subject: How The Recession Will Impact Retail Manager Jobs In 2010 [print this page] There is little question as to the profound effect that there was on the retail sector in 2009, from the ever increasing international recession. Every economy in the world felt some impact from the recession that took the world by storm. America was seen to plunge deeper, while England still clawed at optimism, but had to relinquish its stiff upper lip to cautionary tales of bankruptcy and redundancy for those who had over stretched themselves. Retail was impacted hugely in the UK. Consumers tightened up their belts for the inevitably rough times they believed would be ahead and consumer confidence was at an all time low.As a sector, retail finds itself entering 2010 with an array of somewhat mixed messages. On one hand, there is prediction for growth to return to the stagnant economy that's been so worrying, yet on the other hand, strong rumors around needs to cut public spending hugely, in order to save the government from its incredible deficit, are still rife. The British Government, known for declining on forecasting "officially" on unemployment rates, has been reported to have some within its cabinet, believing that while unemployment figures will surely rise in the first three months of 2010, they will drop in the last quarter of 2010. All of these facts still motivate consumers to take a cautionary approach to their spending habits this year.Consumers are acutely aware of the precarious positions that they find themselves in. Trends suggest that they have been cutting back on spending since 2008 and there is every sign that this will continue to happen. Larger purchases will be made with particular attention being paid not just to the payment amount each month, when credit is being used, but the overall interest rate and charges applied to such purchases. Consumers are more aware than ever of the pitfalls of interest being applied to purchase agreements and will be seen to be more selective in their choice of retailer and product, with price being a huge driving force, with quality and service lagging in their importance.All of these factors will impact the "retail manager" in a variety of ways. Retail managers will need staff who are more highly trained than ever in product knowledge, customer skills and explaining financial agreements, with a particular attention to personal protection options that can be applied. The average retail manager will need to be aware of the market that he trades within and the advantages that his competitors may have over him. So when considering these issues, it's safe to say that retail manager jobs may not be an area of growth in 2010, but will surely become more challenging. There will be less stability than ever seen in retail positions due to the suffering economy, high expectations of customers and increasing competition between retailers. All of these issues may present concern for many, but for those who experienced previous recessions, the same skills ingenuity and tenacity will definitely be required. For those who are new to the game, hang on and buckle up, because it's going to be a bumpy ride.
How The Recession Will Impact Retail Manager Jobs In 2010
