Training as a retail specialist: Experience report from participant Cecile Balde - Developed from a florist to a branch manager of a furniture store

Please tell us about your career and your current job.

My name is Cecile Balde. I originally trained as a florist. I have worked in the furniture industry for the last ten years. Today I am the store manager of Mömax in Emmen.

Which course did you attend at the KV Aarau business school?

I attended the retail trade specialist course at the KV Aarau commercial college.

Why did you choose to train as a retail specialist?

I chose to train as a retail specialist because I wanted to take over a branch. At my previous employer, this further training was compulsory for this step. As a result, I was almost forced to attend this course. But I'm now glad that I did it. I now work at Mömax and manage my own store there.

Why did you choose HKV Aarau for your further training?

I chose HKV Aarau because the school was recommended to me by a colleague. She also completed her training as a retail specialist there. She had switched to HKV Aarau during her further training and found that the lecturers were more attentive to the students and took more time for them than at her previous school. That's why her colleague warmly recommended HKV Aarau to me.

How does further training support you in your professional activity?

The retail specialist training course supports me a lot in my job. You can learn things from all areas that you can use in everyday life. You also gain more insight into areas that you have little contact with in everyday life. You can develop an understanding of these areas because you have more knowledge about them. You also recognize the overall context of the retail trade and can grasp it better.

Did the retail specialist course also help you in your private life?

Yes, of course. The communication that is dealt with in the area of HR management also supports me in my private life.

What did you like best during your training?

I really liked everything about the retail specialist course - the class, the lecturers and the location. What I liked best was getting to know new people. We had a great class. Sometimes we went out for drinks together after class. I'm still in private contact with some people today.

What were the challenges for you?

My challenge during my training as a retail specialist was to reconcile everything: working 100%, going to school every day, studying and my private life. It was often difficult to find the right balance. This made the two-year course exhausting and intensive. However, I had good support from my husband, who took a lot of the household work off my hands. He also understood that we couldn't go out as often as before. This helped me a lot during my further training as a retail specialist. I had a good supervisor in the store who sometimes let me take an extra half day off to study for exams. This support and regular communication helped me through this time. However, I also had the odd crisis during my training.

Were you able to increase your market value with the training?

Yes, I was definitely able to increase my market value. With the retail specialist course, all doors are open to you in the professional world. You can get more involved and make a career for yourself. You can also use this additional knowledge in your private life. You understand more and can contribute more to discussions. That gives you a good feeling and makes you proud.

What learning content helped you the most?

I think you can take things from every area of the retail specialist course that you can use in your everyday life. The personnel management and the communication skills I learned were extremely important for me. For me, communication is the be-all and end-all for everyday business. This applies both within the team and with superiors. This helped me enormously, even though I already had management experience beforehand. I can now work 1:1 with the team on communication and how to improve it. This has helped me the most from the content of the retail specialist training course.

Were you able to achieve concrete success with what you learned?

Yes, completing the school gave me my first store. If I hadn't completed the retail specialist course, it probably wouldn't have worked out. That was my greatest success. I worked towards it and got it as a result. That makes me extremely proud.

What did you like best about the lessons?

What I liked best about the retail specialist course was the class. By that I mean the interaction with the lecturers and the other participants. We were able to discuss things freely and sometimes discuss things that were not based on the teaching materials. The lecturers gave us the freedom to discuss practical issues in class. That's what I liked best about the lessons.

What did you find most difficult?

Last year, the summer was the most difficult for me during my retail specialist training. It was extremely hot and then spending time at school was sometimes difficult. But in the end you know what you're doing it for.

Who is the retail specialist course suitable for?

The retail specialist course is suitable for anyone who wants to make a career in retail. Anyone who wants to develop their leadership skills in order to take over a sales team or a store. The course provides you with excellent knowledge in all areas. This can be put to good use in everyday life.

What was the mood like?

The atmosphere during the retail specialist course was always very good. We had a lot of fun. Especially when it came to working on or solving something together. Of course, this depends on the class and the lecturers. I had really great people around me.

What did you personally gain from your further training as a retail specialist?

For me personally, the retail specialist course has given me a broader perspective. It enabled me to develop as a person. I am now more interested in the business side of things. And of course the knowledge I acquired - as already mentioned, particularly in the area of communication - has also helped me personally.

What is your conclusion of the training?

For me, the conclusion of the retail specialist course is as follows: I think the course is suitable for anyone who wants to get ahead in retail and achieve something. Graduates can achieve the following with the course:

• Take over a team or a branch
• Deepen your knowledge of the retail trade
• Personal development

Overview of schools for retail trade specialists