Retail

The retail industry is a significant part of the New Zealand economy and covers a wide range of businesses, most of which sell new and used goods to consumers for personal, household and business use. Retailing covers all activities directly related to the sale of goods and services to consumers or end users and is integral to a wide range of sectors, including food, fashion, household goods, hardware, technology, finance and big multi-national brands.

The industry has experienced significant growth due to both the increase in demand and the development of shopping venues in the last couple of years. New Zealanders spend more than $12,000 in shops each year for every adult, child and baby. That adds up to annual retail sales of more than $50 billion. The industry employs 325,000 people, about 20 per cent of the population (New Zealand Retailers Association and the link is http://www.retail.org.nz/retailresearchstatistics.html).

Real estate sales help to stimulate retail trade because house buyers often purchase new goods and furnishings to go with their homes. Tourism and immigration also affect retail. In the year to December 2006, domestic and international tourists spent $18.6 billion in New Zealand. Of this, $6.9 billion went towards purchasing retail goods. Retail is a dynamic, fast paced and exciting industry with a broad scope of career opportunities for graduates, both on the shop floor right through to the head office functions in areas such as: financial accounting; buying; visual merchandising; property development; logistics; merchandise planning; designing; human resources; and management.

Technological change

In the last few years, advances in technology have prompted significant change in the retail industry. Although Internet retailing, or e-tailing, has not grown as rapidly as was first predicted, purchases made online continue to increase. The Internet is also affecting consumer behaviour, in that customers are increasingly going on the web to research goods and so are more informed by the time they come to buy.

Computers have also made stocktaking and ordering processes easier and more streamlined. In some cases, it is possible for retailers to directly access the inventory of suppliers online.

Due to the above factors, training in the use of computers and specific programs is becoming common in the retail trade.

“What most graduates don’t realise is just how huge the scope for opportunity and great career paths the retail sector offers. A number of New Zealand retailers also offer Graduate Programmes which give graduates the opportunity to learn, develop and build long term careers with some of the most successful businesses in New Zealand”

- Terri Hall, Marketing Coordinator, Retailworld Resourcing, New Zealand

Significant stats
  • In the year ending August 2007, total retail sales increased 0.2 per cent on the previous year.
  • In the year to August 2007, the Wellington region had the highest increase in retail sales (1.9 per cent), followed by the Canterbury region(1 per cent), and the Waikato region (0.8 per cent).
  • In February 2006 there were 37,1200 enterprises involved in retail. These business engage approximately 232,300 staff.

Statistics sources: Statistics New Zealand, “Fresh Facts”, New Zealand Horticulture

Except where indicated this profile is based on edited extracts from www.careers.govt.nz and from information provided by Terri Hall, Marketing Coordinator, Retailworld Resourcing, New Zealand