Landing a great job in retail can be as easy as writing a thoughtful cover letter. "Carefully think about what you can offer the company. In practical terms, this means understanding how your skills apply to the job," states "Cover Letters - A Practical Guide" on retailchoice.com. Retail employers look for someone who is good with people and has a high level of competence in customer service and sales. Include any experience with running a register, keeping merchandise records, managing inventory and resolving customer complaints. If you've won any service or managerial awards, be sure to highlight these, as well.

Review the Job Ad

Research the company and review the job post thoroughly. Pay attention to the listed skills and experience, as well as application and submission instructions. Many jobs have an online application process and may specifically request no phone inquiries or walk-ins.

Address Your Cover Letter

Sometimes a job ad will specify the person to whom you should send your letter. If it doesn't, address it to the company's human resources or hiring manager. It's best to use the actual name of the manager, so call the branch to which you're applying, or search for a regional online directory to obtain this information.

Frame Your Skills and Experience

Begin your letter by stating which position you're applying for and briefly summarize any qualifying experience and training you've received. For example, you might say, "I’d like to express my interest in Macy's retail associate position posted on your corporate website. I believe my four years of sales experience, my training in inventory management and POS systems, as well as my high-energy, customer-friendly sales approach make me a perfect candidate for this position."

In the body of your letter, detail your experience that meets the job requirements in one to two paragraphs. For example, a job ad for Anthropologie Visual Sales Associate on urbn.com states you must have "experience providing a high level of customer service in a retail setting, and the desire to service our customer's needs in addition to supporting the visual presentations." To frame your experience to match the ad qualifications, you might say, "During my time as floor sales associate at FloralDesigns, I assisted customers with floral design and event planning by inquiring about their floral needs and making recommendations. I also helped maintain a fresh and vibrant store atmosphere by designing and arranging floral displays to enhance customers' visual shopping experience."

Conclude with Key Qualifications

Conclude your letter with additional key qualifications, such as, "I am punctual, congenial and take great pride in my sales performance. I won Nordstrom's Top Sales Associate award three months in a row." Include your contact information and your interview availability.