IPA Provides Useful Information about the Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores Industry
Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
SIGNIFICANT POINTS
- Sales and administrative support jobs comprise 83 percent of industry employment.
- Most jobs do not require formal education; many people get their first jobs in this industry.
- Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores offer many part-time jobs with relatively low earnings.
- Despite relatively slow employment growth, turnover will produce numerous job openings in this large industry.
NATURE OF THE INDUSTRY
Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores are some of the most visited establishments in the country.
Whether shopping for an item of clothing or piece of jewelry, a household appliance, or even food, you will likely
go to one of these stores to either make your purchase or compare selections with other retail outlets. General
merchandise stores, in particular, sell a wide variety of items in their stores. This category is comprised of
department stores, including discount department stores, as well as super centers and warehouse club stores. It
also includes dollar stores that sell a wide variety of merchandise very inexpensively.
Department stores sell a wide selection of merchandise with no one line predominating. These stores generally are
arranged into departments with a manager heading each department. These departments can sell apparel, furniture,
appliances, home furnishings, cosmetics, jewelry, paint and hardware, electronics and sporting goods. They may also
sell services such as optical, photography and pharmacy. Discount department stores typically have fewer sales workers,
relying more on self-service features and have centrally located cashiers. Department stores that sell bulk items, like
major appliances, usually provide delivery and installation services. Upscale department stores may offer tailoring for
their clothing lines and more personal service.
Warehouse club stores and super centers, the fastest growing segment of this industry, sell an even more eclectic
mix of products and services in fixed quantities at low prices. These stores typically include an assortment of food
items, often sold in bulk, along with an array of household and automotive goods, clothing and services that may vary
over time. These stores often require that shoppers purchase a membership in the store that entitles them to shop there.
They offer very little service and usually require the customer to take home the item.
Clothing and accessory stores sell a much narrower group of items that include apparel for all members of the family,
as well as shoes, luggage, leather goods, lingerie, jewelry, uniforms and bridal gowns. Stores in this sector may sell
all of the above items or concentrate on a few. They often are staffed with knowledgeable salespersons who can help in
the selection of sizes, styles and accessories. Many of these stores are located in shopping malls across the country
and have significantly fewer workers than department stores.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Most employees in clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores work under clean, well-lighted conditions.
Many jobs are part-time, with the most employees working during peak selling times, including nights,
weekends and holidays. Because weekends are busy days in retailing, almost all employees work at least one
of these days and have a weekday off. During busy periods, such as holidays and back-to-school season, longer
than normal hours may be scheduled and vacation time is limited for most workers, including buyers and managers.
Retail salespersons and cashiers often stand for long periods, and stock clerks may perform strenuous
tasks such as moving heavy, cumbersome boxes.
The incidence of work-related illnesses and injuries varies greatly among segments of the industry. In 2002,
workers in clothing and accessory stores had 3.0 cases of injury and illness per 100 full-time workers, while
those in general merchandise stores had 7.7 cases per 100 full-time workers. This compares with an average of
5.3 throughout private industry.
EMPLOYMENT
Clothing, accessory, and general merchandise stores—one of the largest employers in the Nation—had about 4.1
million wage and salary jobs in 2002. Department stores accounted for most jobs in the industry, but only about
7 percent of establishments. In 2002, about 7 of 10 workers were employed in clothing, accessory and general
merchandise stores with more than 50 workers. In contrast to many industries, this industry employs workers in
all sections of the country, from the largest cities to the smallest towns.
Many of the industry’s workers are young—31 percent were under 24 years old in 2002, compared with 14 percent for
all industries. About 29 percent of the workers were employed part time.
OCCUPATIONS IN THE INDUSTRY
Sales and related occupations accounted for 65 percent of workers in this industry in 2002. Retail salespersons
, who comprise 56 percent of employment in the industry, help customers select and purchase merchandise. A
salesperson’s primary job is to interest customers in the merchandise and to answer any questions customers may have. In
order to do this, the worker may describe the product’s various models, styles, and colors or demonstrate its use. To sell
expensive and complex items, workers need extensive knowledge of the products.
In addition to selling, most retail salespersons electronically register the sale on a cash register or terminal;
receive cash, checks and charge payments; and give change and receipts. Depending on the hours they work, they may open
or close their cash registers or terminals. This may include counting the money in the cash register; separating charge
slips, coupons and exchange vouchers; and making deposits at the cash office. Salespersons are held responsible for the
contents of their register and repeated shortages are often a cause for dismissal.
