Member Article

A nation of happy shopkeepers: Britain’s small retailers score highest job satisfaction rating

SME retail professionals love their jobs more than those in other sectors, and four times more than the national average

Nearly half (49%) of small UK retailers say that they love their job, data from YouGov* - analysed by Vend - reveals today. This was the highest out of nine other sectors polled and four times higher than the national average (12%). Vend accessed a research sample of over 1,000 senior managers in the retail sector, working at organisations with fewer than 20 staff, on YouGov’s Profiles tool – and collated data which revealed their sentiment towards their profession. Percentage of small business managers/owners people who ‘love’ their job across different sectors:

1. Retail – 49%
2. Hospitality – 46%
3. Media / Marketing – 40%
4. Financial services – 34%
5. IT – 28%
6. Manufacturing – 26%
7. Real estate – 24%
8. Accountancy – 24%
9. Construction – 20%
10. Legal – 19%

Further to loving their day-to-day work, 39% of small retail business managers also said that if money were no object they wouldn’t consider changing careers, which compares to a national average of 14%. In addition, 40% said they were not in the market for a new job in the next year, compared to just 19% among the wider public.

Higor Torchia, UK Country Manager for Vend, commented:

“Recent headlines are filled with how retail is tougher than ever, and yet the data shows that retailers are the happiest in their jobs. From working with retail stores and owners across the country, we know many retailers and their staff do it for more than just the pay cheque (or the employee discounts!). They have a real passion for their products, their business, and their communities, and they love building personal relationships with their customers. And it’s that passion that helps them to stand above the rest. While few retailers would tell you that it’s an easy job, it can be a hugely rewarding profession. We would all be so lucky to love our jobs like many of our amazing high street retailers do.”

Recounting his experience of setting up and running a retail business Jake Hardy, Founder of Brick Lane fashion retailer Number Six, said:

“From my experience, as any store owner will tell you, it’s the passion for what they do which gets them up each morning. It’s the real love for what you sell, your staff, your customers, and how the store plays a part in the local community. It can be in the little things as well - the flexibility to try something different and being there to see the rewards first-hand when something works. I didn’t set up Number Six thinking it was going to be an easy ride and I wouldn’t trade either the good or bad days for anything else.”

Alice Mayor, Founder of Carnaby Street-based souvenir and art store We Built This City, added:

“Opening a store that supports London’s creative community, and which allows us to sell curated London-inspired goods to thousands of people that visit this amazing city every year, gives me immense job satisfaction. Don’t get me wrong: running an independent retail business is far from easy, but there aren’t many sectors in which I’d be able to embrace my passion for supporting the arts as strongly as I do at We Built This City. Feedback we get from the customers who shop with us and the artists we support is overwhelmingly positive, and that gives a huge boost not just to me as the owner of the business, but also to my whole team.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vend .