E-commerce merchant - a field report

The fact that school leavers have had the opportunity to train in the e-commerce sector since 2018 means that a huge step has been taken in the direction of digital transformation. This is because the next generation is being prepared for online retail from now on and will thus have a significant impact on the future of retail. Shopify also announced that the e-commerce apprenticeship program will be further strengthened through an open learning platform for vocational schools.

Since it's the perfect occasion, we created a testimonial from our apprentice e-commerce merchant, Samah El Aamouchi. She completed the e-commerce apprenticeship and gives an overview of the training in this interview.

Why did you decide to do this training? Why was the e-commerce sector absolutely the right choice?

Samah: I decided to train in the e-commerce sector because it is a future-oriented profession and opens many doors. As an early entrant in this field, I have a head start in knowledge and a secure job where I am confronted with current developments on a daily basis. Even in everyday life I am constantly confronted with e-commerce and I find that incredibly interesting to observe.

Image 1: Samah El Aamouchi - E-Commerce saleswoman at Latori

How did you decide to do your training at Latori?

Samah: I decided to do my training at Latori because I was previously unhappy in another work environment that did not meet my expectations. Through a conversation with a current work colleague, I learned about the positive experiences and opportunities at Latori, about being really close to the e-commerce action and being able to learn many areas of e-commerce. This made me decide to apply at Latori and get to know my strengths better.

When you started your training as an e-commerce clerk, what did you learn?

Samah: During my training as an e-commerce clerk, I learned about a wide range of content. This included various sales channels, marketing-related topics and tools for evaluating and controlling measures. I also acquired knowledge in the area of accounting and legal aspects, general laws such as the Youth Employment Protection Act, but also particularly important topics in the area of e-commerce, such as copyrights or trademark rights.

"E-commerce is a forward-thinking industry with many opportunities and a knowledge edge."

Latori specializes primarily in Shopify and Shopify Plus. Do you still have points of contact with other store systems?

Samah: Although Latori specializes mainly in Shopify and Shopify Plus, I also have points of contact with other store systems through the migration projects we carry out. We also got to know other systems in vocational school. However, I have to say Shopify is special because it is cloud-based and offers a variety of automation options that simplify and speed up the implementation of projects. Interfaces are also solved quickly and easily, as well as the maintenance of the stores on Shopify.

"You're always learning something new in e-commerce."

How was your daily life at Latori divided into vocational school and work?

Samah: In the first two years of training, I had vocational school twice a week and in the last year only once a week. On the other days, I worked on customer projects or internal tasks, where I was also able to introduce my own ideas. However, I was also allowed to manage my own time and tasks very early on and thus work independently on the tasks - so I took responsibility for my projects early on.

Which Latori clients have you worked with?

Samah: There are actually many, so I can't really list them all. I've worked on projects for various Latori clients, such as Melvin and Hamilton, Outdoorchef, Asphaltgold and LFDY. I also got to sit in on out-of-town meetings with potential clients from the beginning, which allowed me to see the process from kickoff to launch.

What do examination results look like in the training occupation?

Samah: I wrote typical exams and there was an intermediate exam, which I passed just one year after starting my training. There was also a written final exam that I took at the IHK at the end of the training. In addition, I had to complete a project of my choice in the company and then present it in the final oral exam. The former trainees and I also had a trainee project at Latori. The trainee project involved setting up our own online store where we offered discarded technology from Latori as products. We created our own brand and opened our own store. We implemented everything independently, from design and development to marketing activities. This project served in the training to show that we could already manage an online business from the beginning and understands all the processes behind it. It's not necessarily important to know a particular store system, but to understand the processes.

Looking back, would you choose this training profession again?

Samah: I would always choose this apprenticeship again. It is future-oriented and varied, it never gets boring. I can work independently and on my own responsibility. It offers me the opportunity to work from anywhere and a good work-life balance due to flexibility in this profession. In addition, you always get to meet new people and always have exciting projects.

Do you have any tips for school leavers who don't really know what to do but are interested in online media, online marketing or e-commerce?

Samah: The focus in online media, marketing and e-commerce is very diverse and there are many opportunities to specialize. E-commerce is versatile and that's what I find so exciting. As an agency, we have a special role as e-commerce merchants who are not primarily involved in sales. We are contact persons in consulting and handle projects from development to launch. For prospective customers who want to start with us, it is important to know that e-commerce is not just about pure selling and maintaining products. But that it is much more than that - there are many specialization opportunities, such as social media, content marketing, advertising campaigns and client projects where we help with store setup. For example. It's important to recognize your own strengths and specialize in them, and you can do that very well at Latori.

What about compensation?

Samah: Remuneration during training varies depending on the industry and the size of the company. In general, you can say that the compensation during the training is between 500€ and 1,000 €. After the apprenticeship it can also vary a lot in the industry, but basically the compensation is good.

As someone who has completed their training and is a trainer yourself, do you have any tips or experiences for people who are just about to start their training?

Samah: It's important to be aware that the field of e-commerce is very broad and there are many opportunities to specialize. You just have to take a look around and figure out what suits you and focus on doing that well. E-commerce is exciting and not like typical office jobs, there are always varied tasks and it is never the same or monotonous. Also, when working for clients, the requirements will always be different. A lot of flexibility in the job and the possibility of flextime or home office also makes the job additionally attractive.

"A future-oriented, varied and flexible training program with good compensation and work-life balance."

Are you interested in training or would you like to work in e-commerce yourself? You can find vacancies at Latori here. Do you have any questions? Then feel free to contact us!

Frequently asked questions about the e-commerce training "Kauffrau / Kaufmann im E-Commerce" (Businesswoman / Businessman in e-commerce)

Why should you decide to train as an e-commerce clerk?

As online commerce continues to grow, the profession of e-commerce merchant is a profession with a future. With the e-commerce merchant, there has been an apprenticeship since 2018 that has not existed for such a long time.

How much does a merchant in e-commerce earn?

The training salary for e-commerce training is on average 950€ in the 1st year, 1050€ in the 2nd year and 1200€ gross in the 3rd year.

What are the prerequisites for training in e-commerce?

An apprentice should have the following:

• Communication skills

• Enjoyment of sales and marketing

• Customer- and service-oriented action

• Enjoy dealing with customers and data

Where do you work as an e-commerce clerk?

E-commerce clerks can work in a wide variety of fields: at companies that specialize in online retailing, in tourism and logistics management, or at an agency.

What are the working hours as an e-commerce merchant?

As a rule, an e-commerce clerk works a classic 40-hour week. They work 8 hours a day from Monday to Friday.