Modern supermarkets and shopping centers have appeared relatively recently. In Russia, only in the first decade of the twentieth century did they change the shops of artisans and merchant bazaars. The familiar shopping arcade of markets and fairs gradually transformed in large cities into department stores.
New profession
The emergence of large trading enterprises has led to the emergence of a completely new profession on the labor market. What kind of work is this - the store administrator? Its name comes from the Latin verb administrare - "to help, manage, serve." That is, "administrator" translates as "leader" or "manager."
Its functions may vary depending on the enterprise. There are administrators of the trading floor. Their tasks are monitoring what is happening there and organizing the activities of sellers. In large hypermarkets, such an employee is sometimes called the manager of the trading floor.
The owner-manager of the store has more complicated duties. He organizes sales at a higher level. Can lead the work of the merchandising service (from English - "sales art"). According to statistics, with the sale of any product 80% of success falls on competent “packaging” - a fashion brand, thoughtful design, comfortable purchase conditions.
What does he do
In order to attract as many customers as possible, he can organize additional events on the trading floor - presentations of samples, tastings, distribution of booklets, etc. This activity is the responsibility of the store administrator and is regularly rewarded while maintaining the desired level of sales.
Administrators often organize various promotions, because the store receives a delivery bonus for this, covering the losses from theft in the hall and audits.
In fact, the main thing in his activity is to maintain the normal operation of the store. Its functions include the organization of cultural services and comfortable conditions, consultations on all issues, maintaining a welcoming atmosphere.
Store Administrator: Responsibilities
He monitors the receipt of goods at the warehouse, its submission to the trading sections, markings, expiration dates, cash services, the availability of a book of complaints and suggestions.
Its task is the safety of goods and equipment, timely inventories and much more. As well as the elimination of conflicts in the trading floor and the consideration of claims on the quality of service. He must report all the shortcomings to the management and take action.
Today, under the roofs of shopping centers, everything you need is assembled - products, dishes, household chemicals, clothes and shoes, even furniture. The grocery store administrator is actually required to understand a variety of products. 10-15 thousand people pass through the halls of the central hypermarkets of large cities in a day . People managed to appreciate the convenience of this form of sales.
There is a store administrator in any sales area, whose duties are to ensure the quality and speed of service, to achieve high turnover results and good staff remuneration . He is the central figure of the store.
What are the reasons for choosing this profession?
Most of those who work as an administrator, from a young age had a tendency to trade. As a child, they liked the games in the seller, they managed to organize a "store" better than others. Often these are followers of a family tradition. Following their parents, they go to trade schools and then work as sellers and cashiers. The administrator is the next step in his career.
This work is responsible and very interesting. One cannot do without professional education in the trade or economic sector. The job description of the store administrator requires the candidate to receive at least secondary (and preferably higher) education in the field of trade, if there is no work experience. And seniority in the profession of two years with only primary specialized education. It’s good if the candidate for the position knows and can fulfill the duties of a cashier in a store, which is important for small outlets.
What is required of him
The administrator needs to know and be able to do a lot. These are the basics of merchandising, the main principles of organizing trade, laws and regulations in this field, merchandising, etc. In addition, the job description of the store administrator obliges him to be able to understand documents, have developed communication skills, and use a computer. Sometimes knowledge of a foreign language is required.
It is noted that those who have the qualifications of "seller" or "merchant in trade" are best served in this role. If desired, further training is possible right at the workplace. Large companies organize seminars and trainings for employees on sales performance.
Other specialties
Related professions - seller and senior seller, advertising agent, sales consultant, cashier, sales representative, businessman, sales manager.
Is there any prospect of professional growth? Of course. The administrator can improve their own qualifications, acquire education in related professions, grow to the position of manager or head. by the store.
Professional Features
The store administrator, whose responsibilities are wide and varied, must possess many qualities. Almost all day he is on his feet in the trading floor, so he must be workable and physically resilient.
Successful work with people is impossible without emotional stability. Since he often has to deal with the calculation of goods, he needs coordination of movements and a good eye.
Undoubtedly, extensive knowledge of goods and their consumer qualities is necessary. Good memory is important (both operational and long-term). And also attention - to control the actions of buyers.
Covering the hall, planning the placement of goods on racks and shelves makes it possible to visual-figurative thinking, which should be well developed. A practical mind helps solve specific tasks of the trading process.
How to work with people
The administrator is responsible not only for himself, but also for subordinates. He must have organizational abilities, be able to plan his own activities, and subordinates. Its inherent qualities are diligence, responsibility, exactingness and integrity.
The responsibilities of the store manager include the ability to contact customers. After all, all people are completely different - women and men, youth and the elderly, sociable and not too much. They can be slow, irritable, insecure or rude. There are overly prudent or simply stupid.
