Retail Management: Courses, eligibility and job roles

The fast-moving retail industry connects different points of the vast supply chain network across India. The scale of this industry has generated massive opportunities for Retail Management students in different areas like operations management, retail buying, merchandising and marketing. Working in this sector can be very rewarding and is likely to boost your growth on both personal and professional fronts.

What is Retail Management

Retail Management entails how retail outlets are maintained and how commodities are delivered to customers from these retail stores. It includes not only the management of retail outlets but also brand management, customer relationships, sales management and tracing of orders at the retail outlet. Apart from these, retail professionals manage the merchandise, directly interact with customers, and supervise the stock.

Studying Retail Management

• You need to clear your Class XII board exams in any stream with 50% aggregate. There are numerous ways in which you can study Retail Management after that.
• You can go for graduation in any stream and take up Retail Management at the master’s level. Or you can also go for a BBA degree after your board exams and then take up Retail Management at the master’s level.
• After your graduation, you can sit for management entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT and CMAT to do an MBA in Retail Management.
• You can also opt for a PG diploma in Retail Management after your graduation in any discipline.

Some leading Institutes that offer Retail Management courses:

Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), Kolkata

Course offered: PG Diploma in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to write an entrance exam, which will be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: One year.
• Click here to learn more.

Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow

Course offered: PGDM in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to clear a national-level MBA entrance exam (CAT/XAT/MAT/CMAT/GMAT), to be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: One year.
• Click here to learn more.

ITM Business School, Mumbai

Course offered: PG Diploma in Retail Management and Marketing.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to clear a national-level MBA entrance exam (CAT/MAT/CMAT/GMAT), to be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: One year.
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Amity University- Amity Global Business School, Noida

Course offered: BBA in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: You need to clear your Class X or Class XII board exams. The applicant must have adequate knowledge and understanding of the English language.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Duration: Three years.
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Course offered: MBA in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Duration: Two years.
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GITAM Institute of Management, Andhra Pradesh

Course offered: PG Diploma in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to write an entrance exam, to be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: One year.
• Click here to learn more.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Textile Management, Coimbatore

Course offered: MBA in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: Merit-based.
• Duration: Two years.
• Click here to learn more.

Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida

Course offered: PG Diploma in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to clear an entrance exam, to be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: One year.
• Click here to learn more.

K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai

Course offered: MBA in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to clear a national-level MBA entrance exam (CAT/MAT/CMAT/GMAT), to be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: Two years.
• Click here to learn more.

Course offered: MBA Minor in Retail Management.

• Eligibility: A three-year undergraduate degree from a UGC-recognised university.
• Admission: You need to write an entrance exam, to be followed by group discussions and personal interviews.
• Duration: Six months.
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Job roles after studying Retail Management

Retail executive: They are in charge of making major decisions for a store and its chains. They also run a variety of businesses such as those that sell electronics, clothing or automobiles. These professionals look after employee management and marketing teams under retail outlets.

Administrative officer: They handle administrative communication and prepare annual reports and budgets. They are also in charge of the systematic filing of documents, keeping track of the inventory and ensuring that it is stocked.

Advertising manager: They are responsible for overseeing the advertising department's operations. To meet the goals and budgets on time, they must coordinate with staff, clients and ad agencies.

Sales manager: A sales manager manages the sale of a company's product or service by developing sales, revenue and expense channels. They ensure that the company meets the required sales volume.

Operations manager: They serve as organisational leaders and have the authority to develop the organisation's policies, plans, and strategies. They are also mainly responsible for processes that deliver retail services to the customer — this involves managing staff and resources efficiently.

Purchase/Category manager: They are responsible for the range to be stocked by the retailer and have to work with others across the functions to ensure that the right goods are in store at the right time. They also work closely with marketing managers on pricing, promotion and merchandising.