Top Opportunities in the Online Retail Revolution

Top Opportunities in the Online Retail RevolutionWorking in the retail industry used to be pretty straightforward. Customers would shop in brick-and-mortar storefronts, helped by schlussverkauf associates or customer tafelgeschirr reps. Then, anything they couldnt get in person was purchased from a printed catalog. Now, things have changed almost completelyvirtually anything you need or want can be delivered right to your door, within a few days (or even hours) of making a purchase on your preferred device. You dont even have to leave home if you dont want to. We still have traditional stores, of course, but the economics and priorities behind retail have totally shifted. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832672400-0) ) And if youre looking at a career in the retail field, your vorkaufsrechts have changed as well. Being an in-store associate used to be the stepping stone to a retail career path, but now that companies like Amazon and Walmart have moved s o many of their resources toward zugreifbar sales and offsite fulfillment, your retail career might abflug in a mora behind-the-scenes role, with an entirely different set of skills and opportunities.How the Retail Landscape is ChangingRight now, there are a few overarching trends that are changing how retail worksand therefore what a career in retail looks like as well.Online DominationAccording to Forbes, the retail industry is in a bit of a personality crisis right now. Companies are coming to an unavoidable point where they will either embrace the changes of the internet era or fall far behind. Online retailers like Amazon, along with traditional department stores like Kohls or Target, are building a more robust online shopping platform. These companies are at the forefront of behauptung changes, emphasizing the ability to shop from anywhere. Stores and chains that are not adapting as quickly are at risk of falling behind in sales and growth.Companies like Walmart are also looki ng to beef up their online game by acquiring existing retailers that can provide the sales infrastructure and merchandising know-how to bring the parent companies into the next phase of retail.Traditional Stores ClosingThink about your local mall. Chances are, at least one of the big anchor stores has closed recently, or may be at risk of closing soonchains like Macys, Sears, Kmart, and others have all recently announced that underperforming brick-and-mortar stores will be shuttered for streamlining.Embracing the TechIts impossible to underestimate how technology has changed the shopping experienceand therefore the strategies used by retailers. First came shopping via computers, then smartphones, then tablets, causing retailers to develop online retail plans and platforms to support these new ways of browsing and shopping. And now virtual assistants like Amazons Alexa and Google Home have made it so that consumers dont even need to go online to browsethey can merely ask the virtual assistant to search and buy for them, based on pre-set account and payment settings. According to RetailDive, Amazon customers spent 10% more in the months after buying the Amazon Echo device, suggesting that more retailers will get in on the voice-activated shopping train.And its not just the usual devices youd expect to do the shopping for yousmart appliances like LGs smart refrigerator can tell you what you have inside, and what you might need to add to your shopping list. (No word on whether these fridges can judge us yet for those late-night pints of ice cream, or farmers market produce that goes untouched in favor of takeout containers.)Many stores are also using tech to enhance the in-store shopping experience, using location functions on smartphones and push notifications to alert shoppers to sales and promotions in-store.Summer Black Friday SalesIf youve ever been at a large chain store on Black Friday (or seen the endless news coverage of cringe-inducing behavior every yea r), you know it can be a bloodsport, with people literally pushing each other out of the way to get big-ticket products at a discount. And while Black Friday may not be the best trend in terms of humanity, for retail it can be a major assetit brings in customers and boosts sales during the critical holiday period.Online-only retailers like Amazon have started featuring similar sales around July, at a traditionally quiet retail period of the year, taking advantage of the idea that you dont need to be present in a store to score a deal on a new TV. So while customers may be taking time away from the beach instead of the Thanksgiving table to shop, the idea is quickly catching on that a summer counterpart to Black Friday can help boost retail bottom lines during a traditionally dead time. As other retailers begin to incorporate these steep summer sales, it has the potential to change how retail stores and fulfillment centers are staffed, year-round.Need It Now ShippingIf youve seen you r mailman making the rounds on previously unheard-of Sundays, dropping Amazon-logo-stamped boxes on doorsteps, then youve seen how the increased demand for fast shipping has begun to take hold in the retail industry. Amazon Prime was one of the pioneers in this field, and other major retailers have followed suit, offering insta-shipping as part of their online shopping experience. Accommodating these shipping needs means having strategically located warehouses and fulfillment centers around the country, so products have a shorter way to go when customers want that video game in less than two days time.Retail Warehouse JobsSo what do these trends changes mean for a career in retail? For starters, it means that your starting point may not be working on a sales floor, handling direct transactions. Many of the best retail opportunities will be coming from warehouses and fulfillment centers, as retailers try to find the sweet spot between retail and logistics to meet customer needs.Lets look at some of the entry-level jobs and career paths that are growing due to the new retail economy. Weve included some sample links for each that you can use as a starting point for your own search.Sorting AssociateSorting associates are responsible for (as you might have guessed) sorting outgoing packages by size, shape, destination, or other criteria. Theyre responsible for making sure that shipments are organized and packed efficientlykind of like box Tetris.Skills needed Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work schedulePantry AssociateAs online grocery delivery companies like Fresh Direct and Amazon Fresh expand and make quality and speed essential for shipping food products, pantry associates are responsible for sorting and packing shipments of groceries to make sure everything goes out quickly and as fresh as possible.Skills needed Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work scheduleWarehouse/Fulfillment AssociateAs more and more importance is placed on online shopping and order fulfillment, warehouse staff are essential. Warehouse associates are responsible for loading and unloading shipments, as well as tracking, scanning, and monitoring shipments. These associates may also operate heavy equipment to move products and shipments.Skills needed Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work scheduleSeasonal Fulfillment AssociatesRetail has its busy seasons and its not-so-busy seasons. During the busiest parts of the year, like back-to-school and the winter holidays, almost every retailer needs as many hands on deck as they can find. If youre looking for seasonal employment in a warehouse, this is a flexible option for you that can build experience or help you fill a gap between jobs. Seasonal warehouse and fulfillment associates perform the same tasks as full-ti me warehouse associates, but during a set period of time (for example, November through December).Skills needed Attention to detail, ability to lift heavy packages, customer service focus, physical stamina, flexible work scheduleOperations AssociateOnce orders are collected, assembled, and readied for shipping, operations professionals take over to make sure that everything goes where its supposed to go, and when its supposed to go out. The job may involve analyzing the best way to ship merchandise (shipping routes, timelines, costs, etc.) as well as coordinating with fulfillment and logistics gruppes to ensure smooth delivery and a good customer experience.Skills needed Attention to detail, great organization, data analysis, project management, customer service focus, ability to work as part of a team with many moving partsBenefits of a Warehouse CareerThese warehouse and shipping jobs typically dont require a college degree to get started, and usually include on-the-job training o nce youre in the door. Theyre also geographically flexible because retailers are setting up satellite warehouses and fulfillment centers around the country to make shipping faster and cheaper, you wont necessarily need to concentrate your job search in a limited number of hubs.As retail itself continues to evolve, so to do the opportunities to work in the field. And no matter how people are shopping these days (or how theyll shop five years from now), companies will always need qualified professionals behind the scenes to make sure customers get what they want, and that they keep coming back. If you have a passion for logistics and customer service, the fulfillment path can be a great option for your retail career.

