Selling goods is a multi-level process that requires knowledge of the regulatory framework. The stages are formalized in accordance with the law, and regulations are drawn up. This is controlled by government services. Let's understand what retail trade is, the functions, tasks of retail, and the nuances of accounting.

What is retail?

Retail trade (retail) - sale of goods and services individually, in small volumes (commercial activities) in shopping centers, shops (including street retail), kiosks, salons, markets, through online services.

Retail trade options:

• Offline - retail is carried out when visiting a retail facility. These are retail, chain retail, non food retail (non-food products), convenience (convenience store).
• Online - placing orders on online platforms with delivery or pickup.
• Exhibitions and sales - trade transactions are carried out in sports complexes, exhibition centers, where products are demonstrated by manufacturers and distributors.
• Mixed format - a mix of offline and online implementation. The order is placed in the mobile application and picked up at the checkout.

The peculiarity of retail trade is that the sale of goods and services occurs in a designated location. In case of commodity-money exchange through the network, these are the addresses of buyers where the order is issued.

Trade has a target group depending on the product - it belongs to the B2C area. The retailer finds suppliers and creates conditions for servicing customers, even if these are online sales. It is necessary to competently organize work regardless of the size of a trading company (large, small, medium), observing the uniform rules of retail trade for building activities: interaction with consumers, services that monitor compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements, quality standards, and implementation rules.

Retail functions

The global function of retail is the sale of goods and services. The process comes down to functionality:

1. Studying the needs of a potential audience of buyers, forming an assortment, developing targeted offers.
2. Presentation of product information.
3. Formation of an offer that will interest manufacturers based on demand analysis.
4. High-quality customer service and consulting.

The functions of retail trade include the responsibilities of sellers to the buyer - they vary depending on the form of business. In small stores, the seller advises and offers goods. In hypermarkets with self-service, visitors turn to salespeople for help less often.

The functionality of the seller depends on the assortment. If, when choosing food products, consumers decide for themselves what to buy, then when selling equipment they need specialist advice.

Retail tasks

Goals and objectives basically duplicate the functions of individual sales. Problems that retail solves:

1. Purchasing goods from manufacturers, wholesale suppliers, preparing for sales at a retail facility.
2. Merchandising - displaying product samples so that customers can see the assortment. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of the product.
3. Delivery of orders (if provided for in the work form).
4.  

The main goal of retail is to create and maintain a balance between supply and consumer demand. If the balance is disturbed, the business will suffer losses and customers will remain dissatisfied.

Retail rules

Retail rules are being adjusted. Violation of them is fraught with sanctions. The rules can be divided into groups:

1. Sanitary and epidemiological. Relevant for organizations selling food. Sanitary services check the heating system, ventilation, sewerage, lighting, food storage, working conditions of sellers and loaders.
2. Fire safety. They check compliance with fire safety standards at the place of sale, within the radius of the nearest territory.
3. Documentation accounting. Deliveries and sales must be confirmed by documents and acts.
4. Working with customers. It is important to follow the rules of communication with clients.

To check whether the listed retail standards are observed, special services conduct checks. You need to be ready to accept them and avoid sanctions.

For non-compliance with requirements in retail, the legislation provides for administrative and criminal liability (depending on the degree of violation). Types of liability for offenses:

• Fine. It is imposed in case of violation of sanitary and hygienic standards. Issued to the seller or legal entity.
• Confiscation of goods. Liability is established for lack of documentation.
• Imprisonment, arrest, compulsory labor. Strict penalties are imposed for illegal activities.

It is important to carefully monitor the organization of work and changes in legislation in retail.

Nuances of product accounting in retail

Retail is the process of selling goods individually to customers for payment. It is important to organize product accounting. For the normal functioning of the trade object, to meet demand, sales and movement tracking are controlled by government agencies. Accounting for goods in retail solves the following problems:

• Prevents theft.
• Allows you to plan implementation.
• Provides guarantees that the product is of proper quality.
• Helps to comply with the requirements of inspection authorities.
• Calculates profits and transmits information to the tax service.

Previously, accounting was done manually - documentation was filled out. The development of technology has automated the inventory, which requires the installation of special software and equipment. This adds costs, but helps to effectively manage and organize work.

How to keep records in a retail store?

Accounting in a retail store is carried out according to the following algorithm:

1. Reception of goods to the warehouse, receipt of accompanying documentation.
2. Entering information about products manually or using a scanner.
3. Moving inside a retail facility, issuing invoices.
4. Display of products.
5. Sales through a cash register equipped with a barcode and product tag reader.

At a retail store, goods arrive at the warehouse. You can control this stage using accounting methods:

• Party. Products received at the warehouse are stored in one place.
• Varietal. Products are sorted by category (name, expiration date).
• Batch-varietal. Mix of portion and varietal methods.
• Nomenclature. Products are numbered and stored according to labeling.

Universal equipment - suitable for most retail outlets, but to sell specific types of goods you need separate software. Take this nuance into account when purchasing the program.

Manual accounting methods:

• Sum - records incoming and outgoing transactions.
• Analytical - accounting with information about operations.

The final stage of accounting is tracking balances for timely replenishment of the assortment.

When organizing records, comply with labor laws. Specify job responsibilities in the employee's employment contract. Entrust the functions of retail to a merchandiser, organize merchandising, develop loyalty programs, follow trends in retail - increase sales.