The primary objective of this study was to ascertain from retail merchants the amount and type of formal college education desirable for optimum performance of typical mid-management retail positions, such as store manager, department manager, and buyer-merchandiser. The investigation also was concerned with any job stability differences between the four-year college graduates of business-marketing programs and the two-year college graduates, with the need for a close working relationship with the merchants, and with an effective student-job program. The questionnaire responses of 161 (a 55 percent response) retail business firms throughout the U. S. and Canada were analyzed. Personal interviews were used as a supplementary method. The following conclusions were reached: (1) The two-year junior college retail program is adequate education for students seeking careers in retail mid-management positions. (2) Many retail merchants believe the two-year junior college retail graduate to be more stable than the four-year business-marketing graduate. (3) A number of merchants are unacquainted with the two-year junior college retail program. (4) A high level of industriousness is essential for success in retail management, and there are ample well-paying positions for the two-year retail graduates. (5) Communities should provide two-year junior colleges with retail management programs of high quality and their graduates with suitable employment. (Author/KM)