Retail Chain Store Manager

The purpose of this qualification is to equip a learner with the knowledge, skills and competencies to perform duties as a Retail Chain Store Manager. A Retail Chain Store Manager manages the functions of a branch of a retail chain organisation. The industry feels that the qualification will serve to equip qualifying learners with the fundamental skills and attitude necessary to: • Manage retail chain store operational processes. • Maintain retail chain store stakeholder relations. • Implement plans to improve sales in a retail chain store. • Manage risk and maintain assets in a retail chain store. A qualified learner will be able to: • Lead teams to achieve retail chain store operational objectives. • Manage service standards of a retail chain store. • Manage stock control in a retail chain store. • Improve the financial performance of a retail chain store.

Feedback from the Wholesale and Retail sector have identified the positions of Retail Chain Store Manager to be a scarce skill. It is also identified as a national scarce skill. The industry cannot find qualified people to fill these roles and most of the major retail chains have their own Trainee Manager programmes running over 12, 18 or 21 months. There is however no consistency as each organisation is doing just enough to produce managers to manage their stores and the need for a national qualification that sets a national standard allowing people to move between organisations is paramount. The qualification developed by the Wholesale and Retail sector at level 6 and titled Retail Store Manager was developed for the manager/owner of a retail business that has to run her/his own business without the help of a Head Office. There are many positions opening up each year through the opening of new stores by the many national chains, through promotion and through people leaving the industry. These managers control anything from 3 staff to 20 or 30 staff and have many millions of Rands of assets under their control. Unless properly trained they could cost their organisations many millions in losses. Typical learners would include unemployed persons with grade 12 attending Universities or Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges, employed learners moving from a supervisory position into store management.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • National Senior Certificate (NSC). Or • National Vocational (Certificate) (NC (V)) at Level 4.

• Maintain or improve customer service standards in a retail chain store.
• Manage stock levels.
• Manage retail chain store operations.
• Minimise shrinkage and loses in a retail chain store.
• Plan to improve the bottom line contribution of a retail chain store.