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Related site of interest:
The Canadian Retail Institute

Retail Business Management

If you would like to be part of a high-energy industry where you can make a difference, consider a career in Retail Business Management.

Testimonials

"The 2 years I spent in the Retail Management were the best 2 years of my life. I learned many great retail business skills, and it helped me become the man that I am today. The Retail Management class of 2006 was the greatest class in Holland College History, bar none." - Thomas Price

"The Retail Business Management course has given me the skills I need to open my own business. I also was able to obtain two diplomas: Retail Manager from Retail Business Management and Business Manager from the Business Administration Program with in the two year frame." - Donna Cain

"The positive outcomes from attending Holland College and the Retail Business Management Program are my improved computer skills, marketing skills and oral and written communication skills. Since graduating I have gone into partnership with my OJT site: Pete's Hearth and Stove Center." - Francis Somers

"It is a wonderful program that has given me all the skills that employers are looking for. I would recommend this program to anyone who is looking to excel in a retail career." - April Wilbert

Retail Business Management offers a broad range of retail skills in the areas of customer sales and service, advertising, accounting, marketing, store layout, visual merchandising, buying, inventory control, and human resource management. The program emphasizes the development of skills that will prepare learners for careers in the retail sector. On-the-job training is an integral part of the program and all learners are required to participate.

Retail Business Management is one of the Business programs which allows learners to enter a generic course of study for the first three or four months. During this time, learners work on personal competencies, financial/accounting skills, communication skills, and computer skills. Following this, learners will confirm the program they wish to follow.

Students may enroll either on a full-time or part-time basis. Individual modules may be designed to allow students and employers to select the skills that best reflect their needs and schedule. For those considering part-time studies, please contact the program instructor.

Students in this program will choose a course of study in either of two profiles: Retail Manager or Sales Professional.

Retail Manager

The Retail Manager profile emphasizes the development of skills that will prepare learners for careers in the business area, with emphasis on the retail sector. It provides the skills necessary to have a thorough working knowledge of the management duties of retail with emphasis on sales, marketing, advertising and buying.

Courses Include

Advertising and Promotion, Financial Accounting I, Business Communications I, Business Communications II, Business Essentials, Computer Applications I, Computer Applications II, Consumer Behaviour, Economics, English, Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management I, Human Resource Management II, Introduction to Retail, Marketing, Marketing Research, Organizational Behaviour, Business Law, Retail Buying, Visual Merchandizing and Design, Retail Strategy, and On the Job Training.

The course content for the Retail Manager Profile is reflected in the following areas of competency.

Areas of Competency

Accounting Systems
Includes skills required to perform the accounting processes in a business enterprise. Subject matter includes, but is not limited to the following: The Accounting Cycle, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, The Bookkeeping Function, Journalizing and Posting Transactions to the Accounting System, Reconciling Accounts, Preparing Financial Statements and Computerized Accounting (Introduction to Simply Accounting).

Advertising
Provides an overview of policies and procedures used in planning and preparing advertisements, evaluation and selection of media, planning and coordinating advertising, promotional objectives, and creative strategy.

Business Law
Provides an introduction to the Canadian legal system, tort law and professional liability, with an exploration of the principles of contract law, the law governing specific kinds of commercial contracts as well as negotiable instruments and credit and business organizations.

Buying
Provides an overview of the overall buying cycle. Areas covered include: merchandise strategy, central and independent buying, preparing for a buying trip, supplier relationships, analyzing sales and merchandise trends.

Communication
Assists in the development of oral, written, and non-verbal communication skills required to be successful in today’s business environment.

Computer Technology
Provides foundation skills in the areas of keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheet applications, data collection and analysis, web based research, and e-commerce to provide skills essential in today’s business world.

Customer Sales and Service
Provides an overview of customer sales and service concepts which includes identifying customer behaviour, determining customer needs, handling difficult customers, encouraging customer loyalty, and offering customer sales and service within diverse organizational environments.

