How to Write a Retail Resignation Letter (With Template and Example)

Updated July 5, 2023

A well-written resignation letter can help you leave your retail position with grace, increasing the likelihood of remaining on good terms with your employer. It also makes it easy to ensure your employer has all of the necessary information about your resignation, such as your final day of employment. Reviewing the necessary information you should include as well as sample letters can help you to write your own resignation letter.

In this article, we discuss what a retail resignation letter is, the key parts you should include in the letter and the steps to writing one. We also include a template and example letter to help you craft your own.

What is a retail resignation letter?

A retail resignation letter is a formally written letter communicating to your employer that you will be leaving your retail position. This letter helps you to resign from your position graciously and on good terms, provides your employer with important information about your resignation and is filed by human resources.

What to include in a retail resignation letter

In your retail resignation letter, you should include:

A clear statement that tells your employer that you plan to resign
The date of your last day of work
A brief statement or short explanation for why you're leaving
A statement of appreciation

How to write a retail resignation letter

Once you know when you will be leaving your job, you can put your retail resignation in writing. Follow these steps to write your resignation letter:

Use proper formatting.
Include the date and contact information.
Include a salutation.
State your intent to resign.
Offer an explanation for why you are leaving.
Offer your help.
Express gratitude.
Close and sign.

1. Use proper formatting

Your letter should be written in a readable font with one-inch margins on all sides. The font should be between 10 and 12 points in size. Some ideal fonts are Arial, Helvetica, Calibri or Times New Roman.

2. Include the date and contact information

The letter should start with your contact information, left-aligned. Include your name, address, phone number and email address. Leave a line blank and then write the date. Then leave another line blank before writing the recipient's address.

3. Include a salutation

Address your letter directly to your manager or, possibly, the HR manager. Begin with a polite salutation like "Dear," or "Hello." As an alternative, you could also start the letter with just their name, such as "Mr. [name]."

4. State your intent to resign

Begin your letter with a simple statement that expresses your intent to resign from your role. As part of that sentence or in the following sentence, let your manager know the last day you plan to work.

5. Offer an explanation for why you are leaving

If you are comfortable sharing, your next paragraph can include any details about why you are leaving, although you should keep this section brief with only one or two sentences at most. You could simply let them know you have been offered another position or are leaving for family reasons. If you prefer, you can state you are leaving for personal reasons and not give any further details.

6. Offer your help

If you have time remaining before your departure and are comfortable doing so, consider offering to help with the transition. This can help promote goodwill among management and your coworkers and will help you leave on the best possible terms.

7. Express gratitude

Include a statement of appreciation for the time you have spent with the company. If there is a specific skill, such as something you'll be able to use in a future position, you may want to mention that specifically. Let them know you appreciate their support and have enjoyed working with the team. While this section should be sincere and is important to include, make sure to keep it brief.

8. Close and sign

Use a formal closing, such as "Sincerely," "Regards," "Yours Truly" or "Yours Sincerely." If you plan to print the letter, leave space for signing the letter and then type your full name. If you're emailing the letter, just type your name after the closing.

Template

Here is a template you can use as you write your own retail resignation letter:

[Your name]
[Address]
[Phone number]
[Email address]

[Date]

[Recipient's name]
[Title]
[Company]
[Address]

Dear [name],

Please consider this letter my formal resignation from my position as [position title], effective [date].

[Explanation for why you are leaving.] During my remaining [timeline, i.e. two weeks], I am happy to do anything I can to make the transition as smooth as possible. I am available to maintain my sales responsibilities, so do not hesitate to keep me on the schedule. I am also happy to train my replacement if that would be helpful.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working at [retail business], and I will miss our management team as well as my coworkers. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such a great team and appreciate the support I have had here.

Sincerely,

[Your signature]

[Name]

Download Resignation Letter Template

To upload the template into Google Docs, go to File > Open > and select the correct downloaded file.

Example of a retail resignation letter

Here is an example of a retail resignation letter you can use to help you craft your own:

Sarah Smith
132 Brady Drive
555-555-5555
sarah.smith@email.com

March 24, 2020

Alan Chambers
Store Manager
Fitness Matters
823 Main St., San Antonio, TX 32512

Dear Mr. Chambers,

I am writing to inform you of my resignation from my position as a retail associate with Fitness Matters, effective April 10, two weeks from now.

I have accepted a position with another company, a role that is in line with my future career goals. I will still be available to continue my sales responsibilities during the next two weeks, so please don't hesitate to keep me on the schedule. I apologize for any inconvenience my departure may cause and will do all I can to make the transition go as smoothly as possible. I am even happy to train my replacement if you would like.

I have very much enjoyed the time I have spent here at Fitness Matters and appreciate all the support and training you have provided over the past year. I feel lucky to work with such a great team, and I will miss everyone here very much.