This training manual designed by the International Labor Organization (ILO) for their MATCOM program is intended for the use of trainers who plan to facilitate this development program for coop leaders and administrators from agricultural cooperatives. It aims to improve the management abilities of those who head the cooperatives, especially in areas of business that require added attention and expertise.

For this manual, ILO introduces an in-depth program discussion for trainers of agri-coop leaders and managers who are into the distributive sector. Particularly, the topic focus for this manual is about retail management which explores the day-to-day administration of general operations of retail shops.Several topics discussed in this manual mainly pertain to the matter of interest, including those that involve the basic operations and economics in retail, as well as the concepts of capital and surplus, assortment of products and services, salesmanship, and policies and systems for tracking and reporting consumer cooperative finances. Most of the sessions are loaded with appropriate and practical activities that would engage and espouse creative and critical thinking from the participants. Participants of the program are also encouraged to commit to their plan of action, that after the program ends, they would bring about positive changes in their respective coops in terms of knowledge and performance.