Economics
Provides foundation skills on the forces of supply and demand, competition and economic indicators.

Government Regulations
Provides an overview of the Provincial Revenue Tax legislation, GST and HST legislation, Employment Act, and Workers Compensation.

Human Resource Management
Addresses a broad range of skills including planning, recruitment and selection, training and development, motivation and productivity, compensation, health and safety, psychological, social and economic needs of employees, and employment laws.

Inventory Management
Provides an overview on how extremely important inventory control is for every business with an emphasis on just-in-time delivery, distribution, shipping and receiving, shrinkage, selecting suppliers, and purchasing planning.

Marketing
Explores the inter-relationship of product, price, place and promotion and develops the skills necessary to identify customer segments, their needs and to create products and services with value.

Selling Techniques
Provides an overview of the vital role of sales in the business world. Areas examined include: product knowledge, prospecting customers, buying behavior, handling objections, selling related merchandise, and follow-up.

Visual Merchandising
Provides an overview of the role visual merchandising plays in today’s contemporary business world. Areas covered include: lighting, signage, store planning and design, and point of sales display.

Graduate Opportunities

• Management in both small and large organizations
• Service industries
• Buying and Merchandising
• Sales and Promotions
• Marketing
• Self-employment

Graduates of the Retail Business Management two-year diploma program are eligible to receive 60 credits toward the 120 credit Bachelor of Professional Arts (Communications Studies) degree program offered by Athabasca University.

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 or equivalent with credits at or above the general level
• Resume including work and volunteer experience with applicable dates, membership in groups, associations or athletics, awards and distinctions, and any other information about yourself relevant to the program to which you are applying.

The most suitable candidates for this area of study will be chosen on the basis of the above requirements.

Sales Professional

The Sales Professional profile provides a thorough introduction to the fundamental principles and practices of sales in the retail/service industry. It provides learners with the skills necessary to excel at customer sales and service, with emphasis on internal/external customer relations, visual merchandising, buying, and inventory control.

This profile can be pursued as an end in itself or the learner can enter the Retail Manager profile at the second-year level.

Courses Include

Business Communications I, Business Communications II, Business Essentials, Computer Applications I, Computer Applications II, Consumer Behaviour, English, Marketing, Marketing Research, Retail Buying, Visual Merchandizing and Design, Retail Information Management, and On the Job Training.

The course content for the Sales Professional Profile is reflected in the following areas of competency.

Areas of Competency

Buying
Provides an overview of the overall buying cycle. Areas covered include: merchandise strategy, central and independent buying, preparing for a buying trip, supplier relationships, analyzing sales, and merchandise trends.

Communication
Assists in the development of oral, written, and non-verbal communication skills required to be successful in today’s business environment.

Computer Technology
Provides foundation skills in the areas of keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheet applications, data collection and analysis, web based research, and e-commerce to provide skills essential in today’s business world.

Government Regulations
Provides an overview of the Provincial Revenue Tax legislation, GST and HST legislation, Employment Act, and Workers Compensation.

Inventory Management
Provides an overview on how extremely important inventory control is for every business with an emphasis on just-in-time delivery, distribution, shipping and receiving, shrinkage, selecting suppliers, and purchasing planning.

Selling Techniques
Provides an overview of the vital role of sales in the business world. Areas examined include: product knowledge, prospecting customers, buying behavior, handling objections, selling related merchandise, and follow-up.

Visual Merchandising
Provides an overview of the role visual merchandising plays in today’s contemporary business world. Areas covered include: lighting, signage, store planning and design, and point of sales display.

Graduate Opportunities

• Department and chain stores
• Travel agencies
• Supermarkets
• Car dealerships
• Self-employment

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 or equivalent with credits at or above the general level
• Resume including work and volunteer experience with applicable dates, membership in groups, associations or athletics, awards and distinctions, and any other information about yourself relevant to the program to which you are applying.

If you have any questions concerning the Retail Business Management program, contact Debi Forse- dforse@hollandc.pe.ca