Retail is a booming sector globally. In India, the retail sector is growing at a very rapid pace and comes next only to Agriculture in terms of the number of people employed in the sector. The Indian retail market is the fifth largest retail destination globally. The retail sector in India employs over 50 million people across the country. The rapid growth of the retail sector in India is being termed as the Retail Revolution.

Changing lifestyles, increased disposable incomes, increased purchasing power and better awareness, have led to the overwhelming growth of the Indian retail sector. The entry of global retail giants into India is also responsible for this upward trend.

It is estimated that by 2010, the retail sector will have created 2.4 million jobs and will value around US$ 23 billion.

The increasing popularity of retail chain stores across the country has led to retail becoming the preferred choice of people looking to choose a challenging yet exciting career. With increasing competition, there is a growing demand for sales executives who are not only customer-friendly, but are also capable of dealing with every aspect that goes into making products successful amongst consumers. Increasing profitability and administration are also integral parts of working in the retail sector.

Working in the retail sector is a challenge. Retail is not only about selling; it also focuses on brand building and brand maintenance. The variety of people, products and brands that one can work with in this sector is astounding.

Retail is all about customer service, teamwork, and opportunity. The retail sector is people oriented. Right from dealing with the customer, to working in teams, to promoting products, retail deals with people. The ability to communicate effectively, convince customers and maintain customer satisfaction and brand loyalty are some of the skills required.

Another skill required to grow within the retail sector is knowledge of competitors’ products. Besides having knowledge of the products you are selling, gaining knowledge of competitors’ products will give you an edge over other players in the market.

Interestingly, people from the retail sector find it easier to work in other sectors as well, because of their intense insight into customer behavior. It is only in the retail sector that people find it possible to grow and reach managerial positions within a period of 5-10 years.

Sales, Store Managing, Retail Managing, Retail buying, Merchandise Planning and Product Development are just some of the career opportunities that the Retail sector has to offer.

TWB is focusing on improving the quality of people working in this sector so as to enhance sales and profitability of organizations. Communication, teamwork, effective customer interaction, service excellence, and product knowledge enhancement are some of the key areas of focus for TWB.