This is a stimulating job where you act as a role model, take full operational responsibility for your specific product lines and the credit for a job well done. When you have cracked that, you can look forward to becoming a retail director.

In terms of career development you could not work for a better sector, as retail is the fastest growing industry in the country and there are plenty of opportunities for ambitious area managers who are looking to step up to a retail director job or move into senior management.