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What does a retail specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does a retail specialist do

A retail specialist is primarily in charge of securing sales and assisting customers on a sales floor, ensuring to meet the daily sales targets and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting clients and answering inquiries, locating products, offering recommendations and promotions, and processing payments. They may also address issues or concerns, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as a retail specialist, it is essential to maintain the cleanliness of the sales floor and arrange displays properly to attract customers.

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Retail specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real retail specialist resumes:

  • Manage a high volume of patient information from authorizing diagnostic procedures and scheduling patients.
  • Manage Nintendo's promotional programs; secure and maintain point-of-purchase displays that alert customers to brand availability.
  • Complete cash, credit, and debit POS transactions accurately and according to company policy.
  • Assist clients with applications to determine county benefits eligibility food, cash, childcare and medicaid benefits.
  • Operate POS system to input customers' orders, process credit card transactions, and enter cash amounts receive.
  • Perform insurance verification for new and self-pay patients to facilitate reimbursement for the services render.
  • Maintain data integrity between parallel systems, including auditing and reconciling payroll and benefits interface discrepancy and edit reports.
  • Increase sales for the store by upselling customers on accessories, promotional offers, and other complimentary merchandise.
  • Straighten and set merchandise to schematic pog.
  • End cap display building base on POG or design picture.
  • Expedite clients ACH drafts for their due dates within specific deadlines.
  • Report creation for ACH customers and International/Domestic wire reports
  • Manage Nintendo's promotional programs; secure and maintain point-of-purchase displays that alert customers to brand availability.

Retail specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 60% of Retail Specialists are proficient in Store Management, Retail Environment, and Store Associates. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Math skills, and Persistence.

We break down the percentage of Retail Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Store Management, 60%

    Assisted retail store management team in executing dozens of corporate initiatives.

  • Retail Environment, 12%

    Greet customers and efficiently process transactions within busy, fast-passed retail environments.

  • Store Associates, 4%

    Respond to customer needs and provide product knowledge classes to store associates as well as performing demonstration classes for customers.

  • Customer Service, 4%

    Provided superior level of customer service through accurate and immediate response to inquiries from branches representatives and customers.

  • Product Knowledge, 4%

    Increased customer trust and loyalty by continually ensuring customer satisfaction, quality and product knowledge.

  • Shelf Tags, 2%

    Scanned shelf tags and products via hand-held computer and scanner.

Most retail specialists use their skills in "store management," "retail environment," and "store associates" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential retail specialist responsibilities here:

Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a retail specialist to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what retail specialists do because "a friendly and outgoing personality is important for these workers because the job requires almost constant interaction with people." Additionally, a retail specialist resume shows how retail specialists use interpersonal skills: "recommended products for customers worked in the aquatics department maintaining quality of tanks performed retail responsibilities utilized interpersonal skills during customer service"

Math skills. Many retail specialist duties rely on math skills. "retail sales workers must have the ability to calculate price totals, discounts, and change owed to customers.," so a retail specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways retail specialist responsibilities rely on math skills: "analyzed statistics and other data to determine the level of customer service performance achieved by the team. "

Persistence. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of retail specialists is persistence. This skill is critical to many everyday retail specialist duties, as "a large number of attempted sales may not be successful, so sales workers should not be discouraged easily." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "combine patience, determination, and persistence to troubleshoot utility department issues by contacting vendors daily. "

Selling skills. For certain retail specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "selling skills." The day-to-day duties of a retail specialist rely on this skill, as "retail sales workers must be persuasive when interacting with customers." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what retail specialists do: "review business plans, expectations and weekly/monthly numbers with appropriate store management/sales specialist. "

Customer-service skills. Another crucial skill for a retail specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "customer-service skills." A big part of what retail specialists relies on this skill, since "retail sales workers must be responsive to the wants and needs of customers." How this skill relates to retail specialist duties can be seen in an example from a retail specialist resume snippet: "provide customer support by offering information on current trends, style, quality and fabric manufacturing. "

All retail specialist skills

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Compare different retail specialists

Retail specialist vs. Store associate

A store associate is responsible for assisting customers with the products they need and recommending alternative goods that would fit their budget. Sales associates also market promotional offers and provide product descriptions to the customer. They also monitor inventories, stock supplies on the appropriate shelves, and ensure the cleanliness and orderliness of the store. Store associates also perform other administrative tasks as needed, such as creating sales reports, assisting in the counter, and helping customers on carrying their items.

