Online Business Degrees in Retail & Sales

A degree in sales and marketing will give you the skills to manage a sales team, develop effective marketing plans, and much, much more. Online degrees in marketing and sales from accredited universities and colleges.

Online Retail & Sales Degree Programs

Do you love to shop? Do you browse catalogs just to see the latest items to hit the shelves? Is there a particular consumer item you know everything about? If so, a career in retail sales might be a perfect fit for you. In this career, you will share your merchandise knowledge with consumers and answer their questions. In addition to talking about the merchandise, retail sales persons collect money, open and close cash registers, make deposits at the cash office, stock shelves, take inventory, and prepare displays. Managers assume further responsibility, including supervising, ordering merchandise, and overseeing books.

Retail Sales Degree Programs

In the past few generations, the American economy has shifted away from manufacturing and into service. Sales and marketing professionals play a major role in helping consumers select the sources for their goods and services. Therefore, strong skills in sales and marketing can help any job candidate survive a competitive business landscape. Also, the most successful retail sales people are friendly, approachable, and enjoy talking to other people. While these traits most often come naturally, sales and marketing skills can be gained through an accredited degree program in sales or marketing.

While a college degree is usually not required for entry-level jobs in retail sales, a degree is often required for advancement. Advancement opportunities include becoming a first line store supervisor, assistant manager, manager, and purchasing manager or agent. Retail store supervisors and managers supervise retail store employees, purchase goods, and help coordinate store budgets and accounting. Purchasing managers or agents essentially shop for a living, purchasing the goods and services needed by a company or institution. Analytic tools to evaluate procurement options can be gained in retail sales degree programs.

Typical courses in retail sales degree programs include those in accounting, marketing, management, and sales. Degrees can be earned at the associate's, bachelor's, or master's level, and can be earned online.

Retail Sales Earnings and Career Prospects

With companies battling for the best salespeople, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) analysts expect the demand for skilled, experienced employees in most areas of the field to grow between 2006 and 2016. For retail salespeople, there is an expected growth of 12 percent. For first-line supervisors and other retail sales managers, growth is projected to be 7 percent. For purchasing managers or agents, though, employment numbers are forecast to remain stagnant.

Median earnings for retail sales persons, including commissions, were $9.69 an hour in 2007, or $20,150 annually. The highest earnings were enjoyed by those working for automobile dealers and building materials and supplies dealers. For retail supervisors and managers, median earnings varied. For first-line supervisors of retail sales people, 2007 hourly earnings were $16.57, or $34,470 per year. General and operations managers earned a median $49.89 an hour, or $103,780 a year, in 2007. Purchasing managers earned a median salary of $81,570, or $41.08 an hour, in 2007. For most of these retail sales employees, especially those in management, salaries were highest for those who worked in urban areas.

Specializing in niche fields can help sales and marketing managers convert prospects into customers and earn even more money for their companies and themselves. Therefore, many smart firms encourage their brightest employees to enroll in part-time sales and marketing degree programs with assistance from tuition reimbursement programs. Online career training enables successful staff to continue contributing to their corporations while building skills that increase their future effectiveness.

Pursue your Retail & Sales degree today.

Capella University Capella University provides working adults the opportunity to earn online degrees in the fields of business management, health care, higher education, human capital management, information technology, mental health, P-12 education, and public safety. An accredited university, Capella delivers a challenging education to more than 23,000 students. Learn more about programs at Capella University. BS - Retail Management BS - Retail Management Increase your career opportunities in the dynamic, diverse retail industry. Many retailers prefer a business-focused college degree when hiring or promoting to fill professional, supervisory, or managerial positions. This undergraduate Retail Management specialization offers a strong foundation in general business disciplines, including management, marketing, human resources, organizational communications, and finance. The retail-focused course work includes retail management, store operations, merchandising, pricing, competitive analysis and planning, and legal and ethical considerations in managing a retail operation. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing lead, supervisory, or management positions at the retail store level, or specialist/analyst positions within a retail department or corporate headquarters. An enrollment counselor can help you determine whether previous course work may transfer into our degree programs. Non-classroom learning may also be eligible for credit through our Prior Learning Assessment Process. View Accreditation Hide Accreditation Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.

Strayer University Get the right foundation for your future with a degree from Strayer University. Evening, weekend and online classes are all available to meet the needs of busy adults. Learn more about programs at Strayer University BBA: Retail Management BBA: Retail Management Ready to run a store--maybe even your own? The BBA in Retail Management can help you build the practical skills you need. View Accreditation Hide Accreditation Strayer University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Jones International University Online Earn a high quality degree in Business, IT, Education, or Communications. Jones International University® offers self-paced bachelor's and master's degrees tailored to your needs. Learn more about programs at Jones International University Online BABC in Sales and Marketing BABC in Sales and Marketing The sales and marketing track offers an in-depth study of these overlapping sectors. Students in the program will not only build practical skills, but also develop an awareness of how interconnected these two areas are. BBA in Sales and Marketing Management BBA in Sales and Marketing Management In this online BBA concentration, you'll study the overlap between sales and marketing, and learn the latest methods and techniques for both. The program emphasizes communication as a relationship between external and internal customers. View Accreditation Hide Accreditation Jones International University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The Higher Learning Commission is one of the six regional accreditating bodies in the United States and offers the highest form of accreditation available to a university. The Higher Learning Commission may be contacted at www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org or (800) 621-7440.

Penn Foster Schools Get the right foundation for your future with a degree from Strayer University. Evening, weekend and online classes are all available to meet the needs of busy adults. Learn more about programs at Penn Foster Schools. Retail Management Retail Management The Retail Management Associate Degree Program provides a thorough background in the functional areas of retail management, finance/accounting, marketing, buying, and merchandising at the Associate Degree level. The program prepares men and women for a retail management career. Typical areas in which a graduate will have the necessary academic background to enter the field are merchandising, sales management, store management, supply chain management, marketing, and e-commerce. View Accreditation Hide Accreditation Penn Foster High School is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools, and by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Penn Foster High School is affiliated with DANTES, which qualifies U.S. military personnel for tuition reimbursement. Many Penn Foster programs are approved for U.S. Armed Forces veterans training benefits.

Western Career College - Online Western Career College offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services. Learn more about programs at Western Career College - Online Business - Sales & Marketing Business - Sales & Marketing This degree program offers students the opportunity to focus their business career plan in the area of sales and marketing. View Accreditation Hide Accreditation Western Career College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and licensed by California's Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education (BPPVE).

Rasmussen College Online Take your career to new heights with Colorado Tech Online! Since 1965, Colorado Technical University has helped thousands of students achieve success in business, management and technology careers. Learn more today. Learn more about programs at Rasmussen College Online. Business Management Associate Degree - Marketing and Sales Business Management Associate Degree - Marketing and Sales Turn your gift for dealing with people into a rewarding career in sales and marketing! A degree in this area offers job opportunities in a variety of settings including retail, service, wholesale and more. Your coursework will include classes in sales techniques, sales applications, marketing, desktop publishing, management, computer applications, customer service and business communications.

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