Salespersons may be responsible for handling returns and exchanges of merchandise, wrapping gifts and keeping their
work areas neat. In addition, they may help stock shelves or racks, arrange for mailing or delivery of a purchase, mark
price tags, take inventory and prepare displays. They also must be familiar with the store’s security practices to help
prevent theft of merchandise. Cashiers total bills, receive money, make change, fill out charge forms and
give receipts. Retail salespersons and cashiers often have similar duties.
Office and administrative support occupations make up the next largest group of employees, accounting for 18 percent of
total employment in the industry. Stock clerks and order fillers bring merchandise to the sales floor and
stock shelves and racks. They may also mark items with identifying codes or prices so that they can be recognized quickly
and easily, although many items today arrive pre-ticketed. Customer service representatives investigate and
resolve customers’ complaints about merchandise, service, billing or credit ratings. The industry also employs administrative
occupations found in most industries, such as general office clerks and bookkeepers.
Management and business and financial operations occupations accounted for 3 percent of industry employment. (Only managers
located at the individual stores are counted in this industry. Higher level managers for national or regional chain stores
with multiple locations are typically employed at headquarters establishments, which are classified in the management of
companies and enterprises industry. This industry is not covered in the Career Guide.) Department managers oversee
sales workers in a department or section of the store. They set the work schedule, supervise employee performance, and are
responsible for the overall sales and profitability of their departments. They may also be called upon to settle a dispute
between a customer and salesperson.
Buyers purchase merchandise for resale from wholesalers or manufacturers. Using historical records, market
analysis, and their sense of consumer demand, they buy merchandise, keeping in mind their customer’s demand for style,
quality and low price. Wrong decisions mean that the store will mark down slow-selling merchandise, thus losing profits.
Buyers for larger stores or chains usually buy one classification of merchandise, such as casual menswear or home
furnishings; those working for smaller stores may buy all the merchandise sold in the store. They also plan and implement
sales promotion plans for their merchandise, such as arranging for advertising and ensuring that the merchandise is displayed
properly.
Merchandise managers are in charge of a group of buyers and department managers; they plan and supervise the
purchase and marketing of merchandise in a broad area, such as women’s apparel or appliances. In department store chains,
with numerous stores, many of the buying and merchandising functions are centralized in one location. Some local managers
might decide which merchandise, among that bought centrally, would be best for their own stores.
Department store managers direct and coordinate the activities in these stores. They may set pricing policies to maintain
profitability and notify senior management of concerns or problems. Department store managers usually supervise department
managers directly, and indirectly oversee other department store workers.
Because they may be the only managers in smaller stores, clothing and accessory store managers combine many of the duties
of department managers, department store managers, and buyers. Retail chain store area managers or district managers oversee
the activities of clothing and accessory store managers in an area. They hire managers, ensure that company policies are carried
out and coordinate sales and promotional activities.
Various other store-level occupations in this diversified industry include pharmacists, hairdressers,
material moving workers, food preparation and serving workers and security guards.
TRAINING AND ADVANCEMENT
There are no formal educational requirements for most sales and administrative support jobs; in fact, many
people get their first jobs in this industry. A high school education is preferred, especially by larger
employers. Because many of the new workers in this industry are recent immigrants, employers may require
English proficiency and may even offer language training to employees.
Salespersons should enjoy working with people. Among other desirable characteristics are a pleasant personality,
a neat appearance and the ability to communicate clearly. Because of the trend toward providing more service, it
is becoming increasingly important for salespersons to be knowledgeable about the products and merchandise
available. Some employers may conduct a background check of applicants—especially of those seeking work selling
high-priced items.
In most small stores, an experienced employee or the manager instructs newly hired sales personnel on making out
sales checks and operating the cash register. In larger stores, training programs are more formal and usually are
conducted over several days. Some stores conduct periodic training seminars to refresh and improve the customer
service and selling skills of their sales workers. Initially, trainees are taught how to make cash, check and
charge sales and eventually are instructed on returns and special orders. Other topics usually covered are customer
service, security, and store policies and procedures. Depending on the type of product they are selling, sales
workers may be given specialized training in their area. For example, those working in cosmetic sales receive
instruction on the types of products available and the types of customers for whom these would be most beneficial.
