Forecasting Careers & Jobs Outlook in Retail: Insights By Katie Jones, Owner of Squirrel

Credit: Katie Jones, Business Owner of Squirrel

My name is Katie Jones, and I own Squirrel A Store of Buried Treasure, and it has taken me a long time to run my retail business by focusing on creating the balance between the old and the new. I have experience both in the offline retail and the dynamic online environment, and it is the basis of my competence. I have witnessed the transition itself — how online shopping and online marketing has become the new experience as vital as the brick-and-mortar environment. I have had to be able to adjust to things fast, whether it be handling sales online, or interacting with clients through social media, but still managing to stay personal and touchy with them, and this is what makes my store unique. The thing I have learnt is that the modern world of retail is not about the old-school methods of customer service, but about the profound knowledge of modern technologies. I love to be trendsetters and to explore new tools and constantly transform my business to fulfill the requirement of present-day customers.

The current global economic environment is changing so fast that industries previously regarded as stable are undergoing radical transformations. Both the changing consumer behavior and the accelerated technology have impacted the retail sector especially. I have experienced firsthand the effects of these shifts as the owner of a small business, Squirrel A Store of Buried Treasure, on the job markets in my locality. A local marketplace, which was previously fueled by foot traffic and traditional employment prospects and opportunities, is now predominantly composed of a greater number of workers interacting with digital tools and platforms, which not only changes the kind of jobs that exist but also the kind of skills that are required or capable of being acquired.

Among the most dramatic ones that I have observed is the development of digital marketing as an essential part of operating a successful business. A couple of years back marketing was more or less restricted to physical adverts, word of mouth and in store advertising. At this point, though, one must grasp the concepts of SEO, supporting social media, and content produced. Retail employment is no longer merely a matter of being there in person; there has never been a greater need to recruit people who can assist in creating an online community or communicating with consumers via social media. In my opinion, the emergence of this position is indicative of the fact that customer loyalty and engagement rely more on virtual platforms. No longer is it merely about the selling of a product, rather it’s about the building of an excellent brand story and the ability to continue reaching out to customers on a personal level through digital channels.

Conversely, I have noticed the traditional jobs such as cashiers, stock clerks, gradually fading away. This has been largely contributed by technology, especially automation. Both large and small stores are implementing self-checkout machines, computerized inventory management, and even chatbots to attend to customers. What used to be human labor to sustain the traditional role of a store has been transferred to technology. As much as this has made operations efficient, it has also left few entry level jobs to be taken up by those who seek to begin their careers in retail. Now the question is not whether these jobs are going to be eliminated but how the workforce will be able to cope with this move.

I believe that the emerging trend of massive career change within the retail sector is going to be towards jobs that focus on technological assimilation and data analysis. With the continued adoption of AI-based tools by more businesses to automate business processes and improve customer experiences, data-driven decision-making will become increasingly critical. It is those who are able to read the data provided by customers, anticipate purchasing behavior, and streamline online processes who will be at the forefront of the retail sector. The idea of big data is becoming real and not just a buzzword anymore but it is also changing the way business is done. The ability to analyze and utilize this data to make personalized experiences will be very sought after.

However, this does not imply that we are all becoming more technologically oriented in our career paths. Interesting to note about these developments is that they are altering the kind of people we require in the workforce, rather than rendering the old jobs redundant. Rather, these emerging technologies necessitate an alternative approach to old tasks. An example is inventory management. It is no longer about the physical inspection of the stock levels, it is about the ability to forecast the time when this or that item will be out of stock and the possibility to order the appropriate products at the appropriate moment with the help of AI tools. This is a position where one combines his or her knowledge in traditional retail with the usage of modern technology tools.

Moreover, as e-commerce is steadily growing, the functions which are performed in the fulfillment centers, supply chains and logistics have become even more complicated and multifaceted. It has changed the time when people simply needed to move the boxes between point A and point B. What is truly required at this moment are people who will be able to control the stream of goods, organize their delivery routes, and deliver them fast and efficiently. As people now expect deliveries to be completed within a shorter period of time, the representatives of these spheres have to be flexible, creative, and able to apply the latest technologies to ensure that everything runs smoothly. It makes the jobs in logistics and operations more engaging and provides career opportunities previously unavailable ten years ago.

In my case, these changes also provide a business like mine with opportunities to explore new pools of talent. Though I still prioritize offering superior products at the store, the new generation of digitally oriented expertise allows me to expand to hiring people from outside the neighborhood, rather than purely inside it. Remote jobs in sectors such as the development of digital content, web design, and social media management have increased the pool of individuals that I can employ, thus making my small retailing company more diverse and international.

In conclusion, the retail job market is definitely dynamic, although it is obvious that in the future the job will be those positions that will integrate the human factor with technology. The next pioneers in this area will be the ones who are able to effectively incorporate digital tools into conventional retailing activities. It can be mastering information analytics, e-commerce platform management, or improving customer service on the AI platform. The future of retail will require a special set of skills that is not fully developed. The workers in retail outlets should not just adjust to the technology but adopt it as the creators of a new hybrid workforce, where digital and physical worlds collide.

Meet Our Contributors — Katie Jones
Katie Jones, who has over 20 years of experience in retail through her businesses, including Sting in the Tail, works hard to curate our collection and keep displays fresh and inviting. Squirrel opened its doors in July 2015 and has grown into a well-loved shop with both tourists and locals. The team puts in significant effort to hand-pick special brands and products from around the world.