Tap the expertise available in retail industry organizations to keep abreast of events and trends in the industry or to gain mastery in various aspects of your store operations. Hundreds of thousands of stores vying for each consumer dollar with razor thin margins can leave you feeling frayed as you fight to stay solvent.

Rather than feel overwhelmed by the competitive pressures of so many other stores surrounding you, derive strength from the numbers by joining retailer associations and obtaining education for yourself and your employees. Drill down through the various retail professional organizations for training.

1. Get top line instruction from retailers associations that cover a broad view of the industry.

2. Go to specific retail organizations catering to your particular market.

3. Search out professional retail organizations that provide training for your particular job description or career path.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get an industry overview from a retail trade association

A large retail industry association can provide a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of retail and help build a solid core competency for you and your store management.

I recommend: The world’s largest retail trade association, the National Retail Federation (NRF) offers tests and training to help meet a variety of skill standards sets for customer service, retail management and retail business competencies. Courses are offered online and hardbound in workbooks. The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) sponsors training and conference events focusing on topics like logistics, loss prevention and sustainability.

Dive deeper into your particular market from a corresponding retail sales organization

As you feel confident in your coverage of business basics, learn more about the particular industry your store serves by taking advantage of instruction provided by industry-specific retailing organizations to gain insight into unique challenges facing that trade.

I recommend: The National Grocers Association (NGA) created the Grocers Research and Education Foundation (GREF) with eight centers focusing on different aspects of the grocery industry. Established in 1943, the North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA) provides a multi-tier training model to fit the needs of independent retailers selling and servicing home consumer durable goods including home appliances from the laundry to the sewing room, electronics and room air conditioners.

Obtain training from retailing associations tailored to your position

If your store is large enough to have several specific positions, or even if you feel one of your may hats doesn't quite fit, get some training to fill gaps in your knowledge about certain positions within your store. A retailer organization exists for nearly any store job, even maintenance and security.

I recommend: The Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association (PRSM) offers a Retail Facility Maintenance Professional (RFMP) certification program focusing on the unique aspects of maintaining public. The Loss Prevention Foundation provides members a choice of two professional recognition levels: Loss Prevention Qualified and Loss Prevention Certified.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't overlook involvement in a local organization for retail shops. If you're uncomfortable with pooling information with direct competitors, join a more neutral business roundtable like the Chamber of Commerce.

Retail organizations are a collaboration of professionals with experiences and expertise to share. Members have access to educational tools as well as industry news that they don’t get in their day-to-day profession. Instead of being in the competitive environment that you're usually in, you are at a round table of sorts, where everyone shares their insight and advice.

Retail industry organizations open the doors to unmatched networking experiences. There are marketplace reports, conferences, magazines, seminars, retail sales outlook, industry updates, proactive government relations and much more, designed to put you at the top of your game. When considering a retail organization:

1. Join a retail industry association to network with other professionals.

2. Pay annual membership dues to belong to a retail sales organization.

3. Expect benefits to range from professional discounts to an increase in personal knowledge.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use a retail sales organization to network and develop your professional skills

Retail organizations run the gamut from local groups to international associations. All have one goal: to further the retail industry. They offer members valuable resources and relationships.

I recommend: The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is a retail organization with 75,000 members from all over the world. ICSC's mission is to advance the development of the shopping center industry. Membership dues vary and new members get to use the ICSC logo. The National Consumers League's (NCL) mission is to promote and protect economic and social justice for workers and consumers. NCL addresses issues such as privacy, child labor, food safety and medication information. NCL offers several publications to members and nonmembers. Brochures are available online.

Pay annual dues to belong to retail professional organizations

Retail organizations' dues vary depending on the society and the level of membership you choose. There may also be additional charges for events, publications or certifications.

I recommend: The Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) is an international retail trade association dedicated to cutting the costs of retail technology. As a member, you can speak freely and have access to innumerable resources. ARTS membership is open to all sectors--chain, independent, discount, speciality, department and mass merchandise retailers. Get a membership form and join online. Join the Retail Advertising & Marketing Association (RAMA) if you're in retail marketing or advertising. RAMA holds a huge annual conference called Retail Advertising Conference (RAC). Apply online for membership to RAMA.

Benefit from joining retail industry organizations professionally and personally

Membership benefits to retailer associations include reduced registration rates at annual conferences and workshops, access to career centers and newsletters containing industry information.

I recommend: The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is a retailer organization focused on promoting economic freedom and consumer choice. RILA values industry operational excellence and public policy. Member benefits include research material, educational opportunities, discounts and events. National Association for Retail Marketing Services (NARMS) gives its members research, networking, education and member programs. There are two conferences every year and a JobBank online where you can search for employment listings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take advantage of all online information and resources offered by retailer associations. Chatrooms and online courses will help develop you professionally.

Retail organizations connect members to retail professionals who share similar work experiences and can offer newcomers the opportunity to rub shoulders with more experienced peers. Besides, the chance to socialize and network, many retail trade associations provide training and certification programs, instrumental to career advancement and professional development. Retail trade associations are a valuable asset to professional, executives and workers in the industry. As you seek to join professional retail organizations, you may encounter unfamiliar key terms specific to the retail industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

National Retail Federation (NRF)

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is a vital sources of retail industry information and training. As a retail research and education organization, NRF led the way in launching a retail online careers center for prospective candidates entering the industry. The organization is a partner with colleges and universities in offering retail educational and certification programs. Members are from all areas of retailing including independent, discount, drug, department, specialty and grocery stores.

I recommend: Visit NRF's homepage for detail information about services available to its members.

Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)

This trade organization works with the industry's most successful retailers influencing policy and advocating for the advancement of retail industry agenda. Top retail management from leading companies participate in networking and educational training of the association's members. RILA also equips its members with the latest news and trends, retail industry resources and information through newsletters and webinars.

I recommend: Visit RILA and learn about professional development programs and services in this retail industry association.

North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA)

North American Retail Dealers Association (NARDA) serves independent retailers from a broad range of consumer home service and product companies as a non-profit trade organization. The agency offers business and financial services, educational programs and information resources in the areas of advocacy, market research through its small business council.

I recommend: Find membership information at NARDA.

National Grocers Association (NGA)

National Grocers Association (NGA) offers membership to independent retail and wholesale food distributors and grocers. The organization operates as a national trade association representing the interest of its members in government policy, operational service programs and educational food industry coalition. NGA also formed the non-profit organization, Grocers Research and Educational Foundation to advance industry operating and productivity standards.

I recommend: NGA offers a broad range of educational research in the retail food industry and professional resources for its members.

National Consumers League (NCL)

Operating as advocates for retail consumers and workers, The National Consumers League (NCL) is a non-profit agency that specializes in retail related consumer and employee issues. The NCL issues publications, news and consumer retail research promoting the protection of the right to fair labor practices and retail industry safety standards in the US and abroad.

I recommend: Review the resources available at NCL.

International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) represents professionals in the international retail real estate industry. Members of this retail organization advance the interests of developers, retail managers, shopping center owners and lenders. ISCS accomplishes much of its work through member events, education and governmental policy programs, market research and printed materials promoting the interests of the retail real estate global industry.

I recommend: ICSC offers a range of informational resources for professionals interested in global retail real estate and the shopping center industry.