Some salespersons are hired for a particular department, and others are placed after they have completed training.
Placement usually is based on where positions are available. There are some salespersons, often called floaters,
who are not assigned to a particular department; instead, they work where needed.
Advancement opportunities for salespersons vary. As those who work full time gain experience and seniority,
they usually move to positions of greater responsibility or to positions with potentially higher commissions.
Salespersons who are paid on a commission basis—that is, they earn a percentage of the value of what they sell—may
advance to selling more expensive items. The most experienced, and highest paid, salespersons sell big-ticket items.
This work requires the most knowledge of the product and the greatest talent for persuasion. In some establishments,
advancement opportunities are limited because one person, often the owner, is the only manager, but sales experience
may be useful in finding a higher level job elsewhere. Retail selling experience is an asset when one is applying for
sales positions with larger retailers or in other kinds of sales, such as motor vehicles, financial services or
wholesale merchandise.
Traditionally, capable salespersons with good leadership skills, yet without a college degree, could advance
to management positions; however, a college education is becoming increasingly important for managerial positions
such as department manager, store manager or buyer. Computer skills are extremely important in all parts of the
industry, especially in areas such as inventory control, human resources, sales forecasting and electronic commerce.
Many retailers prefer to hire persons with associate or bachelor’s degrees in marketing, merchandising, or business
as management trainees or assistant managers. Despite this trend, capable employees without a college degree may still
be able to advance to administrative or supervisory work.
EARNINGS
Hourly earnings of non-supervisory workers in, clothing, accessory and general merchandise stores are well below the
average for all workers in private industry. This reflects both the high proportion of part-time and less experienced
workers in these stores, and the fact that even experienced workers receive relatively low pay compared with experienced
workers in many other industries.
Many employers permit workers to buy merchandise at a discount. Smaller stores usually offer limited employee benefits.
In larger stores, benefits are more comparable with those offered by employers in other industries and can include vacation
and sick leave, health and life insurance, profit sharing and pension plans.
Unionization in this industry is limited. Only about 3 percent of workers were union members or covered by union
contracts, compared with 15 percent in all industries.
OUTLOOK
Numerous job openings will result from turnover in this large industry. Jobs will be available for young workers,
first-time job seekers, persons with limited job experience, senior citizens, and people seeking part-time work,
such as those with young children or those who wish to supplement their income from other jobs. Persons with a
college degree or computer skills will be sought for managerial positions.
Overall, the number of wage and salary jobs in clothing, accessory and general merchandise stores is expected
to increase 8 percent over the 2002-12 period, compared to the 15 percent increase projected for all industries
combined. The relatively slow growth is due mainly to limited job growth in clothing and accessory stores, as
discount department stores and super centers account for a greater share of apparel sales. Also bringing down
employment growth is the popularity of super centers and warehouse stores that stress self-service and are less
labor intensive than the traditional retailers. Employment in full-service department stores will grow the slowest,
as more people buy from discounters.
There will continue to be keen competition among retailers; new stores will continually open, and others
will close. Alternative retail outlets—such as mail-order companies, home shopping, and the Internet—have taken
some customers away from traditional retail stores, but not as much as originally expected. Studies show that
most customers use the Internet to research items and compare prices, but go to the store to make their purchases.
Although online sales are expected to grow rapidly, sales at traditional "brick and mortar" stores probably will
remain a major portion of total retail sales. Although electronic commerce is expected to limit growth of some
retail jobs, it is increasing opportunities for Internet sales managers, webmasters, technical support workers and
other related workers as many establishments begin to offer their goods online as well as in stores.
Some companies are moving towards obtaining goods directly from the manufacturer, bypassing the wholesale level
completely, reducing costs and increasing profits. This trend may further limit job growth in this industry, particularly
among administrative and managerial workers. Many of these stores, particularly clothing and accessory stores, are also
highly sensitive to the changing tastes of consumers and to the economy. Guessing wrong on upcoming trends, especially
several years in a row, or being unable to weather a recession can cause even large, well-established stores to go bankrupt
or out of business.
Worker productivity is increasing because of technological advances, particularly among clerks, managers, and buyers.
For example, computerized systems allow companies to streamline purchasing and obtain customer information and preferences,
reducing the need for buyers. However, because direct customer contact also will remain important, employment of sales workers
who interact personally with customers will be less affected by technological advances.
Industry data is republished with permission by the Bureau of Labor Statistics