Department of Retail Business
Curriculum Leader:
Naeem Butt (nbutt@stmichaels.bhcet.org.uk)
Department Staff
Mrs C. Carey, Miss B. Gordon
Why study Retail Business?
This course allows students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the retail business sector and provide them with opportunities to develop associated practical skills. It covers the business of retail, customer service for retail business and merchandising and marketing retail products.
Course Outline
Core units include:
Unit 1 – The business of retail – Examination (40 % of overall grade)
Unit 1 introduces learners to the business of retail and provides them with the opportunity to explore the dynamic and competitive nature of the retail industry. They will gain knowledge and understanding of different types of retail business and retail activity, as well as the impact of external factors on the industry.
Unit 1 topics
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- Introduction to retail business
1.1.1 Types of retail business activity
1.1.2 Types of retail business ownership
1.1.3 The different scale of retail businesses
1.1.4 Aims of retail businesses
1.1.5 Functional areas of retail businesses
1.1.6 The supply chain of retail businesses.
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- The retail business environment
1.2.1 The competitive and dynamic environment
1.2.2 The location of retail businesses
1.2.3 External factors and retail businesses
1.2.4 Seasonality and retail businesses.
1.3 Using data and recommending solutions to retail business issues
1.3.1 Using retail business data in a variety of different formats
1.3.2 Using mathematical techniques to calculate retail business data
1.3.3 Interpreting retail business data
1.3.4 Making judgements and offering solutions to retail business issues.
Unit 2 – Customer service for retail business - Coursework (30 % of overall grade)
Unit 2 allows learners to develop knowledge and understanding of the principles of customer service for retail business and offers the opportunity for learners to develop skills in investigating the customer service experience across retail organisations.
Unit 2 topics
2.1 Introduction to customer service
2.1.1 Importance of customer service to retail businesses
2.1.2 Features of good customer service
2.1.3 Principles of good customer service
2.1.4 Situations when retail businesses interact with customers
2.1.5 Online customer services.
2.2 Meeting customer expectations
2.2.1 Types of retail customers
2.2.2 Expectations of different types of retail customers
2.2.3 How retail businesses meet the expectations of different types of customers.
2.3 Investigate customer experiences in retail businesses
2.3.1 Research tools used to gather customer feedback information on retail businesses
2.3.2 Good practice in carrying out customer research
2.3.3 Presenting research information on retail businesses
2.3.4 Using research information on retail businesses to inform decision making.
Unit 3 – Merchandising and marketing retail products - Coursework (30 % of overall grade)
Unit 3 provides learners with the opportunity to develop their understanding of the importance of merchandising and marketing retail products, and how retail businesses use merchandising and marketing to achieve their aims. Learners will also apply their knowledge and understanding to develop skills in designing visual merchandising installations and promotional materials that achieve specific aims
Unit 3 topics
3.1 Visual merchandising for retail business
3.1 Visual merchandising for retail business
3.2 Marketing retail businesses and products
3.2 Marketing retail businesses and products
3.2.1 Identifying and targeting customers
3.2.2 The marketing mix
3.2.3 Designing promotional materials for retail businesses
3.2.4 Use of technology in promotion
3.2.5 How marketing activities contribute to aims.
How is the course assessed?
Assessment includes an externally assessed unit; the remaining units are internally assessed and based on a credit system. At the end of the course students will be awarded a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction* grade (4, 5/6, 7/8.5 respectively). This will be calculated from the credits achieved throughout the course.
Retail Business Curriculum