Retail is the practice of selling goods to the public in order to earn a profit for yourself. Retail sales are usually made on a small scale to individuals for personal use, compared to wholesale sales that involve selling items in bulk for companies and organizations to use. Those who work as retailers are often in the middle of the supply chain, purchasing from a manufacturer or wholesaler to sell the goods to consumers. Retailers can sell goods through many outlets, including department stores, convenience stores, outlet stores, warehouses, discount stores, e-commerce websites, dealerships, and even their own homes. The practice has been around almost as long as humans have, though those who lived in Mesopotamia are thought to have created the first system that used money rather than simply trading goods.

What beneficial outcomes are possible if I learn retail?

Learning about retail can help you as both a consumer and a professional. When you shop for goods for yourself, understanding how retail works can make you a more savvy shopper. Anyone who makes investments may also want to study retail to get a better understanding of which options are better than others. On a professional level, learning about retail can help set you up for a career in the field. If you already have a career in retail, learning more about it may help you explore advancements to positions in management, human resources, or marketing. And if you've ever dreamed of opening your own store or selling your own goods, learning about retail can help provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to get started.

What are typical careers that use retail?

Retail careers typically involve working in stores and other outlets that sell goods, either at an entry-level position, like cashier or sales associate, or at a more advanced position, like a floor supervisor or store manager. You may also find yourself working at a corporate level for retail brands and companies with multiple locations. Other potential retail-related careers include becoming a buyer, a visual merchandiser, an advertising or marketing manager, a social media manager, a customer service representative, or a logistics specialist. You may even find that you want to work in a specific area within the retail industry using a combination of retail and other skills you possess. For example, if you're into fashion, you may work as a makeup artist or beauty consultant in a store that sells cosmetics or clothing. If you want to work in the medical field, you may become a pharmacy technician or pharmacist.

What are the benefits of taking an online Retail course?

Online Retail courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Retail skills. Choose from a wide range of Retail courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Retail courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Retail, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Retail Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Retail Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Omnichannel Retail Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Human Capital, Employee Retention, Workforce Development, Employee Training, Talent Management, Digital Transformation, Organizational Strategy, Human Resources, Employee Engagement, Supply Chain Management, Human Resources Management and Planning, E-Commerce, Customer experience strategy (CX), Supply Chain, Brand Strategy, Analytics, Brand Management, Marketing Strategies, Customer Insights, Performance Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
401 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Retail Marketing Strategy
Skills you'll gain: Customer experience strategy (CX), Brand Strategy, Brand Management, Marketing Strategies, Customer Insights, Brand Loyalty, Brand Awareness, Market Trend, Consumer Behaviour, Competitive Analysis, Business Strategy, Innovation, E-Commerce
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
282 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
CVS Health
Retail Customer Service
Skills you'll gain: Transaction Processing, Retail Sales, Retail Store Operations, Cash Register Operation, Greeting Customers, Customer Inquiries, Customer Service, Teamwork, Data Entry, Customer Relationship Building, Point of Sale, E-Commerce, Order Management Systems, Professionalism, Payment Processing and Collection, Communication, Time Management, Social Media
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
32 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Coursera Instructor Network
Introduction to Merchandising
Skills you'll gain: Merchandising, Inventory Management, Visual Merchandising, Consumer Behaviour, Inventory Management System, Retail Management, Retail Sales, Marketing Psychology, Customer Insights, Business Development, Sales Strategy, Analysis, Design
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
60 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Università Bocconi
Management of Fashion and Luxury Companies
Skills you'll gain: Annual Reports, Retail Store Operations, Brand Management, Case Studies, Global Marketing, Brand Strategy, Communication Strategies, Marketing Management, Business Modeling, Business Strategy, New Business Development, E-Commerce, Consumer Behaviour, Market Trend, Product Development
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
CVS Health
CVS Health Retail Customer Service
Skills you'll gain: Active Listening, De-escalation Techniques, Greeting Customers, Customer Service, Empathy, Cross Selling, Call Center Experience, Transaction Processing, Upselling, Retail Sales, Retail Store Operations, Customer Complaint Resolution, Cash Register Operation, Problem Solving, Conflict Management, Customer Relationship Building, Customer Inquiries, Teamwork, Communication, Time Management
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
378 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

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Status: Free Trial
Salesforce
Salesforce Sales Development Representative
Skills you'll gain: Overcoming Objections, Prospecting and Qualification, Customer Relationship Management, Lead Generation, Sales Development, Time Management, Business Writing, Salesforce, Writing, Productivity, Cold Calling, Sales Prospecting, Growth Mindedness, Verbal Communication Skills, Cultural Diversity, Sales Enablement, Empathy, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development, Sales
Build toward a degree
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
578 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google Cloud
Vertex AI Search for Retail
Skills you'll gain: Dataflow, Data Pipelines, Serverless Computing, Identity and Access Management, AI Personalization, Google Cloud Platform, Data Integration, Cloud Security, Data Integrity, Performance Tuning, Data Security, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), CI/CD, Data Processing, Debugging, Real Time Data, System Monitoring, Cloud Storage, Issue Tracking, Data Storage Technologies
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
128 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
Coursera Project Network
Machine Learning in Retail
Skills you'll gain: Customer Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Customer Insights, Marketing Analytics, Applied Machine Learning, Data Analysis, Web Analytics, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Retail Store Operations, Machine Learning, Histogram, Decision Tree Learning, Pandas (Python Package), Jupyter, Matplotlib
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
9 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
UBITS
Potencia tus ventas en el sector retail
Skills you'll gain: Cross Selling, Retail Sales, Product Demonstration, Upselling, Selling Techniques, Personalized Service, Sales Training, Sales Strategy, Customer experience improvement, Merchandising, Customer Service, Team Oriented, Customer Engagement, Customer Complaint Resolution
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
28 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Retail Digital Supply Chain
Skills you'll gain: Digital Transformation, Supply Chain Management, E-Commerce, Supply Chain, Analytics, Business Analytics, Descriptive Analytics, Customer experience strategy (CX), Predictive Analytics, Data-Driven Decision-Making
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
122 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Business Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Marketing Analytics, Data Presentation, Data Visualization, Data Governance, Business Analytics, Infographics, Data Collection, Data Quality, Data Visualization Software, Analytical Skills, Business Analysis, AI Personalization, Exploratory Data Analysis, Analytics, Regression Analysis, Internal Controls, Data Analysis, Power BI, Machine Learning
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months