There are many paths to becoming a grocery store manager, but they all take into account the fact that people will have acquired specific skills either formally or informally. It’s easy to imagine all the things a store manager might be responsible for. He or she may be in charge of the store’s staffing, bookkeeping, purchasing, payroll, merchandising, and other duties. What the grocery store manager doesn’t do directly can be delegated to employees, but if the manager doesn’t know how to do things properly, the store is unlikely to run smoothly.
Moving up the corporate ladder is one way to become a grocery store manager. Some managers can recall how they got their start working in retail, bagging groceries, or as checkers or cashiers. These managers eventually learned how to run a store successfully through consistent effort and incremental learning of the business. Their professionalism prompted others to promote them, and they eventually earned positions as store managers or transferred their experience to another store.
Moving up can be difficult, and it can take years to achieve. A formal business education is another option for learning everything you need to know about running a grocery store. You could pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in retail management. With a few years of experience, even a business degree in another field could lead to eventual store management. Some people work part-time in grocery stores in lower-level positions while attending school, allowing them to claim both grocery experience and the necessary education to succeed as managers.
Buying and managing a grocery store is the most expensive way to become a grocery store manager. This might or might not work, depending on how well you comprehend the work involved. Some business owners and managers are extremely successful, and they have the foresight to surround themselves with knowledgeable employees who can teach them anything they don’t know about the industry. Others may underestimate the amount of work required and thus fail to achieve the desired results.
Moving from one area of business management to another is another option. Grocery stores and other retail businesses, such as clothing stores, often get along swimmingly. People who have worked as a manager in a clothing store and have the necessary education or experience may find it easy to transition to working as a grocery store manager. However, because store management positions may require a certain amount of grocery experience, this transition isn’t always easy.