6 Tips Everyone Can Practice To Be Healthier

6 Tips Everyone Can Practice To Be Healthier Many people work very long and grueling hours. A hectic work schedule can platzset a person back in terms of health and well-being. Staying healthy while working a hefty amount of hours will elend only help improve job productivity, but it might prevent serious health problems from forming down the road. The following tips are designed to provide some easy-to-try tactics that when combined with one another, can maintain, and for some, improve health.Practice Good PostureOften, you will be sitting at your desk in some form of upright chair, or you will be moving from an office to a conference room and then to another room for a meeting. In each setting, you will likely be sitting in a chair. Incorrect posture while sitting stresses ligaments. If your spine is under persistent stress for an accumulated period of time, you likely will experience back problems in the future. Try to sit with a straight back, and, most importantly, do not let yo ur shoulders slouch forward. Keep your shoulders back, and at the same time, try to keep feet flat on the floor.Stand Up OftenIf you commute to work on a train or bus, split sitting and standing time. Sitting the entire train or bus ride adds to your overall daily sitting time. Today in the United States and Western Europe, most jobs are service-based. The service economy necessitates that the majority of the workforce spend time in an office-based setting. The amount that we sit during our work time has arguably exceeded a healthy threshold. If you want to maintain good health while working an intense schedule, take every opportunity to stand up and move around.Keep Coffee Pure and SmallPopular coffee stops along the way to work have menus that are diverse and colorful, but many things on the menu are comprised of a number of ingredients that are added to coffee. behauptung most often include sugar, milk, soy milk, and different types of syrup. Not only do ingredients of this sort tally up a high number of calories, they also require the body to process them like food. They also add to the overall size of the beverage. When getting coffee before or during work, order a smaller size with fewer additives. This way you will still reap the energetic benefits of caffeine without needing to worry about calories and a blood-sugar spike.Cut Out Unnecessary SugarAround ten percent of the U.S. population nearly 32 million people has one of the two forms of diabetes. Diabetes, along with other serious metabolic disorders, is very much influenced by excessive sugar intake. Scientific research has revealed that sugary drinks may cause people to develop type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has recommended that people limit intake of sugary drinks. This does not mean cutting out only soda, which many have already done. Fruit juices, sweetened coffee, and tea with sugar all should be avoided or consumed in extreme moderation.Eat a Low-Carb LunchSugary drinks are not the only potential health-hazard to be avoided during hectic work schedules. A carb-loaded lunch is also not recommended. Meals that include burritos, sandwiches, french fries, hamburgers, or pasta can cause blood sugar to spike. You will feel satisfied and full, but just one hour later, you may feel sluggish and want to take a nap. Eating a salad, steak, eggs, cheese, or vegan/soy sausages will provide the energy needed until dinner, and more importantly, they will keep blood sugar stable and include a high level of protein.Big Dinner, Sleep Like a WinnerAmericans dont get enough sleep. This is the source of many of health problems. Part of the reason for the lack of sleep is crazy work schedules. One of the worst things that can happen in the middle of a hectic work week is waking up feeling like you did not get enough sleep. This can raise stress levels and cause anxiety because you might feel as if you potentially will not be at your best when called upon to perform. Aft er going through the day without over consuming sugar and after eating a low-carb lunch, enjoy a nice dinner. The dinner should be wholesome in the sense of containing an adequate amount of fat, carbs, and protein. You will feel rewarded for your low-sugar obedience, and youll also feel full.This article was originally published on SharpHeels.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer