More information

The retail industry is huge and very diverse. Luckily, all retail companies will have the same core principles. Understanding customer service, the selling process, safe working practices and retail consumer law are just some of the subjects you will learn. With so many different job opportunities in this diverse industry, you can tailor this course to meet your skills and knowledge to your needs. From security to fashion, window displays, stock control, storage, payments and improving operations - choose the units that are right for you.

Learn to operate effectively in a variety of retail roles. This course can help you to progress within or pursue a career in the retail sector. You will understand the fundamentals of effective customer service, teamwork and what to expect when working in the retail industry.

What's included?

The course consists of 6 mandatory units that cover the fundamental knowledge that all retail sectors have in common. There are also and 12 optional units - so you can choose a minimum of 4 of the subjects relevant to the industry you are interested in. Work in food retail? Learn about food safety and storage. Want to know more about window displays? Learn how to lay one out. Want to know about stock control, payments or the impact of the industry on the environment? This course examines every aspect of retail.

Mandatory Units

Unit 1:

Understanding customer service in the retail sector

Understand the effect of customer service on retail business

Understand how retail businesses find out about customers' needs and preferences

 Understand the importance to a retail business of customer service standards, policies and procedures

Understand how customer complaints and problems are resolved in a retail business

Unit 2:

Understanding the retail selling process

Understand the 5 steps of the selling model

Understand how questions are used to identify customers' needs

Understand the benefits and uses of product knowledge

Understand how sales are closed

Unit 3:

Understanding how individuals and teams contribute to the effectiveness of a retail business

Know the employment rights and responsibilities of an employee and the employer

Understand the importance and characteristics of effective teamwork in retail business

Understand the impact of effective communication skills when working in a retail team

Understand how the roles and responsibilities of retail teams relate to the structure and function of organisations

Understand how to improve personal performance

Understand how personal performance contributes to business success

Unit 4:

Understanding how a retail business maintains health and safety on its premises

Know the main provisions of health and safety legislation in relation to a retail business

Know what actions to take in an emergency

Understand the employees' responsibilities in reporting hazards and accidents that typically occur on the premises of a retail business

Understand safe handling, storage and disposal

Understand safe working practices

Unit 5:

Understanding retail consumer law

Understand how consumer legislation protects the rights of customers

Know the main provisions for the protection of consumers from unfair trading practices

Know the main provisions of consumer credit legislation in relation to retail

Know the main provisions of data protection legislation in relation to retail

Know the main provisions of the law relating to the sale of licensed and age-restricted products

Understand the consequences for businesses and employees of contravening retail law

Unit 6: Understand how to deal with customer queries and complaints in a retail environment

Understand how resolving retail customer queries and complaints contributes to customer loyalty and confidence

Understand how to deal with customer queries in a retail environment

Understand how to manage angry customers when dealing with customer queries and complaints in a retail environment

Optional Units

Unit 7:

Understanding security and loss prevention in a retail business

Know the range of security risks faced by a retail business

Understand the effect which crime has on a retail business and its staff

Know what actions can be taken to prevent crime in a retail business

Know how security incidents should be dealt with

Unit 8:

Understanding the handling of customer payments in a retail business

Know the methods of payment accepted from retail customers

Understand the risks involved in handling payments

Understand the cashier's responsibility for providing service at the payment point

Understand the cashier's responsibilities when processing age-restricted goods at the payment point

Unit 9: 

Understanding the control, receipt and storage of stock in a retail business

Understand the importance of having the right stock levels

Understand how goods are received on the premises of a retail business

Understand how stock should be stored to prevent damage or loss

Unit 10:

Understanding visual merchandising for retail business

Understand the importance window displays have in translating the retailer's identity to the customer

Understand how events and props are used to promote merchandise in a retail environment

Understand how to plan and install window and store displays

Understand how floor layouts and product adjacencies maximise sales

Understand the importance of product preparation and handling

Unit 11:

Understanding how the effectiveness of store operations can be improved

Understand the process of improving store operations

Understand how to communicate with and motivate those involved in bringing about change and improvement in-store operations

Understand how the organisation and scheduling of staffing contributes to the effectiveness of store operations

Unit 12:

The principles of food safety for retail

Understand how individuals can take personal responsibility for food safety

Understand the importance of keeping him/herself clean and hygienic

Understand how to keep the working area clean and hygienic

Understand the importance of keeping products safe

Unit 13:

Understanding environmental sustainability in the retail sector

Understand the effect of climate change on the environment

Understand the relevance of climate change issues to the retail sector

Know the key environmental legislation which impacts on the retail sector

Understand how waste is managed within the retail sector

Understand energy conservation and how to reduce carbon emissions within the retail sector

Unit 14:

Understanding the fashion retail market 

Understand the development of fashion retailing

Understand the different store formats offered by fashion retailers

Understand how current social and economic factors affect fashion retailers

Understand multi-channel retailing

Unit 15: 

Understanding how to manage stock for customer orders in business to business services

Know how to order stock for business to business customers

Know the allocation and transfer of stock in a business to business environment

Understand the maintenance of stock records in a business to business environment

Unit 16: 

Understanding the storage, monitoring and replenishment of fresh produce in a retail outlet

Understand the storage requirements of fresh produce

Understand how stock levels of fresh produce are monitored and maintained

Understand how the quality of fresh produce is monitored

Unit 17: 

Underage sales prevention for retail and licensed premises

Know current legislation relating to the sale and purchase of age-restricted products

Know how to prevent unlawful sales of age-restricted products

Unit 18: 

Understanding how stocks of newspapers and magazines are controlled in retail outlets

Know the factors to consider when ordering and receiving newspapers and magazines

Understand the principles for displaying newspapers and magazines

Understand the stock control process for newspapers and magazines

Unit 19: 

Equality and diversity in the workplace 

 Understand the meaning of equality and diversity in the workplace

Understand how equality and diversity is monitored in the workplace

Understand how the rights of individuals are protected in the workplace

Unit 20: 

Equality and diversity in society

Understand what equality is

Understand what diversity is

Understand the effects of stereotyping and labelling

Understand the effects of prejudice and discrimination

Understand the ways in which people might choose to describe themselves

How it works

You will receive a registration code that will give you access to our online learning platform. Here you can access your course materials, lessons and resources. After you have registered for the course online, your personal assessor will introduce him/herself to you before you start. They will assess and mark your performance work at every stage. If you need any additional support, you can request this through the system or directly to your assessor. Your progress will be monitored remotely and your assessor can offer tips and guidance to improve your understanding of the course materials and assignments.

All assignments can be completed in your own time, so you can progress at your own pace.

Fees

Course price: £725

Booking fee: £25