They have one thing in common - they all buy something. And it’s important to understand everyone’s motivation, help make the right choice, and if necessary, extinguish the conflict. The real administrator is always a little artist, he has the gift of suggestion and considerable eloquence.
For example, if the administrator’s workplace is a children's clothing or toy store, it is important to be able to get in touch with small customers, motivate parents to buy and prevent moods.
Actor of one role
The administrator serves as an example to salespeople and other employees. He has to “enter the role” every work shift, regardless of his mood and personal circumstances. This role is a friendly, competent, kind employee, a true professional.
He must certainly own his own voice, because not only what is said is important, but also a non-verbal moment. A monotonous and too quiet voice will not convince the client, too loud speech is usually annoying. It is important to be able to highlight the most important thing from what has been said. The pace of speech must be adjusted to the interlocutor, otherwise he will not accept even half of what was said. Of course, speech etiquette in communication with the client is very, very important.
Administrator Appearance
He is also important. Attractive and presentable appearance is half the success when working with people. Universal outfit - a white blouse and a black skirt or pants. As a rule, there is always a certain corporate element, for example a corporate tie or a hat.
The badge with the position, surname and name of the employee is nowadays an integral element of corporate culture. Such a detail in the suit of the administrator is required.
And, of course, a friendly "corporate" smile completes the image of a successful manager.
Medical contraindications
To whom such work is contraindicated?
This is a number of people who, according to their health characteristics, are not able to work in the field of trade. These include chronic diseases of an infectious nature, skin diseases, disorders of the musculoskeletal function and problems in the cardiovascular sphere.
In addition, constant communication with people is contraindicated in persons with impaired vision or hearing or an unstable psyche.
Labor features
The administrator’s workplace is the trading floor. There he spends almost all the time. As a rule, these are warm and bright rooms. The nature of the work is quite mobile - you need to accept the goods, help sellers in their placement, at the same time have time to serve customers.
The administrator works with documents in a separate office or at his own desktop directly in the trading floor. He uses modern computer programs, where he timely contributes the quantity and assortment of goods for sale, the remainder of the goods, write-off of expired and disposal. He also needs to monitor product certificates.
Most often, the administrator works on a rolling schedule. A typical scheme is 2 days of work and 2 days of rest. He has to plan the work process for a day and a week. Without properly distributed time, it will not be possible to control the work of personnel and optimize the trading process.
His mode
The administrator comes to work earlier than others, and leaves later than everyone. At the end of the working day, he closes the room and puts it on guard. In the morning before the arrival of buyers, he checks the cleanliness in the hall and in the surrounding area, checks the display of goods, assortment, price tags and markings.
When buyers appear, they culturally serve them, offer goods, solve problems that arise, for example, with the return of goods. If necessary, organize an examination, negotiate with service centers.
Checks how the duties of store employees are fulfilled, monitors their appearance, and deals with vacation schedules.
Under his leadership - sellers, movers, receivers, cashiers. We have to interact with the authorities - the director, manager, as well as commodity experts and security. He is an intermediate link between staff and management. He has to communicate the decisions of his superiors to ordinary employees and serve as an intermediary.
The end product of his labor activity is well-coordinated team work, a well-established trading process.
Challenges and Benefits
They can be personnel (replacement of a suddenly ill employee), technical (equipment problems) associated with a shortage. When identifying the latter, he bears material responsibility together with the whole team, which is provided for by the instruction of the store administrator.
The main advantages of the profession (according to surveys) are the diversity and the ability to communicate with people. The administrator’s salary contains a fixed amount of salary and a percentage of bonuses, which sometimes can be from eight to twenty thousand rubles, depending on the turnover of the enterprise.
Where else can an administrator work?
In another way it is called the "manager of the trading floor." Such a profession is required when opening new retail space. It’s easy to find a job by profession. In addition, he can serve as a cashier in a store. Or get a job as a salesperson or consultant.
A relatively new profession is the administrator of an online store. What kind of work is this? And what is needed for her?
In addition to the personal qualities listed above, the administrator of an online store must have some technical skills.
Basically, he is engaged in updating the windows of his online store (he adds a photo of the product and its description, uploads news, edits text information).
In addition, he takes orders and communicates with customers by phone, Skype, chat, controls payment. He is responsible for interacting with couriers or a delivery service.
To fill the site with materials, he needs copywriting skills, the ability to create and place banners, registration forms, etc. This work is not too simple, but interesting and well paid. In addition, you can work on it without leaving your home - via the Internet, which is very convenient, for example, for young mothers on maternity leave. They can get a job, for example, in an online store of children's clothing, which is now very much on the Web.
In general, the work of the administrator is interesting, promising and in demand.