Here are three key characteristics of a merchandiser:. Aside from having a bit of a creative side for store layouts, merchandisers must also have a keen eye for detail. The day-to-day responsibilities require merchandising reps to know what the market trends are and how customers tend to buy products.
Understanding and predicting these major details allow merchandisers to make the fundamental decisions of what a promotion should be and where a certain product should go in the store. All of these aspects come together to make for the best shopping experience for the customer. Having well-developed communications skills is non-negotiable for a merchandiser, since every day involves collaborating with suppliers, manufacturers, and stores.
Some days may be spent in the office writing emails, making calls, and drafting sales reports, while other days are spent in the field negotiating with suppliers and training junior staff at store locations.
Merchandisers need both skills in order to build professional and long-lasting relationships with all of these individuals. Consumer markets are constantly changing every day, meaning deadlines can be tight for merchandisers. This role is often a demanding one that will keep reps on their toes every day, so keep in mind that organization and working well under pressure are key to succeeding in this field.
There are opportunities for merchandising within many industries, so try these links to search for more job opportunities - Indeed , LinkedIn , Monster , and Glassdoor. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in. What does a merchandiser do? Monitoring warehouse inventory levels and submitting comprehensive inventory reports Communicating customer problems to the company and addressing customer issues Assisting in the creation of an organized warehouse environment to enable product accessibility Stocking shelves and displays on the sales floor where additional inventory management assistance is required Working to create attractive sales floor displays that prominently feature relevant products and sales.
Average salary. Common wage in the U. Merchandiser requirements. Organizational skills. Computer literacy. Physical Stamina.
Merchandiser work environment. How to become a merchandiser. Earn a high school diploma or an equivalent. Earn a merchandising certificate.
Spend time working in retail. Merchandisers apply a variety of soft skills, technical skills and industry knowledge when assessing stores, products, trends and financial predictions. These skills and qualifications include:. Pay rate may depend on level of education, experience and geographical location. Many Merchandiser candidates have at least an associate degree or vocational certificate in business, retail management, marketing or another relevant discipline.
These education programs provide candidates with practical coursework and industry knowledge necessary to be a professional Merchandiser. Merchandisers can start at entry-level where they can complete industry- and store-specific training, often through shadowing more senior team members and learning about the trends in the specific store or sector in which they work.
Entry-level Merchandiser candidates with an associate degree or vocational certificate are likely to also have a few years of experience working in retail, either as a Store Associate or low-level manager. Some may also have professional experience in retail or supply chain management at the assistant level. Merchandiser roles with leadership responsibilities may require candidates with either level of education and at least 5 years of experience in merchandising. If the job description for the Merchandiser does not suit your needs, view descriptions for related professions:.
The individuals that Merchandisers report to typically depend on the type and size of company they work for. They may also report to or work alongside the Marketing Manager to determine which offers to promote. If the Merchandiser works in a smaller store, they may report directly to the owner, who will provide them with updates on their performance and suggestions for improvement. Some Merchandisers may even report to and build relationships with stakeholders as they provide regular updates on product and sales performances.
There are a few different kinds of settings Merchandisers may work in. Most of them work in retail stores, managing various product displays throughout the store. When they work in these larger department stores, Merchandisers typically spend a majority of their time traveling to various store locations to unload and display new products. Buyers will research and purchase merchandise to display in their store. There are relatively few graduate training schemes for merchandising, although some retail management training schemes include merchandising as one of the specialist areas.
Most graduates will need to apply directly for junior or entry-level posts, usually as an allocator whose main responsibilities include data analysis, assisting the merchandiser to allocate stock to stores, and liaising with suppliers over stock delivery times.
Other junior-level positions include the roles of distributor and merchandise administrative assistant MAA. It may be useful to make speculative applications directly to the merchandising departments of major retailers. When you're looking for merchandising vacancies, it's important to fully understand that particular organisation's definition of the role, as the job description and work activities can vary greatly between companies.
Many larger retailers have in-store merchandise teams whose job it is to carry out the instructions of the head office merchandiser by organising and placing stock on the shop floor. Experience on one of these teams may provide knowledge of how merchandise plans need to be interpreted. It may be possible to start in a similar role, such as visual merchandising, and progress to the retail merchandise position. A visual merchandiser creates window and in-store displays in shops and department stores, taking responsibility for the 'look' of the store, with the aim of promoting goods to maximise sales.
Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available. The retail industry employs around three million people. The industry is currently in a state of change, largely due to the rapid growth of online retail. Over the next five to ten years, online retail sales will continue to increase - while the number of traditional high street stores is expected to decline, according to the Centre for Retail Research.
There are opportunities to work abroad, particularly with retail firms which have international outlets. Training for retail merchandisers is largely on the job and competency-based, and usually involves working towards specific set tasks and undertaking projects, either individually or as part of a larger team.
Most retail companies will have a training scheme. This will vary according to employer but may include courses on:. There are a number of courses that can be taken in merchandising, including short courses in fashion merchandising at the London College of Fashion , and postgraduate taught courses and research opportunities at a variety of universities.
A number of further education colleges offer courses that focus on retail display and merchandising. Distance-learning foundation courses in buying and merchandising are also available. To support those wishing to embark on a career in fashion retail there is the Fashion Retail Academy. The Academy aims to work in partnership with the retail industry to deliver professional and vocational training programmes, including the Level 4 Merchandising for Fashion.
The Academy has strong links with fashion retail head offices in London, enabling students to gain first-hand experience as part of their studies. Shorter merchandising courses are also offered at introductory, intermediate and postgraduate level.
0コメント