Book excerpt: Whether you're a student or a professional ready for a career change, you'll find in this invaluable book everything you need to know to start an exciting career or change the direction of your current career in the retail or wholesale industry. Retail and wholesale trade are trillion-dollar businesses employing an estimated 20 million Americans, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. From department stores and malls to online retailers and manufacturers, retail and wholesale present a myriad of employment opportunities, from customer service and sales to IT, marketing, and finance. Career Opportunities in the Retail and Wholesale Industry, Second Edition offers a comprehensive view of careers in the field, with complete information for the 21st century on 90 jobs, including Mall Manager Greeter Buyer Brand Manager Personal Shopper Catalog Copywriter Wholesale Sales Representative Marketing Director, Web Store Sales Associate Manufacturer's Representative Promotions Manager-Retail Store Market Researcher-Manufacturer Throughout the book, the reader will find a quick-reference Career Profile for each job summarizing its notable features, a Career Ladder illustrating frequent routes to and from the position described, and a comprehensive text pointing out special skills, education, training, and various associations relevant to each post. Appendixes list education and training resources, chain and department stores, catalog companies and manufacturers, trade associations and unions, and more. Book jacket.