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What does a Store Supervisor do?

G. Melanson
G. Melanson

A store supervisor or store manager juggles the responsibilities of supervising staff along with reporting to head office or the store's owner. The role of supervisor is a senior position that may be filled by an in-house staff member who receives a promotion, or by an outside applicant. Within smaller, independent stores, the store owner may take on the supervisor role.

The store supervisor's management responsibilities begin with interviewing, hiring, and training new employees. Once new staff members are properly trained and ready for work, the supervisor is responsible for making up the weekly or monthly schedule for staff members. If the store has several sales clerks, managing the schedule involves careful consideration of each staff member's work styles and availability.

Store supervisors are responsible for supervising staff along with reporting to store's owner or main office.
Store supervisors are responsible for supervising staff along with reporting to store's owner or main office.

When store employees report for work, the supervisor is responsible for clearly communicating their assigned tasks and monitoring employees' work habits to ensure they are performing at a satisfactory level. If an employee is not meeting his or her goals as outlined by the store supervisor, the supervisor needs to then ensure that the employee is made aware of his or her under-performance and its potential repercussions. This may include probation or termination depending on the employee's offense.

Store supervisors are typically responsible for the hiring and training of new employees.
Store supervisors are typically responsible for the hiring and training of new employees.

In situations where a customer is dissatisfied with the level of service he or she is receiving from a staff member, the store supervisor will often be called upon to authorize returns or other transactions on a discretionary basis. As the supervisor is entrusted with the security of the store, he or she typically carries a full set of store keys, allowing access to the cash register, store offices and doors, and bank deposit box. The store supervisor may also act as a contact for customers who wish to lodge complaints about the store's service or products.

In small, independent stores, the role of store supervisor may be filled by the store owner.
In small, independent stores, the role of store supervisor may be filled by the store owner.

Although the position of store supervisor is a managerial one, the supervisor usually also reports to another senior party, whether it be the store's owner or head office and ultimately, stakeholders. If a store is not meeting its sales goals or quotas, the store supervisor is then tasked with the responsibility of mobilizing his or her sales team to improve sales, which may entail motivating, re-training, or terminating staff. A supervisor is also responsible for acting as a liaison between upper management and staff, by leading occasional staff meetings and relaying news from head office.

Discussion Comments

cupcake15

Oasis11-Those store supervisors working in specialty retail stores tend to work the longest hours with a fifty to sixty hour work week is not uncommon.

The supervisor qualifications really require being able to work long hours especially during periods of inventory and overnight floor moves. The retail business is quite intense and not for everyone.

oasis11

Bhutan- Often a store supervisor resume may or may not include a college degree. Sometimes retail chains will recruit management trainees to lead their stores directly from college campuses.

Often these supervisors may not have had any other supervisory experience, but their college degree is sufficient in order to break into this field.

Other supervisors may not have the college degree, but instead have years of supervisory experience which qualify them for the job.

A supervisor salary really varies. Most entry-level supervisory positions often have starting salaries of $30,000, while store managers might have salaries of $45,000 and up.

Bhutan

A retail store supervisor has to hire retail sales associates and adequately train them to do their job.

He or she also makes out a schedule for optimal employee productivity. The store supervisor job really entails supervising and managing the retail clerks.

Often the store manager will have various store coordinators that are responsible for a specific department within the store.

This coordinator may be responsible for specific sales and customer service goals. The coordinators must also adhere to merchandising standards that enhance the customer’s shopping experience.

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    • Store supervisors are responsible for supervising staff along with reporting to store's owner or main office.
      By: T.Tulik
      Store supervisors are responsible for supervising staff along with reporting to store's owner or main office.
    • Store supervisors are typically responsible for the hiring and training of new employees.
      By: Kadmy
      Store supervisors are typically responsible for the hiring and training of new employees.
    • In small, independent stores, the role of store supervisor may be filled by the store owner.
      By: Monkey Business
      In small, independent stores, the role of store supervisor may be filled by the store owner.
    • A store supervisor will often be called upon for customer service issues such as authorizing returns or dealing with customer complaints.
      By: michaeljung
      A store supervisor will often be called upon for customer service issues such as authorizing returns or dealing with customer complaints.
    • The supervisors at some retail stores circulate around the store, helping shoppers find the best items for their needs.
      By: Robert Kneschke
      The supervisors at some retail stores circulate around the store, helping shoppers find the best items for their needs.