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Lead retail consultant vs shop manager

The differences between lead retail consultants and shop managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a lead retail consultant and a shop manager. Additionally, a lead retail consultant has an average salary of $39,319, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a shop manager.

The top three skills for a lead retail consultant include POS, sales floor and basic math. The most important skills for a shop manager are customer service, taking care, and work ethic.

Lead retail consultant vs shop manager overview

Lead Retail ConsultantShop Manager
Yearly salary$39,319$36,580
Hourly rate$18.90$17.59
Growth rate--
Number of jobs83,04983,627
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age4343
Years of experience66

What does a lead retail consultant do?

A lead retail consultant spearheads consultation projects that aim to help clients optimize their daily retail operations. Their responsibilities entail conducting extensive market research and analyses, studying the target market and competitors, establishing objectives and guidelines, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of current procedures, and providing solutions against potential issues and concerns. Additionally, as a lead retail consultant, they have the duty to lead junior consultants in the joint effort to help clients achieve their short and long-term goals.

What does a shop manager do?

As the name entails, shop managers manage an establishment's day-to-day operations, ensuring it runs effectively and smoothly. Their responsibilities include making business strategies, developing promotional materials, and ensuring that sales teams are motivated. As the shop manager, you will also oversee the store's organizational and operational standards, undertake administrative tasks, and monitor inventory levels. The requirements to become a store manager include having a high school diploma, at least three years of work experience in the retail industry, and leadership skills.

Lead retail consultant vs shop manager salary

Lead retail consultants and shop managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Lead Retail ConsultantShop Manager
Average salary$39,319$36,580
Salary rangeBetween $17,000 And $86,000Between $25,000 And $52,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMassachusetts
Best paying companyAccentureRivian
Best paying industryTelecommunicationRetail

Differences between lead retail consultant and shop manager education

There are a few differences between a lead retail consultant and a shop manager in terms of educational background:

Lead Retail ConsultantShop Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiSUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Lead retail consultant vs shop manager demographics

Here are the differences between lead retail consultants' and shop managers' demographics:

Lead Retail ConsultantShop Manager
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 59.1% Female, 40.9%Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between lead retail consultant and shop manager duties and responsibilities

Lead retail consultant example responsibilities.

  • Assist store leadership in effectively leading, managing and developing store and/or department operations and associates to maximize sales and profitability.
  • Operate POS (point of sale) station with responsibility for a balance cash drawer daily.
  • Complete POS and cash register functions such as hourly readings, balancing, voids and undo transactions when necessary.
  • Assist store leadership in effectively leading, managing and developing store and/or department operations and associates to maximize sales and profitability.
  • Gain buy-in and trust with persuasive proposals, marketing collateral, and PowerPoint presentations.

Shop manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage inventory and payment to suppliers in addition to managing payroll and other administrative tasks.
  • Manage the units respirator control program.
  • Manage gift registry for 48 stores consisting of 13,000 annual registries, $9.8MM in sales.
  • Manage inventory and work orders, train new employees, frequent QA inspections for shipping and receiving.
  • Conduct employee training that encompass all require OSHA and company safety guidelines to achieve a safe and productive work environment.
  • Manage data on POS system, mainly items being sell in the shop have to be written down and organize accordingly.
  • Show more

Lead retail consultant vs shop manager skills

Common lead retail consultant skills
  • POS, 20%
  • Sales Floor, 17%
  • Basic Math, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 6%
  • Punctuality, 5%
  • Store Sales, 5%
Common shop manager skills
  • Customer Service, 26%
  • Taking Care, 10%
  • Work Ethic, 8%
  • Team Training, 6%
  • Product Knowledge, 5%
  • Payroll, 3%