Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, specialty retail is absolutely a good career path. Retail is a huge industry and one that’s impossible to ship overseas. Despite the rise of online stores, specialty retailers are still going to draw customers due to their employees’ expertise.
Specialty retailers focus on one particular type of product. That can be anything from cosmetics and beauty products to pet supplies to electronics to clothing. Employees at these stores are expected to have knowledge and interest in the product and help customers find what they’re looking for – be it enthusiasts or people just learning about it for the first time.
The vast majority of retail positions don’t require any kind of higher education. Advancement occurs through experience and displayed competency. Retail employees often work odd hours, which can either be a positive thing if you have an unusual schedule or make the job more challenging.
Here are 20 great jobs in specialty retail:
10 of the Best Paying Jobs in Specialty Retail
Being considered unskilled labor, retail isn’t known for being a particularly lucrative career path. However, in the case of specialty retailers, it can allow you to work with others who share your interests, as well as give you a discount on your hobby. With the exception of the retail pharmacist, none of these jobs require a college degree.
-
Average Annual Salary: $65,000
General managers manage the entire store. That means they’re expected to have some knowledge of everything that the store sells as well as be attentive to all employees and departments. It’s their responsibility to deal with unhappy customers, requirements from higher managers, and any issues with the store’s personnel.
-
Average Annual Salary: $76,000
Someone in this role is in charge of the store’s inventory. This job requires a lot of counting, as the inventory manager has to make sure that the store’s true inventory matches up with the digitized inventory.
As most retail stores use a just-in-time model with automated replenishment, this is necessary to make sure that stock gets shipped to the store when it should.
-
Average Annual Salary: $31,000
This, of course, isn’t strictly a retail position. However, many major pet store chains have a salon with groomers on staff. Dog groomers are responsible for bathing, brushing, and trimming dogs’ coats. They will also brush dogs’ teeth, trim their nails, and some will even apply dog nail polish or fur dye. They also get tips.
-
Average Annual Salary: $40,000
The assistant store manager is the second-in-command in a store. If the general manager isn’t available, then it’s the assistant store manager’s job to take over. Like the general manager, it’s the assistant manager’s job to look after the store and fill in if an employee is sick or otherwise unavailable.
-
Average Annual Salary: $127,000
A retail pharmacist is a pharmacist that works in a retail location, such as Walgreens or CVS. You must be a licensed pharmacist in order to fill this role, which is why it’s well paid. Retail pharmacists are responsible for filling prescriptions, giving vaccinations, and occasionally filling in at the counter to deal with customers directly.
-
Electronics Department Manager
Average Annual Salary: $60,000
Several different major retailers have electronics departments: Target, Best Buy, and Walmart, for starters. The electronics department manager is in charge of this department.
They are expected to help customers with questions about electronics, as well as be familiar with the different electronics the store carries. Being a manager, they’re also expected to make sure it runs smoothly, is properly stocked, and is clean.
-
Average Annual Salary: $34,000
Both Petco and Petsmart have dog trainers on staff in their stores. The company will train their dog trainers in positive reinforcement techniques and then have them teach classes. They are expected to market themselves and their classes and get a small commission for every class sold along with their hourly pay.
-
Average Annual Salary: $38,000
The dairy department manager is in charge of the dairy department in a grocery store. Most dairy department managers also oversee the frozen food department. They make sure that the shelves are properly stocked, that the food on the shelves is within its sell-by date, as well as making sure that the department is on track to meet its goals.
-
Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Not every retail store has this position, and it’s more common in larger stores. Retail sales leads are in between a retail associate and a manager.
They usually work full time, unlike most retail employees, and have more responsibilities in their department. This position requires strong communication skills as well as excellent customer service skills.
-
Average Annual Salary: $123,000
The pharmacist manager oversees a pharmacy. This can either be the entire store, in the case of local pharmacies, or just the pharmacy department, in the case of a location like a grocery store. Pharmacist managers are required to be familiar with medications, as they’re also expected to advise customers on their prescriptions.
The majority of these jobs are only gotten through experience and being good at your job. Pay for these positions is going to depend a lot on the size of the store you work in and, therefore, the level of responsibility, along with the type of retailer. If you’re just looking to get started in specialty retail, then the below list is a good place to look.
10 Entry-Level Jobs in Specialty Retail
Retail positions are usually pretty easy to get into, even without experience. That’s why they’re sometimes referred to as “starter jobs.” If your interests or area of expertise line up with any of the below jobs, then you’re even more likely to get hired.
-
Average Annual Salary: $28,000
This exact job title is used at GameStop to describe its associates. Best Buy has a similar position in that they have someone who’s a video game expert to help advise customers on what video games suit their interests.
And even if the customer just has a particular game in mind, they appreciate it when the employee knows what they’re talking about.
-
Average Annual Salary: $30,000
An apparel associate works with clothes. Most of their job is going to be folding clothes, setting up displays, and returning items from the dressing room to the store floor.
However, they’re also expected to be able to help customers find what they need, be familiar with the inventory and store layout, and, depending on the store, make suggestions for what will suit the customer.
-
Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Beauty advisors specialize in cosmetics and beauty products. They’re most likely to work in a specialty beauty store, such as Ulta, and have a working knowledge of different beauty products.
