Retail management isn’t just managing a TJMaxx or a JCPenny. And it’s not just a love for shopping, either. It can involve those things, sure, but that’s not all there is to it. If you’ve ever wanted to open your own shop, or lead a sales team, or even go into marketing for one of the heavy hitters in retail, then a retail management degree is for you!
Today, we’re going to be looking into everything retail management, including:
- What Is Retail Management?
- What Can You Do With Retail Management?
- And the Best Colleges for Retail Management
Without further ado, let’s get started!
What is Retail Management?
Retail management is the process of running a retail business, including aspects like managing sales, inventory, and customer service. The real focus is on efficiency. How can you make a retail business run smoothly and efficiently while also maximizing profits and keeping customers satisfied? It’s a delicate dance, but with enough studying at these great schools, you can master the art of retail management!
What Can You Do With Retail Management?
Alright, so now you know what it is, but what can you actually do with it? Honestly, if you can link it to the retail industry, you can use a retail management degree to do it. You can go into a number of fields, such as:
- Store Operations: Manage the day-to-day of a store, oversee displays, and keep the store organized.
- Inventory Management: Keep track of stock, order products, and manage returns.
- Staff Management: Hire, train, schedule, promote, and supervise employees.
- Customer Service: Ensure customers are happy and having a pleasant experience, resolve complaints, and offer support to customers.
- Marketing and Promotions: Create and implement strategies and sales to bring in more customers.
Of course, you could also use your degree in retail management to open your own store! Granted, having hands-on experience and some entrepreneurial skills are super important, too. But with all the things you’ll learn, nothing is stopping you from becoming the next big retail chain!
The Best Schools for Retail Management
University of Arizona
In terms of business programs, the University of Arizona is ranked in the top 5% of colleges in the United States. After graduating, graduates with bachelor degrees typically made between fifty and sixty thousands dollars per year, and those with masters degrees made between one-hundred and one-hundred fifteen thousand dollars yearly. These salaries are about five thousand dollars more than graduates from other universities, which is a huge benefit of attending the school. The school costs a bit more than other schools, but with the post-graduate payoff, it seems pretty worth it.
The school has an acceptance rate of almost 90% and a thriving campus life. Many students rave about the campus’ diversity, academics, faculty, and campus activities. With such a great campus, amazing academics, and killer statistics for graduates, the University of Arizona is definitely one of the best colleges for retail management.
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas in Denton is another great school for retail management. The school ranks in the top 10% of business schools in the United States, and is another college with high salaries after graduation. Those with bachelor degrees typically make a little over fifty thousand dollars yearly while those with masters degrees make a bit over seventy-five thousand per year. The cost is lower than the University of Arizona and sits only a few thousand dollars over the average tuition for business schools in the U.S.
The school has an 80% acceptance rate and is incredibly diverse, with many students coming from a foreign country. Students overwhelmingly enjoy campus life and extra curricular activities, so with all these perks it’s clear that the University of North Texas is one of the best schools to attend for retail management!
The University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina has one of the largest retailing programs in the country. In this program, you can choose to specialize in retail management or fashion merchandising with classes taught by fantastic faculty and industry experts. And, one of the best parts of USC is that there is a 100% placement rate for student internships during the program alongside a plethora of study abroad options. So not only are you getting a great education, but you’re also being thrust into real world situations in order to gain some useful experience in the field!
The acceptance rate is roughly 65% and students at The University of South Carolina describe the school to be fun yet academically balanced with a large Greek life presence. With great campus life and amazing internship opportunities, it’s clear that The University of South Carolina is one of the best colleges for retail management.
Purdue Global
Purdue Global in West Lafayette, Indiana offers a Bachelor of Science in retail management that includes experimental learning and hands-on experiences. The school offers courses in merchandise management, purchasing, marketing, sales, retail strategies and visual merchandising. Of course, the school also offers many study abroad options and outside internship opportunities with major retailers at locations around the country. The hands-on experience and great course list are a great reason to attend this school!
Those were our picks for the best colleges for retail management!
These great schools are all amazing if you’re looking to pursue retail management. Whether you’re looking to go into sales, marketing, or even open your own store, these schools can give you the experience and knowledge you need to excel in your field!
