service and sales skills. Here are some entry-level jobs in this industry.

1. Supply Chain and Logistics Analyst

   Average Annual Salary: $60,000

   A supply chain analyst is responsible for improving the efficiency of supply chain operations as it pertains to retail locations. They are responsible for overseeing the entire supply chain, ensuring timely delivery of products, and keeping the specialty store within its approved budget.

   Supply chain analysts are data-driven people who analyze data to identify areas for improvement within the supply chain. They may manage projects to enhance supply chain operations, establish relationships with shippers and vendors, as well as to measure supply chain performance, and report to management.

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2. Human Resources Assistant

   Average Annual Salary: $35,000

   If you’re looking to get into retail or human resources, an entry-level human resources assistant job might be right for you. If you work for a specialty store that carries a single brand, sometimes they are large enough for an HR department. As an HR assistant, you would mostly be responsible for helping your HR manager.

   This may include assisting with forecasting hiring needs as well as hiring and interviewing, designing and posting job ads, creating plans to onboard and train new hires, as well as helping to manage payroll, including nuances such as overtime, flexible schedules, and seasonal employment.

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3. Visual Merchandiser

   Average Annual Salary: $43,000

   Visual merchandisers are individuals who present, arrange, and display items in stores and shop windows, known as crucial places where customers see, pick, and potentially buy products. These individuals are highly strategic and know how to give apparel and items a clean and organized finish while respecting brand identity.

   Visual merchandisers are individuals who are highly aware of visual culture and artistic flair and may bring some marketing and psychological knowledge to the table as well. Window displays are a crucial part of other specialty stores, especially if they are brand specific.

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4. Purchasing Agent

   Average Annual Salary: $52,000

   Purchasing agents typically report up to purchasing managers mentioned in the above list. These individuals are responsible for finding and purchasing products for a company to use or resell. This means they must locate suppliers, research goods, services, and materials, as well as process any purchase orders.

   Purchasing agents will oftentimes be responsible for negotiations, including interviewing vendors and visiting their facilities to learn more about what they offer. They may also be responsible for scheduling deliveries from supplies and resolving any shipping areas, as well as authorizing payments and keeping records.

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5. Social Media Specialist

   Average Annual Salary: $49,000

   Specialty stores must market themselves like any other store, which means they may require a presence on social media. Although this seems like a simple job, social media specialists are far more than individuals who post online. These individuals must plan, implement and monitor a social media strategy for the store’s brand.

   This may include developing and implementing a strategy, defining KPIs, overseeing all social media content, measuring success, and staying up to date with best practices and technologies. They may monitor SEO and user engagement, suggest content optimization, and train others on the team.

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6. Assets Protection Specialist

   Average Annual Salary: $42,000

   An asset protection specialist works in a store environment to deter loss. They may be expected to devise and implement improvements across the store to enhance security and deter loss. They may also be required to keep up with the latest trends in security and theft-prevention methods.

   These individuals are responsible for identifying incidents of theft, auditing store departments, and ensuring store employees are well-trained on how to avoid or control theft. Asset protection specialists may also be required to use loss prevention technology like security cameras or other platforms.

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7. General Employee

   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   The most common entry-level position in other specialty stores is working as a general employee. This may sound bland, but given the number of stores you have to choose from, it can cater directly to your needs, experience, and skills. If you’re interested in a certain brand or product, consider applying to those stores first.

   General employees are mostly responsible for customer service, maintaining stocked shelves, ringing up customers at the register, and sorting through inventory. They may also be responsible for light cleaning, offering customers special deals, and working together with their broader retail team.

Why Choose a Career in Other Specialty Stores?

Other specialty stores vary in many ways depending on the brand or type of product the store sells. Either way, these stores have similar benefits that make working in other specialty stores a great career path choice.

• Specialization and Expertise. One of the largest benefits of other specialty stores is that you’ll focus on one single class of products. This allows employees to develop extensive expertise and a reputation for knowledge in the specific product or brand.

• Knowledgeable Staff. Specialty stores are able to train their employees with more in-depth knowledge or even recruit those who have previous knowledge, such as a sporting goods store employing sales staff with backgrounds in team sports or personal fitness. This provides an advantage over general retailers.

• Higher Pay. Most specialty stores will offer their employees a higher salary than general merchandise stores due to the specific knowledge required to work in a store that specializes in a certain product type.

Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Other Specialty Stores

Jobs in specialty stores don’t often require secondary education, although there are certain degree programs that can help you excel faster. Retail can become a competitive industry, so it’s always a good idea to understand what your options may be for further education or certification.

• Most specialty stores will hire entry-level positions with a high school diploma or GED and without previous experience. Depending on the store, they may sometimes even hire you if you’re still working your way towards graduation or obtaining your GED.

• Consider a certification program. Often retail certificate programs are self-paced, offering a combination of in-person and virtual-based classes designed for those who have other responsibilities to tend to.

• Associate degree programs are available to enhance your competitiveness in the market. Associate degree programs take at least two academic years and can be available in community or junior colleges, as well as other four-year colleges.

What Do People Working In Other Specialty Stores Do?

Those working in specialty stores provide customer service and help to complete sales while also maintaining stocked shelves and store cleanliness. Depending on your job responsibilities, you may be focused on many different tasks or just a few in your skill area. You may also be required to hit certain sales goals.

Employees in specialty stores must enjoy working with customers and respond to customer inquiries with their product or brand knowledge. Cash management, time management, inventory control, and communication skills are also important skills employees working in specialty stores should be prepared to bring to the table.

Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research. Caitlin holds a degree in English from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA.