Soft Skills Report: Apparel Retail Sector Analysis and Reflection

This report delves into the apparel retail sector, particularly within the United Kingdom, focusing on the role of a marketing manager. It identifies key challenges faced by the industry, such as dynamic shifts in customer preferences, the need to adapt marketing strategies, maintaining customer loyalty, retaining employees, and the adoption of appropriate technologies. The report also includes a reflection statement based on psychometric tests, evaluating the author's strengths and weaknesses in areas like verbal and numerical reasoning, as well as personality traits. The analysis highlights areas for improvement, such as enhancing English language skills and logical reasoning abilities, to excel in a marketing manager position. The report concludes with an overview of the challenges and a call to action to improve skills and strategies.

SOFT
SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1............................................................................................................................................1
Issues and challenges..............................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
PART 2............................................................................................................................................4
Reflection Statement..............................................................................................................4
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................6
APPENDIX .....................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Retail is refers to procedure in which an organisation sells goods and services according
to consumers at a marketplace by using multiple and appropriate channels of distributions.
Through this they able to earn profit in proper manner and also enlarge their market coverage. In
retailing sector demand and needs of consumers get satisfied through effective supply chain
(Kyllonen, 2013). For United Kingdom, retail industry plays an important role because by it they
generate approx more than £ 39 billion. In UK every one person from 10 people working with
retail industry and it is basically dominated by apparel or clothing sector such as H&M, Tesco,
ZARA and many others. Now a day retail sector is coming up with innovative and creative
strategies through which attract more and more customers. This report is based on analysis and
evaluation of apparel retail sector, in respect of profession that I desire to performed is Marketing
manger. While working on this profile I have to do various works such as product design, market
analysis, customers retention, attracting customers, relationship development, developing
marketing strategies and many more. Topics which are include in this report are existing issues
and challenges which is face by retail sector. Along with this it into reflection of psychometric
test which I conduct to know my strength and weakness.
PART 1
Issues and challenges
Apparel or clothing industry is important for United Kingdom economic because by it
they able to rise economy by approx £ 32 billion. In respective country peoples are more decline
towards clothing or fashion industry due to which apparel retail industry able to generate high
profit. But while conducting business in United Kingdom market, apparel retail industry go
through various challenges and issues that will directly affecting to its profitability as well as
sales (Carvalho and Rabechini, 2015). For solving or overcoming issues respective industry
retailers has to develop appropriate strategies and plans. Some major issues which affect clothing
retail industry are explain below:-
Challenge 1: Dynamic change in preference of customers in faction industry
According to the article given by Nicolas, it has been analysis that due to change in
trends in fashion industry retail sectors, face various issues and challenges in meeting of demand
of customers. It includes majorly six trends that retailers have to concern for offering a seamless
1

shopping experience across all channels. Such as retail stores in UK get affected by online
shopping sites which leads to closing of clothing retail stores. Like due to Zalando business of
Amazon get affected. This is so because now customers are comparing online sites price and
quality of products with stores. Along with this online clothing sites provide almost new and
latest designs in every two three days, which attract more and more customers. Due to this
clothing retail store in United Kingdom get affected or facing challenges. Along with this some
other trends which is affect clothing retail industry are cross channel trade- according to this
customers are more attracted towards online shopping due to which business of retail stores get
affected. Secondly customers visit to retail stores what to get same experienced which they get
through online site such as quality products, huge variety at low price. Moreover appealer
company are more investing their budget in online sites due to which collection and ambiance of
store get influenced badly (6 Trends That Are Changing Retail, 2019).
Challenge 2: Changing strategies according to change in customer experience and preference
According to Kanya, clothings or apparels retail industry of United Kingdom get affected
due to change in preferences of customers. Now a days trends are changing and accordingly
demand and preferences are changing due to which clothing retailers has to develop strategies as
well as products accordingly. This will help in attracting customers on large ratio that leads to
enhancement in profitability ratio. Along with this many big clothing retailers update its
collection according to change in trends and season which create challenge to other retailer to
update their collections accordingly. If they will not able to do so they can face reduction in
profit as well as sales. So to overcome it clothing retail industry develop strategies accordingly as
well as develop products with latest designs and trends which help them in attracting customers
in effective manner (Sisson and Adams, 2013). It is necessary for clothing retail industry to
change its collection according to change in trends and seasons. If they not do so they may face
various issues like decrease in customers loyalty, profitability and market share. It is also major
challenge for company to develop strategies and designs on regular basis because it is very
difficult for manager to conduct changes in short time duration.
Challenge 3: Fluctuate in customers loyalty
Experience of a customers is a key factor which develop issues for clothing retail sector.
This challenge may occur because clothing retailers are more focused in attracting more and
more customers instead of retaining old one due to which they face reducing in sales and
2

customers base. In United Kingdom there are variety of clothing retail stores who offer same
range of products in almost similar price such as ZARA, H & M, Tesco, AND, ASDA and many
more. So it become responsibilities of retailers to develop strategies and plans accordingly which
directly leads to enhance in customers base and profitability ratio with increased market shares.
Along with this for developing as well as maintaining customers loyalty and overcome
respective issues, apparels retail company also need to maintain effective person relationship
through various methods. Such as sending mail according to customers preference as well as
need so that they get attracted towards retail company. Along with this they can also provide all
detail regarding discounts, offer and new collection through messages or e- mail, this will help in
encouraging customers to visit stores (6 Major Challenges in Retail Industry & How to
Overcome Them, 2019).
Challenge 4: Retaining and engaging employees for a long time duration
According to Kanya, clothing retail industry is one of the sector where there is highest
turnover ratio. For this industry, retaining as well as engaging staffs for long time duration is
very difficult and challenging task because due to emergence of e commerce activities retailers
face high labour turnover also because it impacts directly on their profitability ratio. This would
them unable to get high return on investment due to which they fail to pay high incentives to
workers. it leads to demotivate employees by not getting appropriate pay scale and that's why
they move on to those companies that complete their desire. Here another such example can also
be illustrated by presence by intense completions, in which competitive companies ready to
provide high pay to high skilled and knowledgable employees. That leads to increase in
employees turnover ratio because staff get more attracted towards those companies which
provide high salary (Lippman and et.al., 2015). So to overcome this situation companies of
clothing retail industry must engage employees in effective manner by providing training to them
so that they feel connected towards the company. Along with this, company must also appraise
and motivate them for conducting work. This is so if employees turnover ratio is high clothing
retail industry not able to attain their goal as well as target in proper and effective manner.
Challenge 5: Finding appropriate technology for clothing retail industry
Appropriate technology help an organization in attaining their goal and target which leads
to enhancement in profitability ratio and customers base. For this there are various technology
developed at a marketplace according to business and industry that are offer at different price as
3

well as benefits. So it is major challenge to adopt appropriate software which help clothing retail
industry in developing and growing business in effective and appropriate manner. This is so
because if they not adopt proper technology they may face issues like mismanagement of
necessary data and information which affect decision making process of a retail company (Rao,
2014). Along with this they also not able to develop designs of products in effective and efficient
manner. So it is responsibilities of marketing manager to conduct market analysis and identify
proper software for them. That will be according to their requirement as well as their budget
which leads to enhancement in profitability and customers base.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussed point of it can be conclude as well as evaluate that retail
industry face various issues and challenges which affect their business operations as well as
functions. Such as change in customers loyalty, issues in retaining and engaging employees for
long run, change strategies according to change in customers demand and need and many more.
Through which clothing retail industry may face various issues such as decrease in profitability
ratio, market shares and customers base. So it is consider as role of marketing manger to conduct
market analysis on regular basis so that they get aware of need and demand of customers. That
will help in developing products and services in effective as well as appropriate manner. For this
clothing retail industry company adopt appropriate software according to their requirement and
need along with its budget.
PART 2
Reflection Statement
Evaluation and assessment of psychometric is consider as essential tool which help in
identify strength and weakness of an individual that is significant for a business functions. So
that I conduct some psychological test so that I can identify my strength as well as weakness that
will influence my career in future as working as Marketing Manager post at a United Kingdom
clothing retail industry. On the basis of outcome of Verbal Reasoning test my total score is 39 %
which is consider as bad performance or score. So for becoming an effective Marketing manager
I have to strongly focus on my second language which is English. This is so because when I will
work on Marketing Manager position I have to contact with different peoples of diverse country
or location. Hence it is necessary for me to develop my language in effective and efficient
4

manner. Along with is according to my desire position strong English is necessary for conduct
day to day activities in effective and appropriate manner because I also have to contact with my
senior authority and other location colleagues regarding office work.
I also conduct my numerical reasoning test whose score is 99 % which is very good, so I
not need to work on it hardly but I want to make it stable like this. For this I will do self study
and practice which help me in retain myself in same manner. Numerical reasoning is strength for
me because by it I can conduct numeric work in effective and appropriate manner. Moreover by
it shows that I have to improve my verbal skills, if I want to develop my future or career as a
Marketing manager at the United Kingdom clothing retail market. For this I can join some class
or coaching related to improving my English as a second language and reasoning skills. Along
with this I also conduct logical reasoning test which overall result is 78 % which is good, but I
want to improve it more effectively and efficiently. This is so because strong logical reasoning is
essential according to my desire profile, thus by it I am able to take appropriate decisions in all
situation as well as condition.
I have also done work personality test to know my nature, strength and weaknesses.
According to which I am not too emotional nor too practical I is between both of them that
means on the basis of emotional nature mine is balanced. In respect of easy going or
conscientious my nature lies between both of them but more decline towards easy going which
means I am flexible and ready to adopt things in appropriate and effective manner. Moreover on
the basis of conventional or openness nature my attitude is between both of them that refers to I
have a balance between both nature, I can conduct work according to situation. In respect of self
focused or peoples focused and overly or overly favourable my nature is between both of them
which means I am flexible and I adopt any thing from both of them according to situation and
conduction. At last when it come to introversion and extraversion, I am introvert which means I
am more like to spend time alone.
By conducting all psychological test I able to know my strength and weakness on which I
have to work so that I am able to become a appropriate Marketing Manager at clothing retail
industry of United Kingdom.
5

REFRENCES
Books and journals
Kyllonen, P. C. (2013). Soft skills for the workplace. Change: The Magazine of Higher
Learning. 45(6). 16-23.
Carvalho, M. M. D., & Rabechini Junior, R. (2015). Impact of risk management on project
performance: the importance of soft skills. International Journal of Production
Research. 53(2). 321-340.
Sisson, L. G., & Adams, A. R. (2013). Essential hospitality management competencies: The
importance of soft skills. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education. 25(3). 131-145.
Lippman, L. H. & et.al. (2015). Workforce Connections: Key “soft skills” that foster youth
workforce success: toward a consensus across fields. Washington, DC: Child Trends.
Rao, M. S. (2014). Enhancing employability in engineering and management students through
soft skills. Industrial and Commercial Training. 46(1). 42-48.
Ingols, C., & Shapiro, M. (2014). Concrete steps for assessing the “soft skills” in an MBA
program. Journal of Management Education. 38(3). 412-435.
Arthur Lazarus, M. D. (2013). Soften up: the importance of soft skills for job success. Physician
executive. 39(5). 40.
Online
6 Trends That Are Changing Retail. 2019. [Online]. Available
through<https://www.digitalistmag.com/industries/2013/10/17/6-trends-changing-retail-
0822303>.
6 Major Challenges in Retail Industry & How to Overcome Them. 2019. [Online]. Available
through<https://www.hashmicro.com/blog/6-major-challenges-in-retail-industry/>.
6

APPENDIX
7