If we compare the average retail specialist annual salary with that of a store associate, we find that store associates typically earn a $1,571 lower salary than retail specialists make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between retail specialists and store associates are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, product knowledge, and hudson.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between retail specialists and store associate. For instance, retail specialist responsibilities require skills such as "store management," "retail environment," "store associates," and "dependability." Whereas a store associate is skilled in "compassion," "cleanliness," "math," and "front end." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Store associates earn the highest salaries when working in the retail industry, with an average yearly salary of $29,472. On the other hand, retail specialists are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $37,027.On average, store associates reach similar levels of education than retail specialists. Store associates are 1.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Retail specialist vs. Merchandising associate

Merchandise associates ensure that customers get a complete shopping experience. They pleasantly arrange and stock merchandise on shelves for customers to purchase. Also, they assemble product displays and make sure popular and on-sale products are visible to customers. Part of their duty is to place the appropriate sales tag on items and record new developments in the store's inventory. Skills required for the job include excellent customer service, being detail-oriented, and relevant experience in sales.

Merchandising associate positions earn higher pay than retail specialist roles. They earn a $2,087 higher salary than retail specialists per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Retail specialists and merchandising associates both require similar skills like "store management," "store associates," and "customer service" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, retail specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "retail environment," "dependability," "hudson," and "shelf tags." Meanwhile, a merchandising associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "cleanliness," "loss prevention," "visual displays," and "ladders." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, merchandising associates earn a higher salary than retail specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, merchandising associates earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $33,557. Whereas retail specialists have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $37,027.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Merchandising associates tend to reach similar levels of education than retail specialists. In fact, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Retail specialist vs. Customer service retail associate

A customer service retail associate is responsible for providing the highest customer service for the store's customers by responding to their inquiries and concerns and recommending them goods and services that would fit their needs. Customer service retail associates support the marketing campaigns and promotional strategies of the store by offering and demonstrating products to the customers, as well as arranging stock displays, and monitoring the adequacy of inventories. They also escalate high-level complaints to management for immediate resolution and assist with product replacement and issuing refunds as needed.

On average, customer service retail associates earn lower salaries than retail specialists, with a $1,112 difference per year.By looking over several retail specialists and customer service retail associates resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "retail environment," "customer service," and "product knowledge." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from retail specialist resumes include skills like "store management," "store associates," "dependability," and "hudson," whereas a customer service retail associate is more likely to list skills in "product line," "fedex," "strong work ethic," and "work ethic. "

Customer service retail associates make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $32,384. On the other hand, retail specialists are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $37,027.When it comes to education, customer service retail associates tend to earn similar degree levels compared to retail specialists. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Retail specialist vs. Team associate

A team associate is responsible for organizing supply stock and performs cleaning duties to maintain a pleasant shopping experience for the customers. Team associates are usually employed in a shopping industry, providing the best customer service for the consumers by responding to their inquiries and concerns and directing them to their specific needs. They also convey promotional offers and featured products to the consumers, requiring them to have excellent communication and negotiation skills to help the business generate revenues and increase profitability.

Team associates typically earn higher pay than retail specialists. On average, team associates earn a $708 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, retail specialists and team associates both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "product knowledge," and "pos. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between retail specialists and team associates, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a retail specialist might have more use for skills like "store management," "retail environment," "store associates," and "dependability." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of team associates require skills like "pet," "reservations," "kids," and "patients. "

In general, team associates earn the most working in the retail industry, with an average salary of $31,701. The highest-paying industry for a retail specialist is the technology industry.The average resume of team associates showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to retail specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of retail specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.