Their main job is to advise customers on different products and help those that are just learning about a new beauty product, whether it be cosmetics, skincare, or nail care.
-
Average Annual Salary: $27,000
Almost every retail employee is expected to run the cash register at some point. However, there are usually a few employees who are designated to be on the register.
Cashiers have to be familiar with the software the register runs, different products and where the barcodes are likely to be located, and the location of goods in case they need to check the price or if the item doesn’t have a barcode.
-
Average Annual Salary: $28,000
This job title is extremely descriptive. Overnight stockers usually work in large retail stores, taking stock out of the stockroom and placing it in its proper place on the sales floor. It’s a very physical job, as it requires moving a lot of products.
Depending on the store and merchandise, it can sometimes require moving heavy items, such as bags of dog food, furniture, or lumber.
-
Average Annual Salary: $32,000
Pharmacist clerks take care of the duties that don’t involve filling prescriptions. You don’t need a pharmacy degree to be a pharmacy clerk, so you wouldn’t be working with medications. However, you will help customers who come up to the pharmacy, enter information into the system, and ring up their purchases.
-
Average Annual Salary: $32,000
As you might guess, pet care associates work at pet stores. Someone in this position is directly involved in taking care of the animals on the sales floor. They’re considered an expert in animal care and are the ones that answer questions about the animals that the pet store sells.
Their duties also include selling the animals, making sure the person purchasing a new pet is aware of the responsibilities and expenses in caring for this pet, and recommending the necessary products.
-
Average Annual Salary: $33,000
An electronics associate works in the electronics department of a store. Because they specialize, they’re expected to be familiar with the different electronics the store sells, as well as be able to answer questions about them and make recommendations.
Depending on the store, they may also be in possession of the keys to getting locked items for customers, such as video games and memory sticks, that have a high theft rate.
-
Average Annual Salary: $40,000
A merchandiser is another name for a stocker. Apparel merchandisers work with clothing, making sure that it’s taken out of the stock room, properly folded or hung on a hanger, and put in its proper place. Not every store has designated merchandisers, but if it’s a larger store, then it’s likely.
-
Average Annual Salary: $30,000
This position is unique to Best Buy. Geek Squad members are expected to act as tech support to the general public. They will help install electronics in people’s homes, as well as work on computers or other electronic devices that customers bring in to be fixed.
Many of these jobs have some opportunity for advancement, at least to store manager. They will also give you experience in an area of interest if you’re looking to move into a different field.
Why Choose a Career in Specialty Retail?
Specialty retail has a variety of options in terms of what type of product you want to work with. You can be interested in electronics, video games, beauty supplies, pets, food, or apparel. However, most of the jobs in this industry require a similar set of skills.
-
You enjoy working with the public. Retail is a service industry. Most of a retail associate’s job is dealing with customers, be that to help them find what they need, make recommendations, or ring up their purchases. You need to be patient, cheerful, and make the customer feel heard and welcome.
-
Getting a four-year degree isn’t a priority for you. Almost none of these jobs require a college degree. So, if school isn’t your strong suit, you don’t want to go into debt, or you want to start working right away, then retail is an industry you can step into right out of high school.
-
You like getting discounts. Retail employees usually get limited benefits; however, they will get an employee discount at the store. So if you love electronics, pets, or beauty supplies, getting a job at a store that sells those will guarantee that you can get them for less money.
-
You’re passionate about a particular hobby. If you’re going to specialize in retail, it’s an excellent idea to pick something that interests you. Not only does that mean you’ll already have knowledge of the products, but it’ll make it easy to stay up to date on changes and help customers with questions.
-
You like having flexibility in your schedule. As almost all retail jobs are part-time, you can have a more flexible schedule. This doesn’t always work out perfectly, as the store may be looking for people with a lot of availability.
Retail positions generally don’t pay a lot, so it’s highly recommended to be interested in what you’re doing. If the above list sounds like it describes you, then you should absolutely look into a career in specialty retail.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Specialty Retail
There are very few requirements for retail positions. The vast majority of jobs offer on-the-job training if you’re looking for a more specialized position. The exception is being a retail pharmacist.
-
Retail pharmacists need to be licensed pharmacists. This means that you need a pharmacy degree and have to pass the exam.
There are some highly specialized jobs where having other training will help.
-
If you want to be a dog trainer in a pet store, they will train you. However, it’s a coveted position, so you need to be lucky. If you’ve already worked as a dog trainer, then you’ll likely get hired as one.
-
The same is true for dog groomers. It’s a more involved training program than dog training, so they’re going to want to make sure you’re sure you want to be one. It’s also coveted, as it’s a way to specialize and make more money.
-
Geek Squad members also go through a training program.
There are some certificates you can get for retail, though the emphasis is likely going to be on experience and being lucky enough for a position to come open while you’re there.
What Do People Working In Specialty Retail Do?
Specialty retail stores are stores that specialize in a particular product or type of product. So, specialty retailers are stores like Best Buy, which focuses on electronics; GameStop, which focuses on video games; Petsmart, which focuses on pets and pet supplies; and Ulta Beauty, which exclusively sells beauty supplies.
If you work in retail, you’re expected to be customer-facing. The main duties of a retail employee are stocking shelves, helping customers, running the cash register, and making sure the store is tidy and inviting.
Author
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
