Post job

Vendor vs retail specialist

The differences between vendors and retail specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a vendor has an average salary of $52,533, which is higher than the $31,114 average annual salary of a retail specialist.

The top three skills for a vendor include product knowledge, customer service and stock merchandise. The most important skills for a retail specialist are store management, retail environment, and store associates.

Vendor vs retail specialist overview

VendorRetail Specialist
Yearly salary$52,533$31,114
Hourly rate$25.26$14.96
Growth rate--
Number of jobs5,341269,690
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Average age4541
Years of experience--

What does a vendor do?

A vendor's role is to sell goods and services to individuals, business entities, and stores. It is their responsibility to maintain the supply flow of products, coordinate with business partners, and maintain positive relationships with customers to strengthen the client base. As a vendor, it is vital to ensure that the products adhere to quality standards, monitor inventory, and implement deliveries to various stores. There are also instances where a vendor must advertise products on different platforms to improve brand awareness and boost sales.

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.

Vendor vs retail specialist salary

Vendors and retail specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

VendorRetail Specialist
Average salary$52,533$31,114
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $84,000Between $22,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSalem, NH
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Hampshire
Best paying companyDoorDashMicrosoft
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between vendor and retail specialist education

There are a few differences between a vendor and a retail specialist in terms of educational background:

VendorRetail Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Vendor vs retail specialist demographics

Here are the differences between vendors' and retail specialists' demographics:

VendorRetail Specialist
Average age4541
Gender ratioMale, 55.4% Female, 44.6%Male, 42.8% Female, 57.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%7%

Differences between vendor and retail specialist duties and responsibilities

Vendor example responsibilities.

  • Attain prime floor display space and provide point of sale (POS) signage.
  • Handle various tasks from cashier, managing supply and back-stock, responsible for ordering merchandise for cereal department.
  • Work directly with local and national retailers to negotiate sales, places orders, and manage deliveries of wine and spirits.
  • Operate hand-held and truck mount RF scanning guns.
  • Stock home depot trees and keep it looking organize.
  • Have also work in the depot loading bread and cake trucks overnight
  • Show more

Retail specialist example responsibilities.

  • 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.
  • Show more

Vendor vs retail specialist skills

Common vendor skills
  • Product Knowledge, 26%
  • Customer Service, 26%
  • Stock Merchandise, 9%
  • Purchase Orders, 5%
  • End Caps, 5%
  • Excellent Guest, 5%
Common retail specialist skills
  • Store Management, 60%
  • Retail Environment, 12%
  • Store Associates, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Product Knowledge, 4%
  • Shelf Tags, 2%